I don’t want to be dragged into the argument of any organizations past. What they accomplish or say they did is in their running record. It is my personal opinion that if any non-profit organization misuse’s any funding that is tagged for Humanitarian, Environmental and Social Economic projects in nations where poverty is rampant that they should be held accountable and tried for crimes against Humanity.
In a few days I will be traveling to the Philippines as the representative of CORL to observe the work that is being done by the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC), local governmental units, and the collectors in creating sustainable fisheries in the Batasan area. This trip will help inform CORL to better understand how the MAC Certified Area Management Program’s ( CAMP)’s are set up and how they will interact with the Local Governmental units (LGU)’s Coastal Resources Management Program. The CAMP’s and sustainable fisheries that they will form are only a small part of the Coastal Resource Management Programs and their goal of sustainable resource use. This trip is been made possible by the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) and is to start laying the foundation of a working partnership between CORL and the MAC to work on the common goal of sustainability for the Philippines and its people. Other issues to be looked at will be 1) Net Training and retraining along with reinforcement of non destructive fishing methodologies: 2) Cyanide testing ; and 3) the value received from the fish caught in the CAMPs and certified collectors. During this trip I will also have the chance to meet with the head of the BFAR (the PI equivalent to US Fish & Wildlife) and other Philippine government representatives to talk to them and offer CORL’s help in the Philippine’s.
The environmental movement in the Philippines is gathering momentum but the amount of damage from destructive fishing and pollution has and continues to cause considerable amounts of damage.
In many areas a sustainable marine ornamental fishery will not be possible for but a hand-full of fish species (if at all) even with corrective measures it could take years to recover other lost fisheries. In many other areas the rate of habitat loss due to the demands of a rapidly growing population is quickly claiming the remaining coastal habitat areas, more and more people are dependent upon the dwindling resources.
Action is needed now to combat destructive fishing and pollution and to move forward in creating sustainable resources management especially for those fisheries in the Philippines upon which so many people depend on. To create just sustainable fisheries in the Philippine Islands (PI), the PI Government will need the help of many non-governmental and not for profit organizations along with the help and participation of its people. To fight back the causes leading to the habitat destruction a very strong ecosystem management approach program will be needed. The fishermen and the villagers who depend upon the coastal resources must have the incentive to participate in the needed reform. This is not an easy task for them either, as 80% of the villagers consider feeding their family that day their primary concern.
The value the marine ornamental trade offers for many of the living and nonliving coral reef resources are usually the highest market values placed on those resources. In example : A 4” clown trigger is worth the same as any other 4” fish in a villages “wet” fish market, that fish to a trigger happy marine hobbyist its worth 180.00 easy. BTW, Many collectors have been injured or killed collecting the “inexpensive” tiny clown triggers from the deep reefs also.
We all need to work together, starting a New Philippine Initiative is a good idea, I’m all for it.
Instead of fighting and being destructive we need to accept past failures and to share the screcrets of success. Even more important we need to combine our talents and transfer the skills and tools to the communities while there is still time. The environmental situation in the Philippines is critical. They need our help now (ok yesterday, last week, last year and for the last couple of decades). While the marine industry is just a part of the problem it gives the highest return for the resource. If the marine ornamental resources are managed and done sustainably this will be a great and important start and it gives the collectors, fishermen and villagers the right incentive to push forward with other environmental programs that will help create a sustainable future for themselves and their children’s futures.
The needed netting material is on the way..and I hear there's more pay for the collectors on the way. Next is the Net Training...one more time........
Mike King
CORL
In a few days I will be traveling to the Philippines as the representative of CORL to observe the work that is being done by the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC), local governmental units, and the collectors in creating sustainable fisheries in the Batasan area. This trip will help inform CORL to better understand how the MAC Certified Area Management Program’s ( CAMP)’s are set up and how they will interact with the Local Governmental units (LGU)’s Coastal Resources Management Program. The CAMP’s and sustainable fisheries that they will form are only a small part of the Coastal Resource Management Programs and their goal of sustainable resource use. This trip is been made possible by the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) and is to start laying the foundation of a working partnership between CORL and the MAC to work on the common goal of sustainability for the Philippines and its people. Other issues to be looked at will be 1) Net Training and retraining along with reinforcement of non destructive fishing methodologies: 2) Cyanide testing ; and 3) the value received from the fish caught in the CAMPs and certified collectors. During this trip I will also have the chance to meet with the head of the BFAR (the PI equivalent to US Fish & Wildlife) and other Philippine government representatives to talk to them and offer CORL’s help in the Philippine’s.
The environmental movement in the Philippines is gathering momentum but the amount of damage from destructive fishing and pollution has and continues to cause considerable amounts of damage.
In many areas a sustainable marine ornamental fishery will not be possible for but a hand-full of fish species (if at all) even with corrective measures it could take years to recover other lost fisheries. In many other areas the rate of habitat loss due to the demands of a rapidly growing population is quickly claiming the remaining coastal habitat areas, more and more people are dependent upon the dwindling resources.
Action is needed now to combat destructive fishing and pollution and to move forward in creating sustainable resources management especially for those fisheries in the Philippines upon which so many people depend on. To create just sustainable fisheries in the Philippine Islands (PI), the PI Government will need the help of many non-governmental and not for profit organizations along with the help and participation of its people. To fight back the causes leading to the habitat destruction a very strong ecosystem management approach program will be needed. The fishermen and the villagers who depend upon the coastal resources must have the incentive to participate in the needed reform. This is not an easy task for them either, as 80% of the villagers consider feeding their family that day their primary concern.
The value the marine ornamental trade offers for many of the living and nonliving coral reef resources are usually the highest market values placed on those resources. In example : A 4” clown trigger is worth the same as any other 4” fish in a villages “wet” fish market, that fish to a trigger happy marine hobbyist its worth 180.00 easy. BTW, Many collectors have been injured or killed collecting the “inexpensive” tiny clown triggers from the deep reefs also.
We all need to work together, starting a New Philippine Initiative is a good idea, I’m all for it.
Instead of fighting and being destructive we need to accept past failures and to share the screcrets of success. Even more important we need to combine our talents and transfer the skills and tools to the communities while there is still time. The environmental situation in the Philippines is critical. They need our help now (ok yesterday, last week, last year and for the last couple of decades). While the marine industry is just a part of the problem it gives the highest return for the resource. If the marine ornamental resources are managed and done sustainably this will be a great and important start and it gives the collectors, fishermen and villagers the right incentive to push forward with other environmental programs that will help create a sustainable future for themselves and their children’s futures.
The needed netting material is on the way..and I hear there's more pay for the collectors on the way. Next is the Net Training...one more time........
Mike King
CORL
