THE PHILLIPPINES MOVING FORWARD.....EH

[naesco]

We have all learned about the positive happenings and the failures of the past.
We have even got in the odd jibe here and there.

BUT NOW IS TIME for all good reefers to come to the aid of the MAC.
I smell positive movement on the cyanide and training fronts.

So, how many nets to we have?

Peter IMA where is the CDT lab stuff, who owns it, is it for sale and how much do they want?
Are the lab works still available?

Who is interested in training?

So, what do you think?

Let us all spend our time thinking (and posting) how we can help the MAC make things happen in the Phillippines.
There is a lot of experience here. Let us all vow to use it constructively henceforth

 

[Anonymous]

naesco-

why do you keep 'yelling' your thread topics? (caps are the equivalent of yelling, on the net) :wink:


what positive developments are you talking about?-i have yet to see any actual developments :wink:


why do you think that mac is the only answer/org. that can implement, or is necessary to implement, change?

i'm very curious as to what actions on the part of mac seem to have led to your being convinced that such is the case

 

[Kalkbreath]

I do respect your eternal hope Naesco ............
_________________
Ferrari 456
_________________
economic recession definition

 

[Anonymous]

as a lirker of this forum and board... it looks like naesco is trying to offer something positive... and the rest of you are just looking for someone to attack

vitz, after looking at several of your posts... you really ought to do something about that facial tick :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :roll:

 

[naesco]

Vitz I thought it was OK to capitalize the 'subject part'. I won't do it again.

MAC is an internationally accepted organization. The foundation is excellent. All it needs is help in the implementation of its principle and therefore I am willing to help.

Kalkbreath where there is a will there is a way and we all share the will don't we.

Sardonic sometimes we all have to get things off our chest. In doing so we realize that we share more in common with others than we thought we did. Please continue to post on this forum

 

[naesco]

Dizzy as Mary has posted in the sticky above it appears that MAC had success in coming to an agreement with virtually all the Phillippines exporters that they will only deal in cyanide free fish.
They also agreed to allow random inspection of their premises by authorized cyanide laboratory professionals.
When fully implemented, this is a major major positive advancement because it confirms that MAC is listening and that the Phillippine exporters are interested in changing their ways.
:

 

[My Hairy Ass]

This is indeed excellent news, and one that all should be in support of. It is not important who runs them, as long as theyt are run professionally, and in a recognized manner. They don't have to be run by (dare I say this, as it may bring the wrath of Peterex-IMA down on us all) IMA, but they do have the experience in doing so, and would seem to be able to do so with a little effort. But after all Peterex-IMA's anti-MAC rants, would MAC be interested in doing so? We can only wait until the next chapter unfolds.

Maybe we could have Peter and Paul going the 10 rounds instead of Tyson and Lewis? Tussle in the Tank? Anger in the Aquarium? Wallop in the Water?

Tune in again next week folks, and get that pay-per-view subscription ready!!

MHA

 

[dizzy]

naesco, my hairy ass,
That is wonderful news. The PTFEA is going to allow inpections and no more cyanide fish will be sold. First Sadam agrees to destroy his weapons of mass destruction and now this. If we can just find a cure for cancer everything will be perfect. :wink:

I only see two problems. One there is still no cyanide detection test that MAC has approved. The other problem is that most of the good net-trainers and net-caught wholesalers have left the MAC and PTFEA in disgust. I think what we have now is the same group of people who have been denying there ever was a cyanide problem, now telling us they will not handle cyanide fish. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't really understand what has happen to get naesco grinning like Jimmy Carter.

I can tell you that the situation is going to be evaluated by a non-non-NGO. Optimism is great but naivety is for losers. "We don't get fooled again"

 

[MaryHM]

Gotta agree with dizzy here. This is the same association who declared there is "generally no cyanide use in the Philippines" (see my cyanide article). I'm not getting excited and posting a bunch of smiley faces about the "new developments" from the PTFEA until I see some ACTION behind those written words. To do otherwise is to be naive.

 

[MaryHM]

One more thing...

I also noticed the lack of any statement promising to pay the divers more.

 

[mkirda]

all but one of the MAC Certified collectors associations.

In other words, they met with none of the certified collectors associations.

There was only one association at the time this letter was dated.
My understanding is that Clarin is to be certified this week, bringing the total to TWO...

Why do they publish this?

{shaking my head}

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[naesco]

I am an optomist because we must move forward eh.
Mary's comments and issues like training and ensuring a supply are all related to the whole issue but lets get the CDT on the road.

It is my understanding that a CDT, lab and professionals can be in place in 60 days or so.

When this happens we can assit where we can in helping MAC with the related issues as well.
For example Mike, do you have a suggestion on getting the fishers and their associations? on board?
Thanks

Every day in every way things are getting better and better>

 

[Anonymous]

It is my understanding that a CDT, lab and professionals can be in place in 60 days or so.

Where did you hear this??

 

[My Hairy Ass]

I believe the labs are still in place, and being 'run' by BFAR in the Philippines. So getting them up and running again given financing should not be too difficult. However, Dizzy does have a valid point when he says that MAC still does not have a CDT that it approves. This should be a priority methinks, but I know others have other opinions as regards priorities.

But opinions are like asses, everybody has one.

MHA

 

[naesco]

MHA
It is not my decision but it appears that common sense would dictate that you go with what you got until another test is proved to be better or cheaper, eh

 

[naesco]

Rover
I talked to some people who knew the status of the present situation relative to just how long it might take to get things up and running again.
You didn't think that I would rely solely on the intelligence of this group did ya? After all this is not the sump.

Money to set it up and run. Good point.

Does anyone know where we might get a gift or grant say fifty thousand (50,000.00US) to set it up and run it for a year?

 

[My Hairy Ass]

How about (gasp) all you industry folks pay for it!! Amazing!! You're the ones that want it in the first place are you not? I'm sure you could have a word with the USCRTF and they can persuade IRS to make any $ donated towards this tax deductible(although the gov't may need that for 'Operation Tin Cup 2' after the Iraq debacle).

 

[clarionreef]

Good point Harry,
The industry as a whole has never shown a disposition to support its own salvation. Its preoccupation has generally been marketing, selling and feverishly sucking up fish supply to the exclusion of all else.
Any appeal pegged to industry support will go pretty much unheeded unless it is watered down, amended and had the enforcement taken out of it. Then its called P.R. and will find favor. In fact, this kind of advertising is something that it will pay for, much like an ad in FAMA magazine.
The trade cannot be its own judge and regulator. It should not be allowed to believe itself "entitled" to the resource without scientific management, regulation and restriction based upon the principles of sustainability. Although no one makes a profit off a dead coral reef, what marinelife exporter doesn't instantly think of moving on to the next one?...and the next one and the next one?
It has proven time and time again that it hasn't the talent or the sincerity for self regulation...However, this is not surprising at all. What fishery does have a sense of restraint and sound management without being forced to? The cod, salmon, abalone, tuna industries etc. etc.?
With the historical lack of Democracy, human rights and honest government in many tropical countries, is it any wonder to find ornamental fisheries to be badly managed if at all? Fisheries in the Philippines and Indonesia need to take back control of their countries fisheries and manage them as if they intended for their children to live there.
Afterall, if they don't, the trade ruins itself anyway. The productive reefs have a finite number and are dwindling mathematically each year. The constant "mowing of the lawn" has pretty much kept them from natural renwel and recruitment.
We need help and it must come from beyond our self absorbed and myopic vision.
Local government units and federal fisheries need to grow up or face universal condemnation for selling out their nations patrimony.
The local peoples reefs need to generate cash, not be cashed in for it. Steve

 

[naesco]

I have a suggestion which might work.
How about every time a random CDT is done by the lab on the exporters site as theyagreed, a fee of say $15.00US per tested fish is paid by the Phillippine exporter for that test.
They would therefor absorb that as their overhead and their contribution to this good work.
Or, they might pass this on as a (.1) point one cent increase in the sale price of fish to the wholesalters stateside.

What do you think?

 

[mkirda]

I have a suggestion which might work.
How about every time a random CDT is done by the lab on the exporters site as theyagreed, a fee of say $15.00US per tested fish is paid by the Phillippine exporter for that test.
What do you think?

I think... Are you out of your freakin' mind???

$15USD for a fish they paid 4 pennies for???

You realize that $15US is the same rate you would pay six men to do construction jobs for one day (at least in Manila- Outside of Manila it might be closer to 10-15 people!).

You think in US Dollars. You need to think in Philippine Pesos. 775 pesos is a lot of money there. Convert that into something you can understand- That is equivalent to a minimum wage earners check after working 48 hours...

Regards.
Mike Kirda