Blue Spot Jaws have invaded L.A. again

[JT]

At least one whoresaler in L.A. has tried pimping Blue Spot Jaws to me this week. To the best of my knowledge, there still isn't a valid permit for these to be collected. Craig L. used the be the one bringing them in illeagally in the past. Now that he is in jail, I wonder who the new guy is.

Velly interestink, has anyone heard anything new on these?

- Uncle

 

[nanocat]

I'm not sure I understand? Considering the number of major online sellers who list this fish as available, how are they illegal?

 

[JT]

I'm not sure I understand? Considering the number of major online sellers who list this fish as available, how are they illegal?

Just because someone has them for sale, doesn't make them legal to sell. Just look back at the Clarion debacle.

Blue Spot Jawfish are endemic to the Sea of Cortez and, unless something has changed recently (which I find hard to believe knowing the Mexican government), there hasn't been valid collection permits issued for this species, just like the Clarions, in a number of years.

Craig Lightner, from the Clarion debacle, used to, alledgedly, smuggle these in in very large numbers in addition to the Clarions he was caught with.

- JT

 

[nanocat]

OK, I understood the Clarion thing, but I thought the seller's tried to keep that on the QT? It just seems like it would be weird to publish all over the place that you had illegal fish for sale? I mean that falls under "incredibly stupid" doesn't it :?

 

[JT]

OK, I understood the Clarion thing, but I thought the seller's tried to keep that on the QT? It just seems like it would be weird to publish all over the place that you had illegal fish for sale? I mean that falls under "incredibly stupid" doesn't it :?

Unfortunately, just like the Clarions, retailers don't know what's been imported legally or not. Stores see Blue Spot Jaws on the list and say "wow, cool, I need to buy some". Wholesalers are under no obligation to disclose such information. When the Clarions were delivered to wholesalers in L.A., they came with what appeared to be legal documents. However, they were proven to be forged.

- JT

 

[Kalkbreath]

Wow, cool. Do you know were I can buy some?

 

[clarionreef]

Legal sources are kept out of catching the abundant bluespot jawfish.
Legal fisherman don't pay the bribes required to get legal documents to put them over the top into the legal zone.
Only illegal bribes can get legal paperwork...
Smuggling however circumvents the arcane and corrupt legal process and is much more honest..
These in the market now are under the radar and not specifically declared on any documents.
They are here...so's pot, crack, Enrons debt etc. etc.
Steve
PS. Bluespots got banned as they were the favorite fish of one biologist from Mexico City. That biologist wanted to do a masters thesis on them so got them banned to insure a supply....to study.
They are found in massive colonies from Northern Sea of Cortez to the coast of Columbia and are in zero trouble from this trade. The range is 4 thousand miles including both sides of the Cortez coast.
Collecting zones are contained within 100 miles.

Actually, when you take out 20 large ones in a 40 foot by 15 foot colony you get 100 back,
Then you can watch the 100 diminish to 20 adults in 3 years as nature limits its own. The greatest threat to colonies are spawning triggerfish [ balistes polylepis]. Gangs of triggers roam , dig up and ravage jawfish colonies.

I worked on surveys for 5 years to understand what I know and have taught Mexcxian biologists enough to then turn around and grab the species for themselves to play with.
In many places....Real research has nothing to do with policy....nothing.
Steve
technical consultant, 1997-2003
Sociedad Co-operativa del Peces Tropicales, Ensenada Blanca, Loreto, BCS,Mexico

 

[clarionreef]

The legal fishermans co-op [ of 20 years standing] has been banned by the Loreto National Parks new rules issued by their funder, The Nature Conservancy.
The TNCs rules hold that MAC standards will be the new standards practiced if fish collecting is to continue as a sanctioned activity.
The fisherman found the standards onerous, complicated and unacceptable and have been since banned. These are the fisherman that developed bluespot jawfish collecting with trout hooks [in 1980 ]that left no impact on the holes the fish came from. They worked the same colonies for 20 years proving a case that no biologist has ever wondered about or followed up on!
The TNC wants the park for tourism and has excluded fisherman from most activity.
The fisherman have been there for centuries as their graveyards attest.
The parks promulgation of policy that excludes the locals has the locals at odds with them. In fact, the park is now hated by most fisherman.
So...the new illegal sources of jawfish that flourish have gained as a result of closing down the original, legal fisherman who never used drugs and processed their invoices openly.
Steve
PS....The fisherman have found the park staff to be so inflexible and out of touch with their capabilities, history and culture that they are proposing their new permits outside the parks boundaries.
The result will be that they will not be able to work where they live...but will have to travel outside the park to make a living.