Overfishing

[PeterIMA]

Corruption is devouring the world's fish stocks

* 30 January 2008
* From New Scientist Print Edition. Subscribe and get 4 free issues

Corruption is eating into the bones of the fishing industry, say
fisheries experts, who are in Washington DC this week to discuss the
issue with the World Bank and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

THEY SAY THAT FISHING RULES ARE INCREASINGLY BEING DISREGARDED, as
catches across the world shrink. The number of pirate boats flying
flags of convenience from landlocked nations has boomed; fish are
falsely labelled sustainable; inspectors are increasingly harassed or
bribed; shrimp farms employ child labour; and a fifth of all catches
worldwide are illegal.

This has led scientists to underestimate the pressure on stocks, so
they recommend quotas that are too high. Even these may not be
observed by authorities. "Fisheries managers should be held
accountable when ignoring scientific advice," says Andrew Hurd of the
IUCN.

Endangered species - Learn more about the conservation battle in our
comprehensive special report.
Related Articles

* Can ocean friendly labels save dwindling stocks?
* http://environment.newscientist.com/art ... 823950.300
* 17 May 2003
* Fisheries observers face increasing harassment
* http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn12612
* 9 September 2007
* North Sea cod quotas raised against scientific advice
* http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn13105
* 19 December 2007
* WWF takes EU fisheries ministers to court
* http://environment.newscientist.com/art ... 325964.100
* 24 March 2007

Weblinks

* World Conservation Union
* http://www.iucn.org/

From issue 2641 of New Scientist magazine, 30 January 2008, page 4
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[clarionreef]

Can ocean friendly labels save dwindling stocks?
17 May 2003
Fred Pearce
Magazine issue 2395
THE "ocean friendly" label on supermarket fish is failing to protect fish stocks, claim environmentalists. They say the eco-labels certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, which identify the produce of sustainable fisheries, are simply a cover for industrial fishing methods that kill seals and seabirds, damage the seabed, and empty the seas of scarce fish stocks.

"People have a right to assume that when they see an MSC label on a fish, these kinds of things are not happening," says Gerry Leape, head of marine conservation at the US-based National Environmental Trust. "Right now they can't." Unless the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) cleans up its act, he says, green groups from Greenpeace to the Sierra Club may withdraw their support for the labels.


I would just like to ask the Sierra Club and Greenpeace how they could have been so naive in the first place.

Now that such revelations are becoming mainstream, perhaps people around the world and here on RDO will stop confusing promises, theories and high credentials with real practices, actual implementation and genuine deeds.
Anyone can Google up a problem...but solving it...well there in lies he rub...or the eel rubbings as we say here.

Steve

 

[naesco]

Can ocean friendly labels save dwindling stocks?
17 May 2003
Fred Pearce
Magazine issue 2395
THE "ocean friendly" label on supermarket fish is failing to protect fish stocks, claim environmentalists. They say the eco-labels certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, which identify the produce of sustainable fisheries, are simply a cover for industrial fishing methods that kill seals and seabirds, damage the seabed, and empty the seas of scarce fish stocks.

"People have a right to assume that when they see an MSC label on a fish, these kinds of things are not happening," says Gerry Leape, head of marine conservation at the US-based National Environmental Trust. "Right now they can't." Unless the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) cleans up its act, he says, green groups from Greenpeace to the Sierra Club may withdraw their support for the labels.
I would just like to ask the Sierra Club and Greenpeace how they could have been so naive.

Now that such revelations are becoming mainstream, perhaps people around the world and here on RDO will stop confusing promises, theories and high credentials with real practices, actual implementation and genuine deeds.
Anyone can Google up a problem...but solving it...well there in lies he rub...or the eel rubbings as we say here.

Steve

Steve do you think that the marine ornamentals industry will voluntarily adopt sustainable practices including ensuring that the exporters/importers stop the trade in cyanide caught fish, or do you think it will be necessary for government to regulate the industry?
Wayne Ryan

 

[clarionreef]

or do you think it will be necessary for government to regulate the industry?

Wayne,
That the collective trade is irresponsible ...there is no doubt.
But to think that the gov't can regulate it into sustainability?
No they cannot. Of that there is no doubt.

 

[swsaltwater]

lets hope someone can or they will just shut off imports, problem regulated

 

[naesco]

lets hope someone can or they will just shut off imports, problem regulated

And that is my concern as a hobbist.

Is there anyone else in industry that shares my concern?
Wayne Ryan

 

[clarionreef]

The govt has always been part of the problem...and now they also get to be the one to threaten that which has been their own failures?

Every cyanided fish that ever entered our country was approved by them..the USFWS.

Every grant from US AID that never did the job...and that was re-funded.....
every...
ahh never mind.
Steve

 

[swsaltwater]

Steve thats only part of the problem IMO, how bout big box stores or full line stores (even some mom and pops) that kill off tons of fish a year, yet the wholesalers give em sweetheart deals to replace losses cause they want the volume of the national chains.... No motivatuion to fix their crappy MARS systems, stop selling, or actually monitor water quality/ proper maintenance. Just a hey we will replace it. We as an industry can do what we can to limit DOA and DAA losses first, then point the fingers at collectors, goverment, etc.......I don't think the industry should accept any store using prescious resources as a loss leader any longer. especially yellow tangs it seems.

 

[Anonymous]

You mean the big box stores with millions to throw at Washington? sounds like a brick wall to me.

 

[naesco]

You mean the big box stores with millions to throw at Washington? sounds like a brick wall to me.

Do you share my concern?

Wayne Ryan

 

[clarionreef]

Wayne
I share your profound concern.
What I dont share is the shallow, arbitrary, knee jerk remedy.

It takes far more talent to solve the problem then to point it out.
Refusing a real approach that involves working with and changing fishing villages one by one...we are left with city-based solutions that show no results.
There are solutions but they are all based in the social work of working with locals and not the top down, anti-fisher, computer generated templated formulas that every one has insisted on for so long.
The answer to this problem has been coveted by the wrong people for way to long and the cast of characters needs to change.

Steve

 

[naesco]

Wayne
I share your profound concern.
What I dont share is the shallow, arbitrary, knee jerk remedy.

It takes far more talent to solve the problem then to point it out.
Refusing a real approach that involves working with and changing fishing villages one by one...we are left with city-based solutions that show no results.
There are solutions but they are all based in the social work of working with locals and not the top down, anti-fisher, computer generated templated formulas that every one has insisted on for so long.
The answer to this problem has been coveted by the wrong people for way to long and the cast of characters needs to change.

Steve

Thank you for sharing your concern.
The problem is nothing, not a thing is happening, with the result that we are headed for a knee jerk reaction which will virtually shut the hobby down.

Whether it is Hillary or Obama they promised change. They will have a progress youthfull group of assistants clamouring to do something good.
Our hobby, your livelihood and the livelihood of the fisherman you want to help, is an easy target for change.

If some of you are not feeling a bit like Nero and Rome you should be.
Get rid of industry's dirty little secret, cyanide and you show them that you don't need government involvment for change.

Wayne Ryan

 

[clarionreef]

Whether it is Hillary or Obama they promised change. They will have a progress youthfull group of assistants clamouring to do something good.
Our hobby, your livelihood and the livelihood of the fisherman you want to help, is an easy target for change

.

Why assume that Obamas or Clintons people are so narrowminded as to just want to destroy the industry.
I would think that we finally have some people smart enough and caring enough to take the proper approach and show some intelligence.
Why Hillarys book, It takes a village already suggests someone along these lines.
Fisherfolk are easy to teach....What has been far more difficult has been the education of the eco-elitists that have mismanaged the issue for so long.
To me the message of change suggests a village up environmental approach and not more of the same ol "Eco-Halliburton" top down nonsense that alienates everyone concerned.

The call for change is a referendum on the failures of the past...and is a good thing.
Steve

 

[JeremyR]

Steve,

Obviously it's an easy problem to fix, all we have to do is quit letting them use cyanide! So if the whole lot of us on RDO wish really hard, maybe while rubbing magic crystals.. you could enlist wayne and his super cubans to go over to bali & the phillipines, and I think everything would be hunky dory in a week or 2. Or maybe we could get greenpeace to run around in one of their boats yelling slogans at cyanide fishers. That will work...

 

[Anonymous]

Oh my, the naivete shown here with regard to the American political system is astounding. Of course, it explains the sentiment that "there ought to be a law!" as though that would actually fix anything. Economics are what really engenders change, folks. Make any particular action more economically appealing than another action, and you will find people naturally gravitate in that direction. Making a law only adds more paper to the books.

I am rather disturbed to read that not even MSC labeling may have any real meaning, as my husband and I have endeavored to purchase only sustainable sea foods, harvested in an environmentally protective manner. He's not gonna be happy to read this, but we will act accordingly.

 

[clarionreef]

Seriously,
It is the inability of the office greenies to work in the field that is the crux of the matter.
Thats all it ever was.
Steve

 

[clarionreef]

I am rather disturbed to read that not even MSC labeling may have any real meaning

I wasn't.
I was more disturbed to see that there was no santa claus.
That dog dont hunt.

 

[clarionreef]

Aww Jen,
You can still buy the WWF approved shrimp from Walmart for dinner!
S

 

[Anonymous]

Who's Jen? All up in the cool aid and don't know the flavor Steve

And SM, there is a law. It's illegal to use cyanide in both Indo and PI and by defacto it's illegal for anyone in the US to buy any CN caught fish. Like Steve sid, that means US F&W S has been clearing illegal shipments as legal for how many years?

 

[clarionreef]

You mean there are two fem reefers in Georgia? 8O