Longline Fishing: Is it a Threat to the Sea of Cortez?

We received an email from one of our concerned subscribers requesting involvement from our readers. This is a sensitive issue here in Baja, as so many try to eek out a living from the diminishing resources here in the Sea of Cortez..

Because of our personal commitment to worldwide conservation we encourage you to read this information and visit the Sea Watch site and inform yourself and others as to this environmental threat

Thank you for you support in this important issue. A copy of the email message we need to send can be found below . Next step? Please forward this information to 5 friends. Together we can amplify our message and make our voices heard.

Longliners must be prohibited in the Sea of Cortez and a final decision is going to be made next week. To find out more about longliners and new regulation proposals, visit Sea Watch's Shark Norma overview page.  shown below.
 

To contact Mexico's government officials and to send letters to The Defenders of Wild Life just open the "One Click E-mails" below. You can also open the background data pages below on the new shark norma (regulation) and see for yourself the devastation it will bring to the already over fished Sea of Cortez.

Thank You,
Sea Watch

Longline Position Threatens to Devastate Sea of Cortez
 
New proposals by CONAPESCA (Mexican Fisheries) and backed by US "Defenders of Wildlife" will devastate the already overfished stocks of dorado, billfish, sharks and turtles in the Sea of Cortez.


Juan Carlos Cantu the Mexican representative of the United States based NGO, "Defenders of Wildlife" has worked out an agreement with the commercial fishermen of Canainpesca that would allow longliners into the Sea Of Cortez. Up to 200 longliners, 6000 miles of longline and 180,000 hooks could be in the Sea of Cortez on any given day.

Conapesca (Mexican Fisheries) presented this proposal on 3/2/04 in their new proposals to be included in the upcoming Shark Norma.

These proposals must be stopped immediately! Please forward this information to all concerned and have them follow up with letters and emails to Mexican officials One Click E-mail to Mexican officials] and letters and emails to "Defenders of Wildlife" letting them know how much U.S. support they stand to lose if they continue to back this indefensible and very destructive position [One Click E-mail to Defenders of Wildlife]

Background data:

Shark Norma (Regulation) 029 Proposal:
Summary of Longline Fishing Changes in Gulf of California
Effects of these proposals on already depleted stocks of dorado, shark, billfish, and turtles (PDF)
Make a difference! One-click e-mail letter to express your opinions to Mexican Government officials.


"Defenders of Wildlife" position supporting additional longliners:
Gene Kira's 3/29/2004 article from Western Outdoor News: The 30 Mile Problem.
Defenders of Wildlife's justification for their position with comments by Dr. Russ Nelson. (PDF)
Gene Kira's article from Western Outdoor News: Defenders... Of What?.
Dr. Russell Nelson, Chief Fishery Scientist, The Billfish Foundation, letter to Ramon Corral regarding proposed regulations and "Defenders" indefensible position.
Make a difference! One-click e-mail letter to express your opinion to "Defenders".

Mike McGettigan
Sea Watch - Founder
3939 N. Marine Dr. #12
Portland, OR 97217
www.seawatch.org
phone/fax 503-285-3673
 

Insider Notebook: The Sign That Can Save You Hundreds $$$

No this sign does not mean topless bar ahead! Topes are speed restricting obstacles placed to slow traffic in populated areas. Along Highway 1 most of the Topes give plenty of advanced warning, some more than 500m. The tricky ones however, can be the second or third in a series, just when you think it's safe to pick up the pace.

One of the most devastating encounters I recall with a Tope was on my first drive down Baja. Just past the long straightaway of the Santo Tomas vineyards my co-pilot was frantically searching the Spanish/English dictionary. It was the hope that TOPE meant some kind of specialty restaurant when our heads against the roof of the car made the translation for us. As if that was not bad enough, it was punctuated with the sounds of chassis and radiator against pavement. It seemed no coincidence there was a radiator and transmission shop within yards.

Just as a side note, I noticed that my infamous Tope had been mellowed and rounded on my August drive. But beware! These guys can bite!