Showing posts with label NOM-029. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NOM-029. Show all posts
August 10, 2009
Oro de Cortez Part 1
This video is fantastic - it clearly sums up the ongoing battle over fisheries management in the Sea of Cortez. Minerva Smith from Cabo San Lucas and Baja California Sur's Senator Coppala are great advocates for protecting this fantastic resource.
June 1, 2009
Baja Sur's Senators Fight to Protect Sportfishing
Mexico's Senators Applaud TBF's Efforts on Sportfishing/Conservation Bill; Continue to face strong opposition from commercial fishing lobbyists
MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Though backed with a stronger sportfishing/conservation bill currently on the Senate floor in Mexico City that would close major loopholes in the current law, its proponents now face opposition from political and commercial fishing interests pushing legislation to open the dorado fishery more.
For over two decades dorado (also called dolphinfish, mahi-mahi or goldmakrele) along with billfish (striped marlin, sailfish, etc.), tarpon and roosterfish have been regulated as sport fish in Mexican waters. But a controversial directive, 15 NOM-029 also known as "Shark Norma," authorized by Mexico's fisheries agency CONAPESCA in May 2008, allows for the "incidental" harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico's conservation zones. The area has long attracted the illegal fishing interests in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) waters and Pacific Ocean coasts and tons of illegal dorado shipments into the United States.
Based on a multi-year socio-economic study by The Billfish Foundation (TBF), the new conservation bill was introduced by Senators Luis Alberto Coppola Joffroy and Humberto Andrade Quezada with endorsements by Sen. Jaime Rafael Díaz Ochoa, Sen. Luis Fernando Rodríguez Lomelí and Sen. Emma Lucía Larios Gaxiola. In March it received unanimous support by the Congress of the Mexican State of Baja California Sur (BCS).
But members of Mexico's PRD (Party of Democratic Revolution) political faction countered by introducing an initiative to allow dorado to be harvested by commercial fishermen contrary to the law that regulates dorado, billfish and other species as sport fish only.
In turn Coppola and Andrade, both members of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) brought to the Senate floor in May a proposed "agreement with arguments" against the dorado commercial fishery. It too received the Senate's full support in late May.
For both of their conservation initiatives the senators used TBF's study that revealed sportfishing tourism added over $630 million dollars annually directly to the BCS economy.
Study: 24,000 jobs created in Los Cabos region; one billion dollars in economic activity
The study led by TBF Science Director Dr. Russell Nelson and Rob Southwick, Southwick & Associations, Inc., revealed 354,013 people fished in Los Cabos in 2007, most all of them international visitors spending an estimated $633.6 million (U.S.) dollars for lodging, charter boats, food, transportation, tackle, fuel and more. Positive cascading economic effects in the local economy included the creation of 24,426 jobs, $245.5 million (U.S.) in local and federal tax revenues, and $1.125 billion (U.S.) in total economic activity. Visitors who fish there provided an estimated 24.1 percent of the total Los Cabos economy the report disclosed.
Specific waters includes the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts 50 miles out and an additional large area off Cabo that extends about 150 miles north and south and 100 miles out from the coast. Coppola's bill would clearly eliminate the commercial market's sale and the possibility of any bycatch exceptions for billfish, dorado, tarpon and roosterfish protected by the existing conservation zones.
Original bill may sit through the summer
But that bill will likely sit until after a summer-long recess in August, when the three year terms of the PRD's lame-duck congressmen end and the new congressmen's terms begin.
"Before the 'war' can be won, i.e. the passage of the Coppola's bill for sportfishing and conservation, he must wait for the 'battle' to be won," characterized Guillermo Alvarez, TBF's Mexican conservation director, of the situation. "We hope over the summer Senators Coppola and Andrade can gain even more support among other lawmakers in the 31 states of Mexico."
In a letter thanking TBF President Ellen Peel, a spokesman for the two senators wrote, "Mexico can not afford to divert from its sport fish conservation tradition and we will not tolerate this (commercial harvesting of dorado, etc.) to happen."
"In difficult times - as we are going through because of the influenza outbreak - competitiveness lies on sportfishing as TBF's economic research shows," stated Joel Macias de Lara who coordinates the senator's advisory group.
Wire service reports in late May announced Mexico was spending $90 million to attract tourists after the severe fallout of visitors led by the news on the country's flu epidemic. Because of the flu Los Cabos saw several major tournaments postponed or cancelled.
"TBF's recent socio-economic study in the Baja Sur region of the country makes clear that billfishing is an important economic stimulus to the nation, therefore billfish, dorado and other species important to anglers should be protected," said Ms. Peel.
"The Billfish Foundation applauds Senator Coppola for his two current initiatives now in Congress. He once again is demonstrating his strong commitment to good conservation and a strong economy. Senator Coppola understands that good conservation pays. Many areas in Mexico are famous and were economically strong not too long ago because of sportfishing. But if the fish important to sportfishing are allowed to be sold, then anglers and their dollars will go to other nations to fish. TBF urges the Senate to join forces with Coppola for the good of the country, its economy, the fish and the ocean."
To read Senator Coppola's bill and proposal in Spanish, please click here. A translated English version will be posted upon completion. Please click here to read a letter thanking TBF's efforts.
This article is from the Billfish Foundation
MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Though backed with a stronger sportfishing/conservation bill currently on the Senate floor in Mexico City that would close major loopholes in the current law, its proponents now face opposition from political and commercial fishing interests pushing legislation to open the dorado fishery more.
For over two decades dorado (also called dolphinfish, mahi-mahi or goldmakrele) along with billfish (striped marlin, sailfish, etc.), tarpon and roosterfish have been regulated as sport fish in Mexican waters. But a controversial directive, 15 NOM-029 also known as "Shark Norma," authorized by Mexico's fisheries agency CONAPESCA in May 2008, allows for the "incidental" harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico's conservation zones. The area has long attracted the illegal fishing interests in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) waters and Pacific Ocean coasts and tons of illegal dorado shipments into the United States.
Based on a multi-year socio-economic study by The Billfish Foundation (TBF), the new conservation bill was introduced by Senators Luis Alberto Coppola Joffroy and Humberto Andrade Quezada with endorsements by Sen. Jaime Rafael Díaz Ochoa, Sen. Luis Fernando Rodríguez Lomelí and Sen. Emma Lucía Larios Gaxiola. In March it received unanimous support by the Congress of the Mexican State of Baja California Sur (BCS).
But members of Mexico's PRD (Party of Democratic Revolution) political faction countered by introducing an initiative to allow dorado to be harvested by commercial fishermen contrary to the law that regulates dorado, billfish and other species as sport fish only.
In turn Coppola and Andrade, both members of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) brought to the Senate floor in May a proposed "agreement with arguments" against the dorado commercial fishery. It too received the Senate's full support in late May.
For both of their conservation initiatives the senators used TBF's study that revealed sportfishing tourism added over $630 million dollars annually directly to the BCS economy.
Study: 24,000 jobs created in Los Cabos region; one billion dollars in economic activity
The study led by TBF Science Director Dr. Russell Nelson and Rob Southwick, Southwick & Associations, Inc., revealed 354,013 people fished in Los Cabos in 2007, most all of them international visitors spending an estimated $633.6 million (U.S.) dollars for lodging, charter boats, food, transportation, tackle, fuel and more. Positive cascading economic effects in the local economy included the creation of 24,426 jobs, $245.5 million (U.S.) in local and federal tax revenues, and $1.125 billion (U.S.) in total economic activity. Visitors who fish there provided an estimated 24.1 percent of the total Los Cabos economy the report disclosed.
Specific waters includes the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts 50 miles out and an additional large area off Cabo that extends about 150 miles north and south and 100 miles out from the coast. Coppola's bill would clearly eliminate the commercial market's sale and the possibility of any bycatch exceptions for billfish, dorado, tarpon and roosterfish protected by the existing conservation zones.
Original bill may sit through the summer
But that bill will likely sit until after a summer-long recess in August, when the three year terms of the PRD's lame-duck congressmen end and the new congressmen's terms begin.
"Before the 'war' can be won, i.e. the passage of the Coppola's bill for sportfishing and conservation, he must wait for the 'battle' to be won," characterized Guillermo Alvarez, TBF's Mexican conservation director, of the situation. "We hope over the summer Senators Coppola and Andrade can gain even more support among other lawmakers in the 31 states of Mexico."
In a letter thanking TBF President Ellen Peel, a spokesman for the two senators wrote, "Mexico can not afford to divert from its sport fish conservation tradition and we will not tolerate this (commercial harvesting of dorado, etc.) to happen."
"In difficult times - as we are going through because of the influenza outbreak - competitiveness lies on sportfishing as TBF's economic research shows," stated Joel Macias de Lara who coordinates the senator's advisory group.
Wire service reports in late May announced Mexico was spending $90 million to attract tourists after the severe fallout of visitors led by the news on the country's flu epidemic. Because of the flu Los Cabos saw several major tournaments postponed or cancelled.
"TBF's recent socio-economic study in the Baja Sur region of the country makes clear that billfishing is an important economic stimulus to the nation, therefore billfish, dorado and other species important to anglers should be protected," said Ms. Peel.
"The Billfish Foundation applauds Senator Coppola for his two current initiatives now in Congress. He once again is demonstrating his strong commitment to good conservation and a strong economy. Senator Coppola understands that good conservation pays. Many areas in Mexico are famous and were economically strong not too long ago because of sportfishing. But if the fish important to sportfishing are allowed to be sold, then anglers and their dollars will go to other nations to fish. TBF urges the Senate to join forces with Coppola for the good of the country, its economy, the fish and the ocean."
To read Senator Coppola's bill and proposal in Spanish, please click here. A translated English version will be posted upon completion. Please click here to read a letter thanking TBF's efforts.
This article is from the Billfish Foundation
December 19, 2008
Action Mexican Senate
Sorry, I've been a little busy this month and haven't had time to post. Hopefully, I can get more desitination and how-to stuff up early next year.
This article was posted on the ESPN webpage on December 10, 2008.
Billfish Foundation Study Generates Action in the Mexican Senate
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A recently released economic study commissioned by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) on the billion dollar-plus annual impact sport fishing brings to Mexico's greater Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos region, has caught the keen attention and responsive actions of two of Mexico's senators.
Citing TBF's research on the value of sport fishing to the economy of Baja California Sur and all of Mexico, Senators Luis Coppola Joffroy and Humberto Andrade Quezada have placed upon the floor of the Mexican Senate an ambitious effort to utilize sport fishing as an economic development tool for all of coastal Mexico.
Of immediate importance is a proposal to amend Mexico's national fisheries law to specifically state that marlins, sailfish, swordfish, rooster fish and dorado are to be used exclusively for sport fishing and that these species may not be sold, even if taken as by-catch by commercial fisheries. Recent attempts by Mexico's fisheries agency, CONAPESCA, to establish liberal by-catch allowances for billfish, dorado and other species have drawn sharp criticism from sportfishing and conservation organizations.
"Once passed into law this clarifying language should prevent bureaucrats in CONAPESCA from ever again tampering with Mexico's historically profound sportfishing conservation regime," said Dr. Russell Nelson, TBF's chief scientist. The action was based off the comprehensive 126-page research study conducted in 2007 and 2008 to estimate the dollars, jobs and tax revenues created by anglers focusing on Baja Sur's "sport fishing triangle" showing the enormous effect sport fishing tourism brings to the area. The region includes the Los Cabos communities of East Cape, San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, all once small fishing locales.
In recent years, the region has become a major North American tourist destination driven heavily by its world-class striped marlin fishery. In turn, sport fishing has also become a major provider of jobs — over 24,000 — and has brought a huge revenue stream of dollars into Mexico's economy.
Nelson, along with Guillermo Alvarez, TBF's Mexican conservation director said information was needed to communicate the importance of the Los Cabos fisheries to its local, state and national leaders.
Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., The Billfish Foundation works with governments worldwide advancing the conservation of billfish and associated species to improve the health of oceans and regional economies. It has been assisting in the Baja Sur region since 2002.
Besides Mexico's state and federal government officials, TBF President Ellen Peel said the report was distributed to industry and academic interests in Mexico as well. The results will also be presented before the national Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City in January.
The study showed in 2007, 354,013 people, most all of them international visitors, fished in Los Cabos. While there they spent an estimated $633.6 million dollars for lodging, charter boats, food, transportation, tackle, fuel, and more. These expenditures started a series of cascading economic effects in the local economy, creating: 24,426 jobs, $245.5 U.S. million in local and federal tax revenues, and $1.125 U.S. billion in total economic activity.
Additional benefits accrued were Los Cabos angler expenditures generating an added $145 U.S. million to Mexico's Gross Domestic Product; 10,469 additional jobs created elsewhere in Mexico and $75 U.S. million in taxes added to the federal coffers.
But the area has long attracted the interests of Mexico's "fishing mafia," and illegal foreign commercial long-liners and netters in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) waters and Pacific Ocean coasts.
Nelson said 88 percent of international anglers who have fished in Cabo said they would be less likely to return if they knew the commercial harvest of billfish increased.
The report revealed the most targeted species of interest for sport fishermen were dorado (also known as dolphinfish and mahi-mahi) registering nearly 95 percent with a success catch rate of over 81 percent. Marlin were second at nearly 90 percent with a success rate of over 82 percent and tuna were the third most popular at over 86 percent with a 75 percent success rate among the 10 species listed.
Juvenile dorado and tuna are also part of the food chain for the migrating billfish. The dorado, a species that under Mexican fisheries law is supposed to be strictly relegated for sport fishing, has for years attracted the interests of illegal commercial fishing. A highly controversial new regulation — NOM-029 — allows for the "incidental" harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico's 24 year-old conservation zones.
Recent seizures of illegal dorado catches in double digit tonnage have also produced headlines in Mexican newspapers and attention to its commercial fishing mafia.
Multiple tons of the illegal dorado catches, intentionally mislabeled, have crossed into the United States by semi-tractor trailer trucks through Arizona (Nogales) and California (Tijuana).
"This destructively affects fishing resources and the millions in tourist dollars that also support sport fishing such as catch-and-release for striped marlin in the region," said Nelson.
"This has been an up-and-down year for TBF in Mexico," said Ms. Peel," but we have ended 2008 with a huge success. Dr. Nelson's work with our economic study and Alvarez's commitment to unyielding advocacy before the Mexican government has turned the tide."
"Senators Coppola and Andrade should be hailed as true leaders in Mexico as they both clearly see that promoting sustainable development based on carefully managed sport fishing tourism is an economic and ecological win-win situation for that nation," emphasized Peel. "These two men are fighting for the region's life blood that is within the marine waters of the region — to destroy this resource would be economic suicide to thousands of jobs in Mexico."
The Cabo research study was produced by Southwick Associates, Inc. of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Nelson Resources Consulting, Inc. of Oakland Park, Fla. and Firmus Consulting of Mexico City, Mexico.
This article was posted on the ESPN webpage on December 10, 2008.
Billfish Foundation Study Generates Action in the Mexican Senate
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A recently released economic study commissioned by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) on the billion dollar-plus annual impact sport fishing brings to Mexico's greater Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos region, has caught the keen attention and responsive actions of two of Mexico's senators.
Citing TBF's research on the value of sport fishing to the economy of Baja California Sur and all of Mexico, Senators Luis Coppola Joffroy and Humberto Andrade Quezada have placed upon the floor of the Mexican Senate an ambitious effort to utilize sport fishing as an economic development tool for all of coastal Mexico.
Of immediate importance is a proposal to amend Mexico's national fisheries law to specifically state that marlins, sailfish, swordfish, rooster fish and dorado are to be used exclusively for sport fishing and that these species may not be sold, even if taken as by-catch by commercial fisheries. Recent attempts by Mexico's fisheries agency, CONAPESCA, to establish liberal by-catch allowances for billfish, dorado and other species have drawn sharp criticism from sportfishing and conservation organizations.
"Once passed into law this clarifying language should prevent bureaucrats in CONAPESCA from ever again tampering with Mexico's historically profound sportfishing conservation regime," said Dr. Russell Nelson, TBF's chief scientist. The action was based off the comprehensive 126-page research study conducted in 2007 and 2008 to estimate the dollars, jobs and tax revenues created by anglers focusing on Baja Sur's "sport fishing triangle" showing the enormous effect sport fishing tourism brings to the area. The region includes the Los Cabos communities of East Cape, San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, all once small fishing locales.
In recent years, the region has become a major North American tourist destination driven heavily by its world-class striped marlin fishery. In turn, sport fishing has also become a major provider of jobs — over 24,000 — and has brought a huge revenue stream of dollars into Mexico's economy.
Nelson, along with Guillermo Alvarez, TBF's Mexican conservation director said information was needed to communicate the importance of the Los Cabos fisheries to its local, state and national leaders.
Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., The Billfish Foundation works with governments worldwide advancing the conservation of billfish and associated species to improve the health of oceans and regional economies. It has been assisting in the Baja Sur region since 2002.
Besides Mexico's state and federal government officials, TBF President Ellen Peel said the report was distributed to industry and academic interests in Mexico as well. The results will also be presented before the national Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City in January.
The study showed in 2007, 354,013 people, most all of them international visitors, fished in Los Cabos. While there they spent an estimated $633.6 million dollars for lodging, charter boats, food, transportation, tackle, fuel, and more. These expenditures started a series of cascading economic effects in the local economy, creating: 24,426 jobs, $245.5 U.S. million in local and federal tax revenues, and $1.125 U.S. billion in total economic activity.
Additional benefits accrued were Los Cabos angler expenditures generating an added $145 U.S. million to Mexico's Gross Domestic Product; 10,469 additional jobs created elsewhere in Mexico and $75 U.S. million in taxes added to the federal coffers.
But the area has long attracted the interests of Mexico's "fishing mafia," and illegal foreign commercial long-liners and netters in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) waters and Pacific Ocean coasts.
Nelson said 88 percent of international anglers who have fished in Cabo said they would be less likely to return if they knew the commercial harvest of billfish increased.
The report revealed the most targeted species of interest for sport fishermen were dorado (also known as dolphinfish and mahi-mahi) registering nearly 95 percent with a success catch rate of over 81 percent. Marlin were second at nearly 90 percent with a success rate of over 82 percent and tuna were the third most popular at over 86 percent with a 75 percent success rate among the 10 species listed.
Juvenile dorado and tuna are also part of the food chain for the migrating billfish. The dorado, a species that under Mexican fisheries law is supposed to be strictly relegated for sport fishing, has for years attracted the interests of illegal commercial fishing. A highly controversial new regulation — NOM-029 — allows for the "incidental" harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico's 24 year-old conservation zones.
Recent seizures of illegal dorado catches in double digit tonnage have also produced headlines in Mexican newspapers and attention to its commercial fishing mafia.
Multiple tons of the illegal dorado catches, intentionally mislabeled, have crossed into the United States by semi-tractor trailer trucks through Arizona (Nogales) and California (Tijuana).
"This destructively affects fishing resources and the millions in tourist dollars that also support sport fishing such as catch-and-release for striped marlin in the region," said Nelson.
"This has been an up-and-down year for TBF in Mexico," said Ms. Peel," but we have ended 2008 with a huge success. Dr. Nelson's work with our economic study and Alvarez's commitment to unyielding advocacy before the Mexican government has turned the tide."
"Senators Coppola and Andrade should be hailed as true leaders in Mexico as they both clearly see that promoting sustainable development based on carefully managed sport fishing tourism is an economic and ecological win-win situation for that nation," emphasized Peel. "These two men are fighting for the region's life blood that is within the marine waters of the region — to destroy this resource would be economic suicide to thousands of jobs in Mexico."
The Cabo research study was produced by Southwick Associates, Inc. of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Nelson Resources Consulting, Inc. of Oakland Park, Fla. and Firmus Consulting of Mexico City, Mexico.
October 28, 2008
Reminder - Send your letter to Senator Coppola
I just wanted to remind all you readers out there that there is an important opportunity right now to help defeat the Shark Norma. Head to the Sea Watch Webpage and send a letter today. There are several templates you can personalize or you can write your own. Below is what I just sent:
Distinguished Senator Coppola,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the Shark Norma (NOM029-PESCA-2006). I am a Conservation Scientist and sport angler who has been visiting your magnificent state for over 20 years. I am the host of a Baja California Flyfishing Blog (http://bajaflyfishing.blogspot.com/) and have written several feature articles on flyfishing in the Loreto area for several widely read magazines including Flyfisherman (http://flyfisherman.com/mca/rnloretosotherseason/).
Unfortunately, during my two decades of visiting Baja California Sur I have witnessed a dramatic decline in reef dwelling and near shore fish species. The continued decline of these species has resulted in a major loss to the sport fishing industry of the region. Given the declines in the inshore and reef fisheries, protection off shore species including dorado and marlin is critical to the survival of the jobs and income that sport fishing brings to the region. The commercialization and exploitation of dorado and marlin under the Shark Norma and the 30% bycatch agreement will devastate the communities including Loreto that depend on sportfishing.
Rather than allow liquidation of the last fish stocks in the Sea of Cortez, I hope that the Shark Norma will be eliminated and that protections for reserved sport fish species will be restored including the 50 km limit for large commercial ships. I am a strong supporter of catch-and-release sportfishing as an alternative to destructive fisheries practices and am saddened to see the continued decline of the Sea of Cortez.
Sincerely,
Richard Nauman
Distinguished Senator Coppola,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the Shark Norma (NOM029-PESCA-2006). I am a Conservation Scientist and sport angler who has been visiting your magnificent state for over 20 years. I am the host of a Baja California Flyfishing Blog (http://bajaflyfishing.blogspot.com/) and have written several feature articles on flyfishing in the Loreto area for several widely read magazines including Flyfisherman (http://flyfisherman.com/mca/rnloretosotherseason/).
Unfortunately, during my two decades of visiting Baja California Sur I have witnessed a dramatic decline in reef dwelling and near shore fish species. The continued decline of these species has resulted in a major loss to the sport fishing industry of the region. Given the declines in the inshore and reef fisheries, protection off shore species including dorado and marlin is critical to the survival of the jobs and income that sport fishing brings to the region. The commercialization and exploitation of dorado and marlin under the Shark Norma and the 30% bycatch agreement will devastate the communities including Loreto that depend on sportfishing.
Rather than allow liquidation of the last fish stocks in the Sea of Cortez, I hope that the Shark Norma will be eliminated and that protections for reserved sport fish species will be restored including the 50 km limit for large commercial ships. I am a strong supporter of catch-and-release sportfishing as an alternative to destructive fisheries practices and am saddened to see the continued decline of the Sea of Cortez.
Sincerely,
Richard Nauman
September 20, 2008
Good News / Bad News
I've had a busy week and have not been able to post even through there is a lot to write about.
First the Bad News:
An article in the LA Times this week is reporting that the Shark Norma (NOM-029) was amended his month to allow up to 30% bycatch of species reserved for sport fishing. This awful law has taken a turn for the worse and uses shark fishing as a smoke screen to bring large ships into previously closed areas including the Sea of Cortez and strip mine the last viable populations of sport fish. Unless stopped this law appears headed to destroy the sport fishing based economy of Baja California Sur.
Bad News for Anglers and Game Fish in Mexico
But there is some good news out there:
The SeaWatch.org webpage is back up and provides a lot of valuable information in their fight to save the fish of Baja's waters. I recommend that everyone read this webpage, educate themselves, and support this outfit.
Mexico does not have to continue down the path to fisheries destruction. Belize recent made catch and release mandatory for bonefish, permit, and tarpon. For more information check out the This is Fly Blog. Belize is a small poor country but they see long term economic value of these sport fisheries.
First the Bad News:
An article in the LA Times this week is reporting that the Shark Norma (NOM-029) was amended his month to allow up to 30% bycatch of species reserved for sport fishing. This awful law has taken a turn for the worse and uses shark fishing as a smoke screen to bring large ships into previously closed areas including the Sea of Cortez and strip mine the last viable populations of sport fish. Unless stopped this law appears headed to destroy the sport fishing based economy of Baja California Sur.
Bad News for Anglers and Game Fish in Mexico
But there is some good news out there:
The SeaWatch.org webpage is back up and provides a lot of valuable information in their fight to save the fish of Baja's waters. I recommend that everyone read this webpage, educate themselves, and support this outfit.
Mexico does not have to continue down the path to fisheries destruction. Belize recent made catch and release mandatory for bonefish, permit, and tarpon. For more information check out the This is Fly Blog. Belize is a small poor country but they see long term economic value of these sport fisheries.
September 11, 2008
FONMAR
The following was copied from a thread on the Baja Nomads Forum posted by Don Alley - it is an email update from The Billfish Foundation:
"What Your Fishing License Fees Can Do
Illegal Fishing Bust in Mag BayCommunity based enforcement efforts supported by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) through the Baja California Sur Center for Marine Protection and funded by the recreational fishing license fees paid to FONMAR have resulted in three recent seizures of illegally harvested dorado. TBF was instrumental in getting FONMAR established so that angler's license fees would go directly to assisting conservation and protection of the fish resources.
Three weeks ago, a vessel was seized in Loreto and, this past weekend, two boats owned by commercial longline king Henry Collard were seized and charged with illegally harvesting dorado while using a shark permit in Magdelena Bay. Collard, a prominent representative of commercial fishing interests, was reported in El Sudcaliforniano to have threatened fisheries enforcement agents that he "is a personal friend of Ramon Corral and you can't do this to me!" This statement does not do much for Corral's already tainted image by accusations of wrong doing by his own Conapesca personnel.
Corral is the head of Mexico's fisheries agency CONAPESCA and has been an unyielding supporter of the shark Nom-029 that attempted to allow the "incidental" harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico's 24 year old conservation
zones.Apparently the recent interest of U.S. enforcement officials in the import of illegally caught dorado has persuaded CONAPESCA that they need to concede TBF's position that there is no basis in Mexican law to allow bycatch in the conservation zones and enforce the federal fisheries law," said TBF President Ellen Peel. Full details of the story will follow in the upcoming issue of Billfish magazine."
September 7, 2008
More Dorado Poaching
As predicted by many, the new fishing regulation known as the shark norma or NOM-029 that opened waters with 50 km of the coastline to commercial long-line fishing for sharks is being used as cover to fish for species reserved for sport fishing such as dorado and bill fish.
Today's Sud Californiano leads with the headline Saquean Nuestros Mares or "They are Looting our Sea"
Today's Sud Californiano leads with the headline Saquean Nuestros Mares or "They are Looting our Sea"
El Sudcaliforniano7 de septiembre de 2008
Gustavo Alonso Alvarez
Baja California Sur.- Un segundo barco fue detenido en Puerto San Carlos por la tarde del viernes 5 al encontrársele 5 toneladas de dorado, especie reservada para la pesca deportiva, la embarcación de nombre "Ellen" es al parecer propiedad de la misma empresa mazatleca a la que pertenece "Mildred", barco también detenido el viernes con 8 toneladas de dorado.
Al parecer los barcos tiburoneros siguen enfocándose a la pesca de especies reservadas al amparo de su permiso, lo cual demuestra que tanto la NOM-029 como la determinación de aplicar un 30% de pesca de acompañamiento para tolerar la pesca de otras especies, como el dorado, no están funcionado de la forma deseada, o bien, la vigilancia sigue siendo insuficiente.
El "Ellen" se dice que es propiedad de una persona con el nombre de Henry Collard, de la empresa "Odemaris" con sede en Mazatlán, Sinaloa; "Ellen" traía 5 toneladas de dorado y una de tiburón, evidentemente la pesca de acompañamiento fue la de tiburón.
Si se aplicara la tasa de incidentalidad, por la tonelada de tiburón pescada, el "Ellen" tenía derecho de traer consigo poco más de 300 kilos de dorado, no 5 toneladas. El caso del Mildred es similar, pues para las 12 toneladas de tiburón que traía tenía derecho a un máximo de 4 toneladas de dorado y no 8.
Esta información fue proporcionada por pescadores de la zona y ayer sábado no fue posible confirmarla con el personal de guardia de la CONAPESCA, que al parecer se mantenía en operativo en puertos y mar, de modo que los datos son extraoficiales.
June 30, 2008
Shark Norma
Everyone who is interested in the Sea of Cortez should be aware of the changes to fisheries managment under the new law known as the Shark Norma or NOM-029. The Shark Norma opens the Sea of Cortez to large commercial fishing boats and allows the retention of dorado and marlin "bycatch" caught while fishing for sharks. Previously, waters within 50 kilometers of shore were closed to large fishing boats effectively blocking them from the narrow Sea of Cortez and species such as marlin, dorado, and roosterfish were reserved for sportfishing.
As feared, commercial boats are targeting dorado. This week, the Baja Big Fish Company posted pictures of a seiner wrapping kelp patties off Loreto. The location, rougly 20 miles offshore and 20 miles north of Carmen Island, is one of the prime sportfishing areas. The Google Earth image below shows the location.
Pictures of the Seiner are at:
http://bajabigfish.com/fly_report.html
For more information on the Shark Norma see:
www.bajabigfish.com
www.seawatch.org
www.billfish.org
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/InNews/destruction2007.html
http://www.igfa.org/shark_norma_emailSend.asp
http://roadtrekker.blogspot.com/2008/04/shark-minerva-vs-shark-norma.html
http://roadtrekker.blogspot.com/2008/06/shark-norma-nom-029-defended.html
As feared, commercial boats are targeting dorado. This week, the Baja Big Fish Company posted pictures of a seiner wrapping kelp patties off Loreto. The location, rougly 20 miles offshore and 20 miles north of Carmen Island, is one of the prime sportfishing areas. The Google Earth image below shows the location.
Pictures of the Seiner are at:
http://bajabigfish.com/fly_report.html
For more information on the Shark Norma see:
www.bajabigfish.com
www.seawatch.org
www.billfish.org
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/InNews/destruction2007.html
http://www.igfa.org/shark_norma_emailSend.asp
http://roadtrekker.blogspot.com/2008/04/shark-minerva-vs-shark-norma.html
http://roadtrekker.blogspot.com/2008/06/shark-norma-nom-029-defended.html
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