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The MAP News, 180th Ed., 30 January 2007
Dear Friends,
This is the 180th Edition of the Mangrove Action Project News. Thanks for your continued support of MAP and our global efforts to Save the Mangroves in this new year of 2007!
Alfredo Quarto,
Mangrove Action Project
MAP’s Mission: Partnering with mangrove forest communities, grassroots NGOs, researchers and local governments to conserve and restore mangrove forests and related coastal ecosystems, while promoting community-based, sustainable management of coastal resources.
Back Issues available!
Note: The latest issues of the MAP News are available on MAP's Website.
Contents for MAP NEWS, 180th Edition
FEATURE STORY
Due to technical difficulties, the feature story is not available for this issue.
MAP WORKS
MAP Co-Sponsors Ecological Mangrove Restoration Workshop In Sri Lanka
MAP Indonesia Sows Seeds Of Ecological Restoration That Take Root In Indonesia
“Mangrove Forest Ecology, Management and Restoration" training workshop, March 5-8, 2007, Hollywood, Florida.
Entries Called For Next MAP 2008 Children’s Art Calendar Competition Set For 2008
MAP 2007 Calendar Still Availkable (A Good Way To Support MAP)
AFRICA
US certifies Madagascar, re-certifies Nigeria for turtle-friendly shrimp imports
Thailand
King calls on state agencies to tackle coastal erosion
Thai agency expedites drafting of organic marine shrimp production standards
Thailand means shrimp
The Philippines
RP lifts ban on importation, culture of vannamei shrimps
Philippines' shrimp industry to bounce back this year, says agri dept
Burma
Burmese govt leases shrimp farms to private sector
India
WTO ruling on 'zeroing' to favour India's shrimp case
Fears rise for sinking Sundarbans
Pakistan
Islands and Fishermen’s Lives Threatened By Development
Open letter to the heads of IFIs for funding large dams in Pakistan
Brazil
MST occupies shrimp farm
Peru
Peru's shrimp exports expected to touch $60-70 mn in next five years
Guatemala
***ACTION ALERT!!!***
Guatemala Activists Fear for safety
Beliz
Beliz’ Largest Shrimp Farm In Financial Trouble
Mexico
Whitespot in the State of Sonora
THE CARIBBEAN
New UN resolution on Caribbean Sea seeks to protect, preserve it
The Bahamas
Bimini--Fears resort will harm fish stock
Govt. Project Hit By FNM (Opposition Party)
USA
SAFER WAY TO CATCH SHRIMP
Wild American shrimp gets registered certification mark status
CONFERENCES/ WORKSHOPS & PUBLICATIONS
National Geograhic’s February 2007 Issue Highlights Mangroves
New TV series revisits the Asian Tsunami‚s environmental lessons
WLT Books for Conservation Programme
AQUACULTURE CORNER
Fish farms in the ocean? Group pushes Congress to pass tough rules.
Due to technical difficulties, the feature story is not available for this issue.
MAP Co-Sponsors Ecological Mangrove Restoration Workshop In Sri Lanka
MAP in co-sponsorship with the SewaLanka Foundation will be leading two workshops in Sri Lanka entitled, “Community Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration Training Programme” whereby local mangrove restoration practitioners, local NGOs and community members will participate in learning the basic principles of ecological mangrove restoration (EMR) techniques. MAP firmly believs only such a long-term, more holistic six-step approach to mangrove restoration will weork. Otherwise, too often restoration projects will fail for lack of proper approach to restoration issues, including hydrology, siting and actual methods employed. As well, a community-based approach is imperative to a successful approach.
The workshops will take place early next month at the Sewalanka’s District Training Centre, Ampara, Sri Lanka
From Jim Enright
mapasia@loxinfo.co.th
===========
MAP Indonesia Sows Seeds Of Ecological Restoration That Take Root In Indonesia
MAP’s Indonesia Coordinator, Ben Brown, is happy to report that mangrove rehab in 5 hectares of community -managed area on Bengkalis Island (thanks to support from Intl. Tree Foundation) is moving forward on its own now. As Ben states, “The great thing about this project is that MAP field staff are all elsewhere, yet local fisherfolk and local NGO staff which we have trained are now taking the lead role on planning and implementation…”
“The rehab is taking place in 5 hectares of a 12+ ha area stewarded by the Parapat Group (Parapat is Sonneratia sp.). This area is adjacent to the Belukap group's area which we helped rehabilitate over the last 2 years. Belukap group members along with 2 field staff from Yayasan Laksana Samudera are playing the facilitator role in working with Parapat. The plan entails restoring tidal creeks, rejoining the creeks with major flows, and then planting most of the area with propagules. They have learned that in this region, direct propagule planting works better than seedlings from the last project. They will also leave an area open for natural re-vegetation and then be engaged in monitoring.”
“The heartening aspect of this project is that local stakeholders are continuing with hydrological rehab as a necessary part of mangrove rehab without directly being ordered to rehab hydrology. This means that hydro-rehab is being accepted by grassroots groups as logical, beneficial, and successful. Replication is the best form of flattery eh?“
“:As you will note from the map there are still many areas that we can continue to rehab, but we need to go slow, as working with each group involves more than just rehab, we also are sponsoring livelihood and education programs to ensure longer term conservation of the mangroves…”
From Ben Brown
seagrassroots@gmail.com
===========
“Mangrove Forest Ecology, Management and Restoration" training workshop, March 5-8, 2007, Hollywood, Florida.
The fifth "Mangrove Forest Ecology, Management and Restoration" training workshop will be held at the Anne Kolb Nature Center, in Hollywood, Florida, USA, March 5-8, 2007. The training site is within a 500 ha mangrove restoration project at West Lake Park operated by Broward County. The award-winning project was designed by Roy R. "Robin" Lewis III, who will be teaching the course.
The workshop includes an introduction to mangrove forest ecology, management options and problems, and restoration design issues. The class programs are all given in a PowerPoint format, and each student is provided with a print out of the presentation and additional handouts including monitoring reports for typical restoration projects. Case studies of 5 successful mangrove restoration projects, and several unsuccessful projects, are discussed. Field trips are taken within the 500 ha West Lake Park mangrove restoration project (now 17 years old) and a new project just four years old, for a comparison.
The emphasis is on cost-effective successful mangrove management and restoration, and cost figures for typical projects are discussed and explained. The hydrologic restoration of mangroves is emphasized as the best approach to successful restoration at minimal cost (see Erftemeijer and Lewis 2000; Lewis 1999, 2000a, 2000b, 2005; Lewis and Marshall 1998; Lewis and Streever 2000; Lewis et al. 2005, Stevenson et al. 1999; and Turner and Lewis 1997, for further discussion about hydrologic restoration of mangroves). Planting of mangroves is discussed in light of the many failures of this alone to successfully restore mangroves.
Cost for the course not including travel to Ft. Lauderdale, lodging or food is $750, due by January 1, 2007. Two qualified students will be allowed to attend for free, and can apply at any time for the two fee-waived positions. This course is organized by the Coastal Resources Group, Inc., and will be taught in conjunction with the Mangrove Action Project.
More information can be provided by Robin Lewis at
LESRRL3@aol.com
and
www.mangroverestoration.com
===========
Entries Called For Next MAP 2008 Children’s Art Calendar Competition Set For 2008 Please contact Monica Gutierrez-Quarto for more information at monicagquarto@olympus.net
===========
MAP 2007 Calendar Still Available (A Good Way To Support MAP)
Don't delay in ordering your new MAP 2007 children's mangrove art calendar before they run out, we have limited stock on hand and they are always in great demand. In addition, they make wonderful stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts, so order in time to receive them before the end of the year. Better yet, give a gift membership to MAP along with the calendar.....
Yes, MAP's new Children's Mangrove Art 2007 Calendars are now available for ordering. These calendars are produced from school art competitions from primary school children from over 12 nations. We have artwork from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean included. Any donation of $35 or more qualifies the donor for an annual membership with a free calendar! Please give generously today!
You can help MAP stay in this fight for a mangrove future by becoming a donating subscriber today! Check our website for details or contact: mangroveap@olympus.net
US certifies Madagascar, re-certifies Nigeria for turtle-friendly shrimp imports
On January 10, 2007, the United States Department of State certified Madagascar and re-certified Nigeria as meeting the requirements set by Section 609 of P.L. 101-162 for continued importation of shrimp into the United States.
Section 609 prohibits importation of shrimp and products of shrimp harvested in a manner that may adversely affect sea turtle species. This import prohibition does not apply in cases where the Department of State certifies to Congress that the government of the harvesting nation has taken certain specific measures to reduce the incidental taking of sea turtles in its shrimp trawl fisheries -- or that the fishing environment of the harvesting nation does not pose a threat to sea turtle species. Such certifications are based in part on verification visits made to countries by teams of experts from the State Department and the US National Marine Fisheries Service.
The chief component of the US sea turtle conservation programme is a requirement that commercial shrimp boats use sea turtle excluder devices (TEDs) to prevent the accidental drowning of sea turtles in shrimp trawls. Madagascar and Nigeria join 14 other countries (Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Suriname, and Venezuela) as meeting this standard.
At the time Nigeria was de-certified, US officials proposed specific actions that could be taken to restore comparability to the US programme. A follow-up verification visit in September 2006 confirmed that the Government of Nigeria is now enforcing its TEDs programme in a credible manner.
The Department also announces that Madagascar has adopted a TED programme comparable to that of the US and is enforcing its programme in a credible manner. Accordingly, the Department of State hereby certifies Nigeria and Madagascar pursuant to Section 609(b)(2)(A) and (B).
As with the other countries currently certified, the Department of State will remain in close contact with the governments of Nigeria and Madagascar in order to ensure that their respective shrimp-harvesting methods do not threaten sea turtles.
Sea TEDs can be 97 per cent effective in excluding sea turtles from trawl nets, and have resulted in an estimated 11 per cent increase per year in some endangered sea turtle nesting populations in the Gulf of Mexico.
Source:
US State Department
From: icsf@icsf.net
Thailand
Bangkok Post Jan.9, 2007
ENVIRONMENT / SHRINKING SHORELINES, DRY SEASON PERILS
King calls on state agencies to tackle coastal erosion
HM expresses concern over situation in South
His Majesty the King has expressed concern over severe costal erosion in southern Thailand and asked state agencies to devise a long-term plan to save the shrinking shorelines.
The King is especially worried about the situation in provinces facing the Gulf of Thailand, where sea waves are currently as high as two to four metres and have become so ferocious that they have sunk fishing boats and eroded many beaches.
His concern was reported by Sompon Panmani, secretary-general of the special committee coordinating royally-initiated projects, after meeting with state agencies to find ways to solve the problem, which is posing a nightmare to hundreds of villagers living along more than 100km of coastline in the South.
"The King is worried about the strong sea waves in the eastern coast," Mr Sompon said. The King's private work division under the Royal Household Bureau has been assigned to survey damage and to plan for long-term solutions.
Mr Sompon said the Marine Department would this year start building a sea wall to shield the severely-hit coastline from sea waves.
Under its 365 million baht project, the wall will stretch from Ban Saton in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Hua Sai district to Ban Na Kote in Pak Phanang district.
The department is also conducting a study on a plan to expand the wall from Ban Na Kote to tambon Laem Talumphuk in Pak Phanang district. The cape is losing 20 metres of land to the sea every year, according to a recent study by Chulalongkorn University.
Strong sea waves and winds continued to hit the South over the weekend, with four fishing boats sunk and beaches in Songkhla damaged.
Officials said waves as high as two to four metres slammed Kao Seng and Samila beaches in Songkhla, forcing seaside communities to put down several thousand sandbags to prevent the waves from causing further damage to their houses and nearby roads….
…Surapol Krishnamra, chief of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department's coastal area management section, said a recent study found that around 600km, or 22.5% of the country's total shoreline has been severely hit by coast erosion, which eats up to five to 20 metres of land per year.
The official also warned of possible negative impacts of seawall construction against the strong waves.
He said agencies which plan to build sea walls against the waves should carefully study the projects' impacts because they could change the directions of sea waves, which would in turn cause erosion in nearby areas.
"Marine ecology is sensitive. It is better to learn how to avoid natural hazards than to fight against them by constructing sea walls along the coastline," he said.
From: MAP / ASIA
mapasia@loxinfo.co.th
==========
Thai News
Thai agency expedites drafting of organic marine shrimp production standards
Thailand's National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS) is expediting the drafting of "Organic Marine Shrimp Production" standards.
Somchai Charnarongkul, the deputy director of ACFS, said AFCS is speeding up the drafting as the global demand for marine shrimps, especially tiger prawns, has increased. He expects that the "Organic Marine Shrimp Production" standards will boost the competitiveness of local shrimp farmers in the global market.
Those participating in the standards drafting include representatives of the government and private sectors, farmers, academics, and shrimp experts. ACFS will submit the draft to the MOAC minister for approval before enforcing it in February 2007.
Mr Somchai revealed that organic food products in the global market have a tendency to expand at an average of 25 percent per year. The US has the biggest chunk in the market, second by the European Union. The organic food products in the Asian market are worth 18,000 million baht (US$501 mn).
At present, the Thai organic shrimp farmers have to be accredited by a German private food and agriculture organization, resulting in higher cost of production. The Thai "Organic Marine Shrimp Production" standards will provide criteria for the farmers to assess the quality of their products before exporting them.
Source:
Thaisnews
From: "Elaine Corets"
manglar@comcast.net
==========
Thailand means shrimp
The Asian nation continues to be a leader in shrimp production.
By Intrafish Media
January 2007
In the seafood world, Thailand is synonymous with shrimp. The Asian country is one of the world’s leading suppliers of farmed shrimp, shipping its products to all corners of the world.
Thailand plans to produce roughly 387,450 tons of shrimp products in 2007, according to estimates presented in November at the Global Shrimp Outlook (GSOL) conference in Miami.
The production estimate for this year is 16.3 percent higher than the 324,450 tons of product Thailand expected to produce in 2006, when final numbers are tabulated.
In the United States, Thailand has a 26 percent market share, followed by China at 13 percent, Indonesia at 9 percent, India at 8 percent, Ecuador and Vietnam at 7 percent, Mexico at 6 percent, and Bangladesh at 3 percent, with “others” accounting for 21 percent of the sales in the U.S. market.
In Japan, Indonesia owns a 21 percent market share, with Vietnam second at 19 percent, Thailand and India each at 12 percent, China at 8 percent and 28 percent for other countries.
In the European Union, Greenland owns an 11 percent market share, India, Argentina and Brazil at 6 percent, Brazil and Ireland each with 5 percent, Denmark, Indonesia and Belgium at percent each, Thailand at 1 percent, and 48 percent for other countries.
Expanding in Europe
Thai shrimp exports to European Union are expected to be twice what they were in 2005 when 2006 numbers are finalized, Thai Shrimp Association President Somsak Paneetatyasai estimated.
“I expect this year (2006) about 20,000 to 30,000 metric tons,” Peneetatyasai said, adding he is unable to make future forecasts because Thailand’s shrimp exports to the European Union are tied to the trade-bloc general system of preferences (GSP) program.
Aimed at helping developing countries enhance export earnings, promote industrialization and encourage the diversification of their economies, the GSP allows Thailand to export 15 percent of its shipments to the European Union at preferential rates of duty.
Thailand exports around 90 percent of its domestic shrimp production.
WTO shrimp
A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel is expected to begin hearings on U.S. antidumping duties on Thai shrimp imports in January, and should rule by July, according to Thai Commerce Ministry officials.
Thailand filed the complaint in March against the U.S. antidumping duties and the continuous bond requirement for shrimp imports.
The bond is a 100 percent bank guarantee to cover estimated penalties. The money is not refundable until the antidumping duties expire next year.
Thai shrimp farmers say the bond is unfair and represents a double penalty.
The WTO in October launched a formal investigation into U.S. antidumping duties on shrimp imports, which Thailand says are devastating its shrimping industry.
The United States blocked Thailand’s first request for the WTO to set up an investigative panel in September. Under WTO rules, a panel is established automatically with the second request.
Thailand claims the import duties threaten the livelihood and sustainability of its shrimp industry, because the U.S. is its largest market and accounts for 50 percent of its total exports.
Thailand says its shrimping industry employs about one million people, many of whom are dependent on exports and are still repaying huge debt incurred after the December 2004 tsunami.
From manglar@comcast.net
==========
The Philippines
RP lifts ban on importation, culture of vannamei shrimps
Monday, January 08 2007
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap on Monday announced the lifting of the ban on the importation and culture of live shrimps and prawns, paving the way for the entry of Pacific white shrimp or "Peneaus vannamei" into the country.
Yap issued Fisheries Administrative Order No. 225 which allows the entry of vannamei shrimps into the country after results of the intensive studies undertaken for almost two years on the variety proved positive.
"The results of these exhaustive trials to ensure the safe introduction of P. vannamei stocks into the country are very positive, with no negative issues on biodiversity and the possibility of disease infecting our local industry have been encountered," he said.
"We expect the introduction of P. vannamei into our local fisheries sector to boost our ailing shrimp industry and bring it back to its glory days when production reached a high of 94,000 metric tons (MT) in 1994," he added.
Yap noted that while significant progress have been made in the farming of bangus, tilapia and seaweeds, the growth of the shrimp industry has remained stagnant.
The lifting of the ban on the importation and culture of shrimps and prawns would help revive the industry and increase income of shrimp and prawn growers.
P. vannamei grows faster than the local black tiger prawns or 'sugpo', and requires less expensive low-protein food.
In 2001, the DA barred the entry of P. vannamei stocks into the country to protect the local black tiger prawn from the dreaded "Taura virus" that had nearly wiped out shrimp farms in Japan, Taiwan and Thailand at that time.
In 2005, Director Malcolm Sarmiento of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) decided to conduct experiment trials on the breeding of P. vannamei at its research facility in Bonuan and Dagupan City in Pangasinan, to explore the possible re-entry of this specie.
On the other hand, the experimental propagation or grow outs of this variety were carried out by government-accredited commercial shrimp farmers all over the country, he said.
Sarmiento said their breeding and culture experiments of P. vannamei, which were imported from Florida, USA, yielded positive results.
He said the Philippines can gain if it can produce P. vannamei since US consumers, which comprise the world's biggest shrimp market, are increasingly preferring P. vannamei over other species.
"They appear to prefer its taste over our local sugpo called P. monodon," Sarmiento said.
He said there is also strong demand for P. vannamei in Taiwan, Thailand and mainland China, which is the world's biggest producer of this shrimp specie with a yield of over 300,000 MT in 2003 alone. P. vannamei production is also booming in the US, Venezuela and Brazil.
Meanwhile, Yap said the Philippine government is set to sign a series of bilateral agreements with its Chinese counterpart during the scheduled state visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on January 16 here.
He estimates that shrimp production in the country will triple with the production of P. vannamei. (PNA)
==========
Philippines' shrimp industry to bounce back this year, says agri dept
The shrimp industry in the Philippines is expected to increase earnings to P6 billion (US$123 mn) in 2007 with the government's move of lifting the ban on the importation and culture of Pacific white shrimp or Peneaus vannamei. Total income of the industry in 2006 was estimated at P4 billion ($82 mn).
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap signed Fisheries Administrative Order 225, which lifted the ban on the entry and culture of white shrimp brood stocks into the country.
The move would make shrimp more affordable for low income Filipinos with prices going to as low as P150 to P200 a kilo in the local market.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) in 2001 prohibits the entry of P. vannamei or Pacific white shrimps stocks into the country to protect the local sugpo or black tiger prawn from the dreaded Taura virus.
The positive development, Yap said, dovetails with the major thrust of DA in raising yields and incomes of small farmers and fishers at the same time pulling the cost of basic foodstuff for the benefit of ordinary consumers.
The lifting of the ban is part of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) rescuing the ailing shrimp industry and helping it regain in five years time the country's previous status as a global leader in the shrimp production.
The Philippines ranked 3 in the world but slid to 10th place in 2003 after being overtaken by the likes of Mexico, Brazil, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
Industry players are optimistic that Philippines would soon capture the No. 2 slot next only to global leader China after local growers would have retooled their farms and trained extensively on the production of the specie.
Source:
Sun-Star
From: Samudra
icsf@icsf.net
==========
Burma
Burmese govt leases shrimp farms to private sector
In Arakan State, there are 155,333 acres of shrimp farms, which amounts to 76 per cent of the total shrimp farms in all of Burma, reports the Arakan State Shrimp Product Association.
Among those acres of shrimp farms in Arakan, 1,071 are in Maungdaw Township, a western border town of Burma, but they are owned by the Western Military Command, based in Ann Town.
Because the army authorities do not have technical skills in shrimp husbandry or production, they are leasing out the shrimp farms to local businessmen for large sums of money. The system of leasing shrimp farms to the private sector has existed since the authority forcibly confiscated the farms from local people.
This year, the authority has leased out shrimp farms to local businessmen for 2007, raking in about 880 mn kyat (US$137 mn) from 30 businessmen. This is the same amount as was earned last year, said one businessman.
A source reported that those leasing the shrimp farms from the government this year would have to pay 220 mn kyat ($34 mn) quarterly to the Western Command.
This year, a Muslim businessman, known as Shaw Fi, is leasing three hundred acres of shrimp farms from the government on Kyi Kyunt Island, located in the Naff River. However, government authorities have not disclosed the amount of this particular lease.
A source from the border said that two Rakhine businessmen - U Ba Hla and U Tun Kyaw - have leased nearly 100 acres of shrimp farms in Tharat Ohh Village Tract in Maungdaw from Western Command this year.
The military authority has a plan to increase the amount of each lease by 15 per cent this year, but many lessees have adamantly refused to pay the extra 15 per cent to the government due to the risk of profit loss, said the businessman. Because of this, the authority is leasing the shrimp farms to existing lessees at the same amount as last year.
In Arakan State, even though there are 155,333 acres of shrimp farms, many of them in Rathidaung, Pauktaw, Akyab, and Maybon Townships are owned by a number of local army battalions that confiscated the shrimp farms from local people.
Source:
Narinjara News
From: icsf@icsf.net
India
WTO ruling on 'zeroing' to favour India's shrimp case
By Ajayan
The World Trade Organization ruling last week against the United States' practice of 'zeroing' should favour India's case as the process for the second administrative review on anti-dumping duty on shrimp is to be set in motion. With the preliminary determination on last year's review expected before March, exporters are expected to request the Centre to take up the case at the WTO level and also with the US department of commerce.
Seafood Exporters Association of India (Seai) secretary-general Elias Sait told FE that though there was an earlier ruling against zeroing where US officials ignored cases of charging prices over fair value, rather than offsetting them against instances of undercharging and thereby imposing anti-dumping duties, the present ruling could be made applicable for reviews too.
The exporters are to meet later this month to decide the course of action to be taken when the US issues the notification for the second administrative review next month. Since the WTO upheld an appeal by Japan against a previous ruling on the US anti-dumping measures, deeming zeroing to be in contravention of its rules, India had to intervene and ensure that US did not adopt this methodology in the review now under process.
He said that already US officials were scrutinising the accounts of two mandatory respondent companies in the first review - Liberty Group and Falcon. An official of HLL, the third respondent firm, said that since the company was a respondent at the initiation of the duty three years ago of the review and its accounts had been scrutinised, it was unlikely that there would be another scrutiny.
Exporters said it was important that the Centre took up the issue with the WTO prior to the preliminary determination of duty by March, based on the first review which begun in 2006. The WTO ruling prohibited the practice of zeroing which could result in excessive dumping duties that would hurt US seafood consumers. Calculations are needed to be conducted fairly as this would not only spare India but also help the consumers there.
The industry is hopeful that the duties would be lowered after the review since India has a strong case. Exporters do not expect the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), which petitioned the case for anti-dumping duties for India and six other countries to go in for an out-of-court settlement this time.
Source:
Financial Express
From: icsf@icsf.net
From: "Pipope Panitchpakdi, Nation Documentary"
pipope@nationgroup.com
==========
Fears rise for sinking Sundarbans
Subir Bhaumik
BBC correspondent in the Sundarbans
The sea is steadily eating into the Sundarbans, the world's largest delta and mangrove forest, threatening an ecological disaster for the Bengal basin region.
The 20,000 square kilometre forest delta stretches across the lower reaches of the Bengal basin - 60% falling in Bangladesh and the rest in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Satellite imagery shows that the sea level in the Sundarbans has risen at an average rate of 3.14 centimetres a year over the past two decades - much higher than the global average of two millimetres a year.
Scientists believe that in the next 50 years, a rise of even one metre in sea level would inundate 1,000 sq.km of the Sundarbans.
"The Sundarbans appears to be a lost cause," says Professor Sugato Hazra, director of the School of Oceanographic Studies at Calcutta's Jadavpur University, which runs a project in the Indian Sundarbans.
Sinking fast
In the past two decades, four islands - Bedford, Lohachara, Kabasgadi and Suparibhanga - have sunk into the sea and 6,000 families have been made homeless.
Two other islands - Ghoramara and Mousuni - are fast going under.
Sagar, the biggest island in the Sundarbans, has already lost 30 sq.km.
By 2020, it will have lost another 15% of its habitable area, displacing more than 30,000 people, says Professor Hazra.
His study of satellite pictures reveals a worrying rate of coastal erosion in the Indian Sundarbans.
"The entire island system is faced with a rapid loss of land area and embankments, flooding and salinisation of drinking water," says Professor Hazra.
"Many residents are moving out; these islands are becoming uninhabitable," says Utpal Mukherjee, additional district magistrate of South 24-Parganas district, under which the Indian Sundarbans falls….
…. A total of 54 of the 102 islands in the Indian Sundarbans are still habitable.
But they also face other pressures.
About 2,500 sq.km have been set aside as a tiger reserve since 1973 but poaching of the royal Bengal tiger continues, aided by corrupt forest officials.
Tree-felling during the past century has more than halved the mangrove cover in the Indian section as successive administrations allowed rampant land reclamation for human settlement.
Since the first settlements in 1770, the population of the Indian Sundarbans has risen 200% to nearly 4.3 million.
The population has put pressure on the ecosystem, which acts as a nursery for the aquatic resources of the Bay of Bengal.
Professor Hazra says mangrove depletion will increase the threat of flooding upstream in Calcutta. "It is an ecological disaster in the making," he says.
Vital matters
West Bengal's minister for Sundarbans development, Kanti Ganguly, admits that the situation is serious.
Under a directive from federal authorities, his government formed the Coastal Regulatory Zone Authority in 1999, specifically for the Sundarbans.
But the body did not meet for two years - and did little after that.
The authorities need to address a range of vital matters.
The move towards a prawn monoculture - the cultivation of a single species that can lead to its extinction
Erosion caused by the barraging of rivers and diversion or blocking of upstream water
The use of mangrove wood to feed a gas plant in the Gosaba and Choto Mollakhali islands. (The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency has vowed to investigate the allegations and, if proven, halt the practice)
The silting of West Bengal's largest port, Haldia, because only three of seven walls to divert the Hooghly river have been built by the Port Trust of India.
In the Sundarbans, the rising sea level and soil erosion threaten to submerge large swathes of land, making thousands more homeless.
The diverse marine life - river sharks, red crabs, shrimps, snakes - all uniquely adapted to the saline water - will be harmed, drastically affecting the food chain and fishing industry.
Scientists say that the Sundarbans, South Asia's largest "carbon sink" - which mops up carbon dioxide - must survive to help prevent global warming. But will it?
From: BanglaPraxis
banglapraxis@gmail.com
==========
Pakistan
Islands and Fishermen’s Lives Threatened By Development
Request for active role of your organization on the issue of two islands of Pakistan coast
Dear Madam/Sir,
I am Ms. Zubaida Birwani from Karachi-Pakistan writing you on behalf of Pakistan Mahigeer Tahreek (Pakistan Fisherfolk Movement). We are working for rights of poor fishermen and protection of their natural endowment in Sindh province of Pakistan
Majority of fishermen in Sindh are located in Indus Delta and earn their livelihood through natural resources of Arabain Sea . However coastal areas of Pakistan , natural resources of Indus delta and the communities living there are victim of wrong policies and bad governance since long time. Livelihood of fishermen largely depends on environmental health of Indus Delta, which is dependent on fresh water flows from River Indus. Regrettably environmental flows to delta have been drastically reduced in the wake of construction of a series of dams and barrages over past decades. Other threats to coastal eco-system include unsustainable deep sea fishing policy, poorly managed urban waste from Karachi and large quantities of untreated industrial effluent which are causing damage to natural resources of coastal communities.
At the top, a recent decision of government has surfaced new threats to the livelihood of local fishermen and natural resources of Indus Delta. About two months back the Government has sold out two important islands of Sindh coast viz. Bundaar and Dingi to a UAE based private construction company „Emaar‰ to construct a modern city on the islands.
Pakistan Mahigeer Tahreek (Pakistan Fisherfolk Movement), a movement for securing rights of poor fishermen has launched a campaign on this illegal, immoral, anti-poor and anti-nature decision of constructing cities on Islands . We feel that sell of these islands is tantamount to deprive poor fishermen of Sindh coast from their fishing grounds and mangrove nurseries thus eroding their remaining meager livelihood resources. About 4,000 to 5,000 fishing boats use Korangi and Phitti creeks. These passages to open sea are located on both sides of the islands, which will become inaccessible in the wake of so called development on islands.
The Islands are home to rich flora and fauna of Indus Delta. One of the few remaining tracts of healthy mangroves, roosting and breeding grounds of various migratory and resident birds and breeding grounds of endangered marine Green Turtle exist on Dingi and Bundaar Islands . This rich biodiversity will lose its existence in the wake of proposed development. The islands are part of resource-rich eco-system of Indus Delta, which has been included in 200 Eco-regions by WWF and the islands are also identified as part of High Priority Areas of conservation interest by IUCN. Regrettably the government is not willing to undertake any consultation with the likely affetcees of the project and has not even conducted Environmental Impact Assessment, which is mandatory under Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997. This shows complete apathy towards livelihood resources and bio-diversity reserves of the country.
Civil Society of Pakistan has expressed its serious concern on this ill-conceived project and considers this project as violation of all fundamentals of sustainable development. Pakistan Fisherfolk Movement has carried out a detailed research on the issue and developed a position paper. The attached document will provide you detailed insight of the issue with necessary details. In brief this project is threatening livelihood of about half a million fishermen along Sindh coast and bring irreversible damage to rich eco-system of the two islands. In spite of severe opposition by political, social and environmental organizations, the government is bent upon implementing the project and physical work has also been started by cutting mangroves and leveling of sand dunes.
Since your organization has been voicing conservation of nature throughout the world, we request you to play your role on this issue. Considering the enormous mass support and outreach possessed by your organization, we expect you to take lead on this important issue, which has direct bearing on thousands of marginalized people of Pakistan and their natural resources. Pakistan Mahigeer Tahreek will extend all possible assistance in your initiatives on this issue.
Best Regards,
Zubaida Birwani, Convener
Pakistan Mahigeer Tahreek, Karachi
From: fayyaz rasool
fayyaz19us@yahoo.com
==========
SINDH DEMOCRATIC FORUM (SDF)
Open letter to the heads of IFIs for funding large dams in Pakistan
Mr. Paul Wolfowitz
President of the World Bank
Haruhiko Kuroda,
President and Chairperson, Board of Directors
Asian Development Bank
Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali AL-Madani
President of the Islamic Development Bank
Amadou Boubacar Cissé
Vice-President
Islamic Development Bank
C.C:
Ms. Letitia Obeng, Director office of the President WB
Mr. Praful Patel, South Asia Vice-President WB
Mr. John Wall, Country Director for Pakistan WB
Peter Fedon, ADB Country Director for Pakistan
M. Ali Shah ADB Pakistan Resident Mission
Dear Sir
We, the members of Sindh Democratic Forum (SDF), a group of academics, intellectuals, technocrats and concerned citizens of Sindh, have read with great concern and apprehension your offer of funding mega water projects including large dams to the government of Pakistan.
We wish to inform you that River Indus that traverses through Pakistan, and through Sindh in the last leg of its voyage is under the greatest threat of its existence. The government of General Pervez Musharraf, backed by the corrupt and in-efficient Water and Power Authority (WAPDA), and supported by a greedy coterie of rulers of the largest and most powerful province, Punjab, is bent upon building a number of dams on the river and its tributaries to siphon off the last trickle of water flowing in it bed.
The great river, mother to the 5000 year old Indus Civilization, relics of which are spread through out its flow-path in Pakistan, has had 2 large dams, 19 barrages and 43 canal sub-systems built over it to irrigate 43 million acres (17.5 million hectares) but General Musharraf and his backers continue to demand more water to irrigate yet more lands.
Sindh, the lower most riparian province has suffered enormously on account of the continuous cuts on Indus River System to draw or to dam its waters. The mainstay of its rural economy, agriculture, has suffered a decline of 32%, with consequent rise in poverty that has crossed 50% mark.
The benefits of the great river that go beyond creation of food and fodder to feed the 160 million people of Pakistan and affect the lives of millions of people in Sindh who depend on grazing lands, swamps, forests, fishing and a number of connected economic activities for their basic livelihood, are under threat of being severely curtailed. Sindh depends on river Indus even for its drinking water, where the subsoil water is 99% saltish and brackish.
In the four years 1999-2003, when water flowing in the system was less that normal, Sindh experienced the heretofore unheard of phenomenon of having no drinking water in its five southern districts (Sindh has a total of 23 districts). The Indus Delta that once husbanded the sixth largest mangrove forest in the world comprising of 650,000 acres (260,000 ha) has shrunken to less than one third of its size.
Sindh accuses the upper riparian, Punjab, of stealing its share of water and using all methods and means to subvert written agreements of water distribution, as well as provisions of Pakistan's constitutions and the internationally accepted rules of water sharing.
People of Sindh fee that Punjab uses un-representative governments, like the present government of General Musharaf, to push its illegal and unconstitutional projects. The case of Greater Thal Canal project (GTC) is an example of this illegality. Designed to irrigate 1.5 million acres of Thal desert that even the World Bank (WB) has termed as unfeasible, this canal has been ordered to be built trampling all legal and constitutional bindings and guarantees available to the people of Sindh and by-passing all mandatory and constitutional discussion and approval. Likewise the issue of Kalabagh Dam is raised every now and then despite the fact that three provincial assemblies out of the four provinces of Pakistan have unanimously passed a resolution against this dams a number of times.
People of Sindh have been agitating against the en-equitable distribution of water, Kalabagh Dam, Greater Thal Canal and all efforts at reduction of Sindh's share of water for the last so many years. Even the official stand of the government of Sindh is that there is not enough water in the river system for another dam or another cut. The elected assembly of Sindh apart from passing unanimous resolutions against Kalabagh Dam has passed a unanimous resolution against Greater Thal Canal (GTC).
It should be noted that the walls of Mangla Dam are being raised to store 3 MAF water, almost equivalent to the quantity lost in the siltation of two large dams of Pakistan at Mangla and Tarbela. Hence arrangement for another Dam does not hold water. It is the contention of the people of Sindh that rather than the efficient and productive integrated management of the waters of Indus Basin, the Government of Pakistan has succumbed to the unending greed of Punjab for more lands and more water.
With so much antipathy against large dams and mega water projects damage to riverine environment and the deltaic ecology including internationally recognised Ramser sites lending to the Pakistan government US $ 17 billion to build up to five large dams is surely against the professed criteria and safeguard policies of International Financial institutions (IFIs) that ensure the protection of environment, interests of the indigenous people and large-scale social and economic displacement.
We should not forget that today Pakistan is under heavy political pressures both at internal and external scenes due to authoritarian and non-representative rule over 160 million people of Pakistan by Musharraf. The political conflicts between provinces on various issues are making the political environment vulnerable for every development in water sector in the country. So at this stage when people are deprived of genuine political system and justice, any kind of investment in water will strengthen dictatorship in Pakistan.
We fear that the outcome of any financial assistance at this critical time is bound to be extremely risky, as the financial support by IFIs will be against the fundamental norms of development laid down by IFIs as basic development paradigms and principles.
It should be remembered that 2007 is the election year in Pakistan that the present regime is bent upon to win for the extension of General Pervez Musharraf's un-constitutional rule, whatever the cost in terms of transparency and fairness of the entire election process. We apprehend that in order to win the elections General Musharraf and his coteries from Punjab are raising the slogan of building of Kalabagh and other dams and than will force
We demand that in the interest of justice and fundamental human rights of the people of Sindh and the environment of our province no funding should be extended to the government of Pakistan as the result of large dams is bound to be catastrophic on the socio-economic life of a large number of people and irreversible damage to the environment of a great river.
Abrar Kazi (Convener)
1/A, Main Autobahn Road,
Latifabad # 03, Hyderabad (71000)
From: BanglaPraxis banglapraxis@gmail.com
Brazil
MST occupies shrimp farm
By Carlos Henrique Camelo
23 January 2007
Around 150 families linked to the Landless Peasant Movement (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Terra ˆ MST) invaded the Qualibras farm early yesterday morning (21 January). Located in the city of Itapipoca, about 150 km from Fortaleza (state of Ceara, Brasil), the farm is used for raising shrimp in captivity. According to Marcelo Matos, member of the directorship of MST, the intention of the group is to protest against the slowness of the agrarian reform process in the state and denounce the environmental destruction of mangroves provoked by shrimp farming in the region.
Marcelo Matos said that the families that participated in the invasion are part of the Malamba and Guaribas encampments, in the coastal region of Ceara. According to him, some of them have been encamped for almost five years awaiting the dispossession of lands and the issuing of titles. Another complaint, according to the state director of the MST, is the demarcation of indigenous lands in Ceara. „The Tremembes (a Brazilian indigenous tribe) are with us in this invasion.‰
He affirmed that there exist around 1700 families in the state linked to the MST, divided among 25 encampments, which are waiting for agrarian reform. According to Marcel Matos, the goal of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária ˆ Incra) for the past year was to settle 2000 families in the state, but only 206 families received lots. „In protest of the slowness, the movement decided that 2007 will be a “red year‚ and our intention is to invade the farms where encamped families are found,” he affirmed.
The state superintendent of Incra, Clesson Monte, said that the first step in cases such as this is to study information about the property invaded and make an inspection of the area.
According to the MST, the encamped families have a hearing today (23 January) at 3pm with representatives of Incra, the Secretaria of Agrarian Development of Ceara and the mayor of Itapipoca to discuss the agrarian reform process in the state. The proprietors of the Qualibras shrimp farm could not be contacted for this article.
Source:
www.opovo.com.br/opovo/ceara/664429.html
Translation by Elaine Corets
From manglar@comcast,net
==========
Peru
Peru's shrimp exports expected to touch $60-70 mn in next five years
Everyone who has watched the movie Forrest Gump may think that "with a little bit of luck", any person could easily become a millionaire by fishing and commercializing shrimps. However, this business is not that simple. Every American shrimp company like the fictitious Bubba Gump has to compete with shrimp imports from all over the world.
In fact, the United States imports 80% of its shrimp consumption mainly from China, Thailand and Ecuador -- even though the first two have to pay tariffs to enter the American market.
By contrast, Ecuador doesn't have to pay any tariffs because of the so called Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA). And even though Peru is also benefiting from ATPDEA preferences, its crustacean industry is still not as competitive as the Ecuadorian. However, we are progressively improving.
While Spain is the main destination for Peruvian shrimps, the United States receives 32% of Peru's total exports, shipped mainly through the ports of Los Angeles, New York and Nogales (Arizona). Exports of shrimps with shells are the most representative (US$24 million in 2005), but exports of naked shrimps have increased the most (707% from 2004 to 2005).
According to estimates of the Asociación of Langostineros del Perú, Peru's shrimp exports will be in the range of US$60-70 millions in the next five years, which will bring more benefits to Northern areas such as Tumbes and Paita, where Peru's shrimp production and export is concentrated.
It is also important to point out that shrimps are in second place in the rankings of top seafood products consumed by Americans with 3.7 pounds a year on average per capita. In this context, and knowing that April and May are the months where shrimps are scarce in the U.S, Peruvian exports should focus on this market.
Source:
AmCham Peru
From: icsf@icsf.net
==========
Guatemala
***ACTION ALERT!!!***
DATE: 15 January 2007
Guatemala Activists Fear for safety
GUATEMALA
Carlos Albacete Rosales (m)
Piedad Espinosa Albacete (f),
Co-directors of environmental organisation Green Tropic (Tropico Verde)
An attempt on the lives of two environmentalists has been made in Guatemala City. Amnesty International believes that their lives and those of other colleagues are in grave danger.
Environmental activists Carlos Albacete Rosales and Piedad Espinosa Albacete were the subjects of an apparent attempt on their lives as they returned home from the La Aurora National Airport in Guatemala City in a taxi on Wednesday 10 January 2007 at 12.20am.
As they approached their house in the area known as Carretera a El Salvador, they saw a grey Volkswagen Golf parked less than 1km from their house. The car pulled out behind them and followed them until overtaking the taxi a few metres further on and making a 180 degree turn in front of them, partially blocking the road.
Four men got out of the car, drawing their handguns as they did so. They were wearing black woollen hats and dark-coloured bullet-proof vests, dressed in black clothing similar to that used by the police but without the identifying insignia. They stood in front of the taxi and began to shoot at it. The taxi driver carried on forwards, leaving the four men behind. They continued to shoot at the taxi but did not pursue it any further.
Carlos Albacete was left slightly injured by broken glass, as both the front windscreen and the rear passenger seat window, on Carlos Albacete's side, were shattered by the shots. Bullets were also left lodged in the taxi's bodywork, in the passenger door on Carlo Albacete's side and in the boot. When police arrived to investigate the incident they allegedly failed to place the recovered bullets in evidence bags, putting them directly in their pockets instead.
Both Carlos Albacete and Piedad Albacete work for the Guatemalan environmental organisation Tropico Verde, and have been the victims of previous attacks and acts of intimidation. Following a series of verbal threats, Tropico Verde's Peten office was forced to close for part of 2005 before re-opening in a more secure location. On 12 September 2006 at 11pm Carlos Albacete and Piedad Albacete's house was allegedly shot at with machine gun fire. On 24 September a gold-coloured vehicle with tinted windows parked outside their house at 5.30am and allegedly kept it under surveillance. On 13 November 2006 Carlos Albacete and a colleague were allegedly watched by the four occupants of a vehicle whilst on a visit with journalists to denounce the usurpation of protected land in the Peten region. On 18 and 20 December an employee of Tropico Verde received two telephone calls from relatives warning of persistent rumours circulating in the Peten region that there would be an attempt on the lives of Carlos Albacete and Piedad Albacete.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Tropico Verde is an environmental organisation which works to protect the Mayan Biosphere Reserve (a nature reserve in the Peten region). During the last four years Tropico Verde has been active in denouncing cattle ranchers' and alleged drug traffickers' usurpation of land inside the Reserve.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language: - Expressing concern for the safety of Carlos Albacete, Piedad Albacete and other members of their organisation; - urging the authorities to order a thorough and independent investigation into the attempt on the lives of Carlos Albacete and Piedad Albacete, and into the threats and acts of intimidation suffered by them and their organization previously, and to bring those responsible to justice; - reminding the authorities of their obligations to recognize the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders and their right to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties.
APPEALS TO:
Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor's Office:
Fiscal General de la Republica y Jefe del Ministerio Publico
Lic. Juan Luis Florido
15 avenida 15-16
Zona 1, Barrio Gerona, 8vo. nivel
Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: +502 2411 9124
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Estimado Sr. Fiscal General
Vice-President of the Republic:
Vicepresidente de la Republica
Sr. Eduardo Stein Barillas
Casa Presidencial, 6a. Avenida 4-18, Zona 1
Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: +502 2253 0801
Salutation: Dear Mr. Vicepresident/Estimado Sr. Vicepresidente
COPIES TO:
Human Rights Defenders Protection Unit:
Unidad de Proteccion de Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos
Movimiento Nacional de Derechos Humanos
1 Avenida 0-11, Zona 2
Colonia Lo de Bran
Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: + 502 2232 2651 (if someone answers say ''tono de fax por favor'')
and to diplomatic representatives of Guatemala accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 26 February.
For any questions related to this posting, please contact NISGUA
nisgua@igc.org
PH: 202.518.7638
http://www.nisgua.org
From Elaine Corets
manglar@comcast.net
==========
Belize
Beliz’ Largest Shrimp Farm In Financial Trouble
Posted: 05/01/2007 - 11:04 AM
Author: Adele Ramos
Reports to Amandala are that Nova Companies Belize Limited, touted as the country‚s largest shrimp farm, formally suspended operations after the New Year due to an ongoing debt crisis and a possible foreclosure by the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank group.
In July 1998, IFC loaned Nova, located at 12.5 miles on the Northern Highway, Ladyville, Belize District, US$6 million.
According to the IFC, the loan was intended „to strengthen shrimp farming as an industry.‰
The total estimated cost of Nova‚s expansion project for its Ladyville and Ambergris Caye development was US$15.2 million. It was supposed to triple the shrimp growing area and add an in-house hatchery to boost larva stock, and the profit margin was forecast to increase by 19%. The development was also supposed to create 85 new jobs. But things have not been going as well as projected.
Today, there are 550 jobs in limbo ˆ 50 full time staff, along with roughly 250 farm workers and 250 processing workers, whose numbers fluctuate depending on the production volume.
Our sources say that the company has been grappling with its finances for years-a problem attributed to the devastation of the Taura Syndrome Virus, a deadly shrimp epidemic, as well as plummeting world prices, which have-incidentally-begun to look more promising.
The company continues to be haunted by accumulated debt, and has been negotiating with both bankers and prospective investors to try to save the company.
Unfortunately, since the suspension we have not been able to reach company officials for comment, and the head honcho we were referred to yesterday was „on vacation‰ by this evening. This evening we were told that he and a majority of the office staff were on „holiday‰ but would return next week.
Meanwhile, other top officials were reportedly in office but were unavailable to speak with us, we were told.
Nova has been one of Belize‚s leading exporters of farmed shrimp. It was founded 17 years ago
From: mapasia@loxinfo.co.th
==========
Whitespot in the State of Sonora
In 2006, according to Luis Carlos Romo Salzar, subsecretary for fisheries and aquaculture in Sonora, there were 31 orders for the inspection of shrimp farms for whitespot; 19 of those farms tested positive for the virus and were quarantined.
With guideance from the Aquatic Health Committee in Sonora, sanitary actions and protocols have been activated by the Program of Health and Aquatic Harmlessness.
Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). White spot virus led to quarantine of 19 shrimp farms in Sonora in 2006-2007. Angel Rubio Cañas. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). January 5, 2006.
Bob Rosenberry, Editor/Publisher
Shrimp News International
From: Andrianna Natsoulas
anatsoulas@fwwatch.org
New UN resolution on Caribbean Sea seeks to protect, preserve it
By Watson R. Denis, Ph.D,
Political Advisor at the Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States
On December 20, 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled: "Towards the Sustainable Development of the Caribbean Sea for present and future generations" (A/C.2/61/L.30). This resolution differs from previous resolutions (54/225, 55/203, 57/261 and 59/230) adopted by the UN in that its declared objectives are unequivocal. Upon careful examination, the resolution is an achievement in light of efforts made almost a decade ago by organizations in the region including CARICOM and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) to secure the recognition of the Caribbean Sea as a special area in the context of sustainable development by the international community. It is timely to highlight the main points presented in this new resolution.
First of all, in its preamble and introduction, the resolution refers to the international instruments (reports, conferences and declarations) regarding environmental issues as well as conventions on the protection and enhancement of the marine environment of the Caribbean region and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Indeed, it makes reference to the major issues regarding sustainable development discussed by the international community in recent years.
Moreover, among the natural phenomena that compelled the members of the UN to adopt this resolution, they cite the fragility of the ecosystem of the Caribbean space and the economic vulnerability of the region. The resolution thus underscores the importance of climate changes and variations, the intensity of natural disasters, primarily drought, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.
And among the human phenomena, they make mention of the intensive use of the Sea for transportation, as well as marine pollution, both land-based and from vessels, which, out at sea, sometimes release waste and wastewater, not forgetting the accidental discharge of dangerous and toxic substances.
The adoption of the resolution is also based on efforts undertaken by the States and countries of the region to preserve the coastal and marine resources of which they are guardians and their expressed will to improve the management of the Sea in the context of sustainable development. The resolution highlights a number of reasons why the Caribbean Sea deserves to be protected and preserved for present and future generations.
There is no doubt that through the adoption of this resolution the community of Greater Caribbean nations has resolutely advanced toward the fundamental objective of having the Caribbean Sea declared a special zone.
Source:
Caribbean Net New
From: icsf@icsf.net
==========
The Bahamas
Bimini Island
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/business/290875237587902.php
Bimini--Fears resort will harm fish stock
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/bixex/293761186584954.php
By KEESHA BETHELL,
Guardian Staff Reporter
keesha@nasguaed.com
Despite on-going concerns about the destruction of mangroves, Bimini Bay says its project does not endanger nature and has the OK of health officials to prove it.
For the Bimini Bay project to be completed, mangroves have to be cut down and filled in.
Bimini residents feel the destruction of the wetlands will devastate its "biological richness", at the same time putting a damper on the island's main industry - fishing.
"They need to stop it now!" said a concerned resident. "This is going to kill the welfare of Bahamians.
"Soon my grandchildren won't even know what conch is."
Others accuse the government of rushing to approve the development without considering the well-being of the natural habitat.
Ebenezzer 'Ebby' David, a local fisherman and owner of Ebbie's Bimini Bonefish Club, said he doesn't feel that either political party cares about what is going on.
"When they are told about the problem, they either pretend to be clueless or they pretend to care," he said. "But in the end, it's all a stage act because nothing is ever done."
Another Biminite said there is hope.
"Election time is soon to come, so maybe then something will be done."
Bimini Bay is a luxury resort offering accommodations at the northern tip of the island. Upon completion, it is expected to offer visitors everything they need onsite. It will include a casino, golf course, restaurants and a variety of Bahamian-owned stores.
Some argue that the fishing industry will be sacrificed for that project.
According to an article on the Restrict Bimini Bay Resort website, the island has the only mangrove ecosystem on the entire Northwest Bahama Bank and is responsible for replenishing fish populations and thousands of square miles of coral reefs and seabeds.
On another link, the site documents a conversation between Bimini Bay and environmentalist, Jeremy Dietsch.
The resort refers to the island as one sheltering a world of natural beauty and one of the most important marine nursery habitats in the country, making for exciting fishing and diving against a stunning background of natural wonders.
Dietsch responds saying the development threatens to destroy that background of natural wonders.
Shark researcher and Director of the Bimini Biological Field Station, Dr Samuel Gruber, is also against the destruction of the mangroves.
"I don't have anything against the development, it has created economic growth and employment." he said. "But I do have a problem with the way it (the development) is being done.
"It could have have been done in a way to benefit both the inhabitants and the habitat."
He said the dredging is having a negative effect on the marine life.
According to Gruber, the growth rate of the native lemon sharks has declined. This, therefore, is going to lessen their chance of survival, he said.
"The situation with the lemon sharks, animals at the top of the food chain, is a good indicator that the food chain is in trouble."
Gruber revealed there is harmful algae growing in the habitat at the expense of the sea grass because of dredging.
He explained that sea grass is very important for the growth and hence survival of animals in the area, some of which include game fish (bone fish), conch and crawfish….
From: "Jana Rajnohova"
mangroves.jr@gmail.com
==========
Govt. Project Hit By FNM (Opposition Party)
By TAMARA McKENZIE,
Guardian Political Editor
tamara@nasguard.com
Many Bahamians are afraid that the 10,000-acre residential development in Mayaguana will shatter the cultural, demographic, environmental and social landscape of that island, claimed the Free National Movement (FNM) on Sunday.
"The PLP [Progressive Liberal Party] anchor is threatening to drown Mayaguana. If the PLP is re-elected, Mayaguana may be the tip of the iceberg with [Prime Minister] Perry Christie as captain of Titanic Bahamas," outlined the FNM in is weekly commentary issued to the press. Island after beautiful island stand to be given over to foreign real estate developers and that will destroy The Bahamas as we know it."
As the election campaign heats up and each party puts forth a position and various views to sway the voting masses, the FNM on Sunday claimed that environmentalists around the world have warned against the types of projects that are presently being proposed by the PLP. The Party noted that local environmentalists are outraged and stunned by the massive and unprecedented assault on land and marine resources, including water tables, hard wood trees, beaches, reefs, mangroves and wetlands. According to the FNM, the PLP laid out its economic "vision" in three sections of its 2002 manifesto: Rescuing the Economy, Implementing A National Development Strategy and Energizing the Bahamian Tourism Industry, but unfortunately, they mismanaged, rather than rescued the economy; implemented a disastrous model of development; and missed critical opportunities to increase Bahamian ownership of the tourism industry.
"Missing from the PLP's platform was what has been the central focus of its economic misadventure: the promotion of large-scale tourism anchor projects cum mega residential gated communities throughout the country," the FNM noted. "Even though many of their plans have not materialized, the PLP's goal is obviously to pursue hyper-growth, rather than sustainable development, and they are willing to alienate tens of thousands of acres of Bahamian land in the process."
The Opposition Party pointed out that while The Bahamas needs golf courses for tourists and Bahamian golfers, we simply cannot afford a proliferation of golf courses for these mega residential developments, such as those on Buck Cay in the Exuma Cays or at Baker's Bay on Great Guana Cay. The Party said it also has similar reservations about the indiscriminate approval to dredge and construct marinas throughout The Bahamas and queried whether the PLP could be entrusted to look after those vital interests of the Bahamian people, mainly because it is unable to complete the infrastructural improvements and projects the FNM left behind.
"Can we now trust them to put in place further infrastructure and monitoring capabilities for the massive projects they are approving?" the FNM questioned. "How will they plan and pay for the roads, airports, docks, police, customs and immigration services? But, more importantly, what about our people?" According to the FNM, the PLP's anchor project schemes can have many negative and irreversible cultural and demographic effects on Family Islands and much of the local culture is in danger of being lost forever.
The Party also attacked the PLP for "bragging" about being a government of consultation, but claimed that it has failed to consult with the people on the destiny of their communities and the direction of their lives.
The FNM said their Party is pledged not only to carry out environmental impact studies with each development but also social impact studies in consultation with local governments and with residents.
"The FNM Government will help people in the various islands to participate in the development of their own communities by way of training, technical assistance and access to financing. And we will most certainly not give away Bahamian land to foreigners for real estate development with insignificant benefit to Bahamians," the Party noted.
Search The Guardian
Copyright © 2006 The Nassau Guardian. All rights reserved.
From: Pat Weatherford
guanaloverpat@yahoo.com
USA
SunHearld.com
Posted on Sun, Jan. 07, 2007
SAFER WAY TO CATCH SHRIMP
Biloxi inventor Rainey envisions traps, not nets
By AL JONES
afjones@sunherald.com
BILOXI - Finally, after 30 years, Don Rainey's dream of saving the Gulf of Mexico is one step closer to a reality.
His step is in terms of an invention, but he still needs help taking the dream to the next level and getting manufacturers interested in his product.
The Biloxi native has designed, developed and patented shrimp traps he hopes one day will help save the habitat of the Gulf of Mexico, one of the richest bodies of water for seafood.
What Rainey invented are three traps ranging in size to catch small to larger amounts of shrimp without any bycatch of trout, snapper, flounder or crabs.
"The whole idea is to keep the Gulf of Mexico away from destruction," Rainey said. "The main thing is to save the Gulf of Mexico and other waterways. The concept is more important than the invention itself."
Rainey knows he's fighting an uphill battle because the shrimping industry is the backbone of South Mississippi's seafood industry. People have been pulling nets in the Mississippi Sound and offshore waters since the early 1900s and for many, it's their form of putting groceries on the table for their families.
Rainey, however, was a shrimper at one time. In fact, his family was one of the first to pull nets in South Mississippi and he got his first taste of the action in 1975 while working for his uncle, Buddy Drieling.
"My whole family was in the seafood business," Rainey said. "We caught shrimp, crabs and oysters back in the 1900s. When I started with my uncle, I saw all the bycatch - the boats were tearing everything up. At one time, breast-to-breast, six boats tore the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico up in one small area.
"That's when I started working on another way of catching shrimp. I wanted to go from nets to traps and my uncle said that would end his way of making a living. I disagreed."
The first set of traps, a rough copy of sorts, came together in 1981. Since the early days, Rainey has had three traps: Ocean Harvester, Bay Harvester and Bay Trap.
The Ocean Harvester can catch up to a barrel of shrimp while the Bay Harvester catches 15-to-20 pounds. The Bay Trap is capable of landing five-to-six pounds.
The traps, which are battery operated or run by night sticks, feature a gate similar to that of a standard crab trap. But neither of the traps require bait because shrimp feed off plankton, which is attracted to the trap by a small light.
When the plankton fill up the trap, shrimp enter and can't exit except for smaller shrimp.
Once again, fish will not get caught in the traps because the gates entering the traps are too small.
To test the traps, Rainey filled 20-gallon tanks with water and live shrimp. With the trap inside, the light was activated and shrimp became active and were caught inside.
"In 30 minutes, we had 35 shrimp go in," Rainey said.
Rainey then received a permit for the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the traps worked in the bay waters on a trial basis.
"The reason they work are the lights," he said. "Light attracts plankton and plankton attracts shrimp. If you put the traps where the shrimp are, the shrimp will go into them. The good things is the shrimp can live a couple of days because the traps will be full of plankton.
"The Bay Traps can be used for fishermen who might want to use live bait. All they have to do is place the traps in the water for 30 minutes or so and they will have all the bait they need. This will never put live bait owners out of business because they are always going to sell bait. I just wanted something to save the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico."
Rainey said the Ocean Harvester will save the environment and the ecology. The traps will not harm smaller shrimp or oysters and eliminates bycatch, while the traditional pulling of shrimp trawls also eliminates oxygen from the water.
Although the traps are complete, they are not available for purchase. That's where Rainey's dream could end if investors are not located to keep the dream alive and get the traps on the market to be sold.
"They work," he said. "I want to keep the price down where people can afford them."
From: mapasia@loxinfo.co.th
==========
Source
Wild American shrimp gets registered certification mark status
Wild American® Shrimp, Inc. (WASI) announced today that the words Wild American are now formally registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) as a certification mark of WASI. The mark was registered on January 16, 2007 as U.S. Registration No. 3,199,175. The Wild American® logo was previously registered by the PTO
"Our work is to distinguish Wild American® Shrimp from the imported pond-raised shrimp sold to most consumers today." said, Eddie Gordon, executive director of WASI. "With the registration of our certification mark, we'll be able to better protect our domestic products and assure consumers that when they choose Wild American® Shrimp, they're purchasing a product wild harvested in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic that provides a taste, texture and quality that is uniquely from nature and simply cannot be matched."
WASI administers the Wild American® Shrimp Certification Program, which ensures that warm-water, wild caught shrimp from U.S. coastal waters meet a high standard of quality and consistency. Shrimp that meet these stringent standards are labeled with the distinctive certified Wild American® Shrimp mark. More than 50 approved suppliers provide this quality product to processors, distributors, retailers, grocers and restaurants who rely on the quality and consistency of the certification and the certified Wild American® Shrimp logo to distinguish their product.
Source:
From: "Elaine Corets"
manglar@comcast.net
CONFERENCES/ WORKSHOPS & PUBLICATIONS
National Geograhic’s February 2007 Issue Highlights Mangroves
Please check out the Feb. issue of National Geogaphic. The 'On Assignment' link to the mangrove story include a great quote from a Brazilian farmer whose life was thrown into upheaval by the encroachment of a shrimp farm adjacent to his land. The author Kennedy Warne wrote the following:
National Geographin Article
The toughest aspect of researching this story was to confront the human impacts of the shrimp-farming industry, which has been responsible for massive destruction of mangrove wetlands and their adjacent salt marsh areas. But the environmental damage of irresponsible shrimp aquaculture goes beyond just the cutting down of trees. In the Brazilian coastal village of Curral Velho, which means "old corral," I stood in the barren garden of Alouiso Rodrigues dos Santos. The 74-year-old told me he had grown vegetables on his plot of land since 1958: sweet potatoes, melons, cassavas, beans. The land was so productive he had to tie up his papaya trees with ropes to stop the weight of fruit from toppling them. Five years ago a shrimp farmer built his ponds right up to the boundary, 30 yards (30 meters) from dos Santos's back door. Now, with the seepage of salty water from the ponds, his land produces nothing but saltwort and weeds. Unable to grow food, dos Santos turned to the sea, borrowing money to build a fish trap. But heavy seas destroyed it. "The land threw me out to sea, and the sea threw me back to land," he said. "Where can I turn except to God?"
From Elaine Corets
manglar@comcast.net
===========
Colombo, Sri Lanka and Bangkok, Thailand: 18 December 2006
New TV series revisits the Asian Tsunami‚s environmental lessons
Identifies many remaining challenges in managing coral reefs, mangroves and sand dunes across coastal Asia
Two years after the devastating Tsunami, are Asian countries managing their coastal resources more rationally and scientifically?
As the memories of the mega-disaster fade, is there a danger that its important environmental lessons might soon be forgotten?
Why do local communities battle bureaucracies and vested interests to save, restore or manage Asia‚s coral reefs, mangroves and sand dunes?
On the eve of the Asian Tsunami‚s second anniversary, an investigative new TV series from TVE Asia Pacific raises these and other pertinent questions. In search of answers, it returns to many locations in South and Southeast Asia battered by the disaster, and talks to a cross section of scientists, activists and local community groups.
'The Greenbelt Reports' uses a dozen case studies to emphasize that the only way Asia‚s remaining coastal greenbelts -- coral reefs, mangroves and sand dunes -- can be saved is by balancing ecosystem conservation with survival needs of local people.
The series was filmed in mid 2006 in several coastal locations in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- countries that were hardest hit by the Tsunami on 26 December 2004. It comprises a dozen 5 minute video films, each a self contained story, and a half hour documentary that offers a regional overview of the state of greenbelts in Asia.
Using compelling images, interview clips and brief narration, each film tells the story of a community, activist group or researchers engaged in saving, restoring or regenerating a coastal greenbelt.
Produced on an editorially independent basis by TVE Asia Pacific (TVEAP, www.tveap.org) a regional foundation specialised in communicating sustainable development using TV and video -- the series is available for broadcast, educational and civil society users. It comes free of license fee for all users in developing countries.
In researching and filming the series, TVEAP collaborated with a large number of local, national, regional or global conservation organizations and research institutes. These included IUCN - The World Conservation Union, Mangrove Action Project, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Wetlands International and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The TV series is one major output of a multi-media, Asian educational project TVEAP launched in 2005 to journalistically investigate efforts to balance conservation needs of coastal greenbelts with socio-economic needs of coastal communities.
It was inspired by many reports from across Tsunami-affected Asia of how coral reefs, mangroves or sand dunes had buffered the killer waves, saving lives and reducing property damage. For years, scientists and environmentalists had known about this Œgreenbelt effect‚: coastal vegetation and reefs may not fully block tsunamis or cyclones, but they can reduce the impact.
"These stories are not about the Asian Tsunami itself, but they reflect a key lesson driven home by the disaster," says Nalaka Gunawardene, Director and CEO of TVE Asia Pacific. "In this series, we amplify that message: the need to save or restore greenbelts across coastal Asia."
"For many coastal areas of Asia, this message arrives a little too late," says Gunawardene, who scripted and executive produced The Greenbelt Reports. "For decades, mangroves, coral reefs and sand dunes have been degraded or destroyed by population pressures, poverty and economic development activities."
For example, mangroves have been cleared on many Asian coasts and wetlands to set up shrimp farms or tourist hotels. In the five Asian countries that were hardest by the tsunami, some 1.5 million hectares were lost between 1980 and 2000 - a quarter of the region's total mangrove cover.
The value of natural barriers is not just in disaster mitigation. As sea levels rise, and as extreme weather events intensify due to global warming, these will become important elements in coping strategies for coastal countries and communities.
"The good news is that local communities and activists are taking up these challenges with or without government and outside help," says The Greenbelt Reports: Armed by Nature, half-hour documentary in the series. "Their efforts offer some hope for the beleaguered greenbelts of Asia."
The Greenbelt Reports series offers several examples:
* Encouraged and advised by scientists from the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, many Indian coastal villages are building or strengthening Œbio-shields‚ of mangroves, other plants or sand dunes.
* People in Tuntaset village in southern Thailand found a decades-old law that allows local communities to manage their mangrove. Taking advantage of this, they have transformed a coastal area once devastated by charcoal and shrimp industries.
* The village of Paanama on Sri Lanka‚s east coast was miraculously saved from the tsunami by a sand dune and mangrove forest. The local people have now come together to conserve both greenbelts.
* For decades, the people of Jaring Halus on Sumatra island managed their own mangrove forest using traditional methods. Now the government has asked them to co-manage mangroves in a nearby wildlife sanctuary -- a first for Indonesia.
The series has been produced to international broadcast standards with original English narration. Interviews, in half a dozen Asian languages, are sub-titled in English. All stories were filmed by locally-based, internationally credentialed TV professionals under TVE Asia Pacific‚s direction. It is entirely an Asian effort.
The Greenbelt Reports was produced with financial or technical advisory support from several conservation organisations, development agencies and media companies. These include the Japan Fund for Global Environment, TVE Japan and the Green Coast Project, administered by IUCN Sri Lanka and financed by Oxfam Novib. The Nation Broadcasting Corporation of Thailand was a co-producing partner for three Thai stories.
Background
Television for Education - Asia Pacific, trading as TVE Asia Pacific, is a regional not-for-profit organisation that uses television, video and Internet for public communication of development issues. Governed by an international Board of Directors and headquartered in Sri Lanka, it both produces and distributes editorially independent TV programming, which are regularly carried by over 50 public and private TV channels across the Asia Pacific. For more information, visit: http://www.tveap.org
The Greenbelt Reports TV series will soon be backed by print material and a dedicated website to be located at www.greenbelts.net providing further information, analysis and links to many sources. For now, more information and synopses are available from:
http://www.tveap.org/news/0812greenbelt.html
http://www.tveap.org/news/0812armed.html
Full list of country and regional level production credits available at:
http://www.tveap.org/news/0812armed_teams.html
TVE Asia Pacific carried out the Children of Tsunami media project during 2005, which tracked on video the recovery stories of eight ordinary families affected by the disaster in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. All resulting material is archived at:
www.childrenoftsunami.info
* * * * * *
Quotes from The Greenbelt Reports
The Greenbelt Reports carries interviews with many Asians who are at the frontlines in saving, restoring or managing coastal greenbelts. Here are some highlights:
"We do not want to have land title but we want to have the right to manage and use the resources in a sustainable way."
- Pisit Charsnoh, Yadfon Association, Thailand (winner of Goldman Prize for protection the environment)
"Restoration if it is going to have an effect has to be done in a wide scale and our main target is to spread into other reefs."
- Prasanna Weerakkody, Nature Conservation Group, Sri Lanka
"Mangrove plants has got its own system of roots, as well as branching systems. When the mangroves grow very close, they just become a biological barrier. So, when the water comes and hits this roots first, they absorb most of the energy."
- Dr. V Selvam, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, India
"It takes many years for the trees to grow, but it takes only one day to destroy it."
- Jureerat Pechsai (Deun), Pra Thong island, Thailand
"Community involvement? give them right to manage their forest?"
- Lukman Hakim, Mangrove Action Project, Indonesia
"We see great emphasis on building new, even more infrastructure in the coastal areas than even pre-tsunami?So I think the lessons have not been learnt."
- Jim Enright, Mangrove Action Project - Southeast Asia
How to obtain The Greenbelt Reports
The Greenbelt Reports first series (12 x 5 mins, totaling 60 mins of viewing) is available as a single compilation on VHS Video and DVD. The half hour documentary, The Greenbelt Reports: Armed by Nature is separately available, also on VHS video and DVD. Copies can be ordered online from TVE Asia Pacific‚s e-shop at: http://www.tveap.org/shopping/search.php
For obtaining broadcast masters, contact TVE Asia Pacific‚s Distribution Division:
Phone: + 94 11 4412 195;
Fax: + 94 11 4403 443;
Email: sales@tveap.org
For media queries and interview requests, contact Nalaka Gunawardene, Executive Producer of the series at: gbr@tveap.org
==========
WLT Books for Conservation Programme
Please forward to your network...
Do you belong to a non-government conservation organisation (NGO) in a country where it is difficult to obtain important reference material? If you do, the World Land Trust‚s ŒBooks for Conservation‚ Programme may be able to help.
The World Land Trust has a wide stock of used and slightly damaged natural history books, including field guides, text books and other books related to natural history and the environment. These are available free of charge.
World Land Trust books
from the January 10, 2007 edition
Fish farms in the ocean? Group pushes Congress to pass tough rules.
Peter N. Spotts
Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
With an eye toward putting more homegrown fish fillets on American plates, the US government is laying the groundwork to open its offshore waters to industrial-scale fish farms.
But before it opens vast areas of ocean to aquaculture, Washington needs to ensure that fish farms don't sully the wider waters that nurture them, according to several experts. These experts offered a blueprint for building a sustainable offshore aquaculture industry in a report released earlier this week.
It calls for the federal government to grant permits for farms in the waters between three miles and 200 miles offshore. To receive those permits, owners would have to comply with strict water-quality standards. The fish they could farm would be limited largely to local native species. If owners wanted to grow nonnative species, they would have to show that the harm to wild species in the area would be small if members of their "crop" escape. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would grant and oversee the permits.
The report - from the grass-roots Marine Aquaculture Task Force - comes as lawmakers and NOAA are preparing draft legislation to open the nation's offshore waters to fish farming. Some 40 percent of the fish Americans eat come from overseas fish farms, according to the US Commerce Department. This contributes to an $8 billion seafood trade deficit. The Bush administration aims to expand today's $1 billion-a-year aquaculture industry to $5 billion a year by 2025.
But using fish farms to meet the world's growing demand for protein is controversial.
Advocates see industrial-scale deep-sea aquaculture as inevitable. Marine scientists estimate that some 70 percent of marine fisheries are so heavily fished that the species either aren't reproducing fast enough to replace the losses, or they are barely keeping pace. Aquaculture, proponents argue, can help meet demand for fish and help allow wild fish stocks to rebuild.
Opponents, however, cite a range of problems. Based on experiences with modern aquaculture so far, relatively pampered farmed fish can escape and breed with wild stocks, rendering wild fish less genetically fit to survive the harsh conditions they face. Similar concerns accompany the prospect of farming genetically modified fish. Farms can undercut the quality of seawater in the area as nutrient levels - as well as antibiotics or other drugs in the feed - increase beyond the ecosystem's ability to cleanse the water. And fish farming can lead to overfishing of the species used as feed. Growers raising carnivorous fin fish must supply roughly three pounds of fish meal and oil to raise one pound of farmed fish.
"Aquaculture is agriculture, but in a whole new domain," says Christopher Mann, executive director of the small team of scientists, public officials, environmentalists, and industry representatives that prepared the report. "If we're going to get into this in an industrial way - and it looks like we are - we have an opportunity to do it right" from the beginning.
On the heels of two major reports in 2003 and 2004 on the need to overhaul US ocean policy, Sens. Ted Stevens (R) of Alaska and Daniel Inouye (D) of Hawaii introduced legislation two years ago designed to jump-start aquaculture in federal waters out to 200 miles. But the bill has languished, notes Rebecca Goldburg, of Environmental Defense in New York. Its shortcomings, she says, included very weak environmental provisions.
The new report represents a grass-roots effort among scientists, environmentalists, and fish farmers to address issues raised by the two major reports and the legislation, says Judy McDowell, a marine biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Woods Hole, Mass. With backing from the The Pew Charitable Trusts and The Lenfest Foundation, Dr. McDowell pulled the team together in 2005 to examine industrial-scale aquaculture.
Although the report was publicly released only Monday, its provisions already have had an effect, Dr. Goldburg notes. NOAA recognized the shortcomings in the original bill and has drafted tighter environmental provisions for a similar bill expected to be introduced during the new session of Congress. The changes, she says, were based on an early look the group gave NOAA at some of the report's recommendations.
It's unclear how quickly offshore aquaculture would grow if a bill passes, says Adm. Richard Pittenger, a former WHOI official who chaired the panel that wrote the report. "Working in the ocean, it's absolutely guaranteed that catastrophes will happen; it's a nasty environment." Frequent storms and the high cost of operating ships to maintain and repair undersea pens and environmental monitoring equipment are among the challenges.
Still, task-force members say, the recommendations should put US efforts on a sound environmental and economic footing and influence aquaculture practices in other countries as well.
Full HTML version of this story which may include photos, graphics, and related links
From: "Elaine Corets"
manglar@comcast.net
