Conservation Officer Report- March 2013

[charlieannear]

Conservation Officer Report- March 2013

 

I'm not sure if there has been a sudden increase in Marine Conservation effort, or if it's because I am becoming aware of more and more sources of information regarding Marine Conservation activity worldwide, or if the topic is suddenly fashionable and is therefore getting a lot more media attention than in recent years, but either way, there is a lot going on out there!

This can only be a good thing. The more that the wider public is aware about the state of the oceans, the more pressure they will put on politicians to build on the protection and restoration of the Marine Environment through sustainable fishing practices, reduction in polution and restriction on damaging activities. 

This past month has seen voting by European Politicians on considerable reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, the creation of an international organisation which has the aim of legislating and promoting sustainable fishing in international waters, and groundbreaking protection for some of the most threatened species of sharks and rays by a renowned international body.

Even though some of these schemes are dealing with exotic species, thousands of miles away, the worlds oceans are all linked, and the effects of these schemes ripple outwards. The ripples and strategies which cause them will eventually reach Poole Bay... and hopefully there will still be fish in our club waters when they get here.

 

Big news, European Fisheries reform:
-Fisheries reform has now been debated by the next group of people at the EU. The result of this has been that some of the points voted on by the European Parliament have been diluted, however, progress is still being made.

Angling Trust:
-Reccommend the voluntary code for Bait Digging: http://www.anglingtrust.net/page.asp?section=814&sectionTitle=Angling+Trust+Recommended+Voluntary+Code+Of+Conduct+For+Personal+Bait+Digging

-Deliver their ‘Cormorant Dossier of Destruction. Not sure how I feel about this. Probably would have a slightly different attitude if I was a freshwater angler (which I’m not really) but the reason which Cormorants are plundering freshwater fisheries is that there aren’t enough fish in the sea. AT should make this a key point in their strategy, to add further weight in support of the arguments to increase marine fishery protection and conservation measures. More fish in the = less Cormorants inland.
-David Mitchell’s blog, commenting on funding of Sea Angling projects: http://tidelines.anglingtrust.net/2013/03/01/cash-on-the-barrelhead/

MCS (Marine Conservation Society):
-Successfully persuaded a number of organisations to change their plans and arrange alternatives to planned ‘Balloon Releases’, and will continue to do so.
-Northern Ireland Marine Litter Strategy to be published in the coming months.
This will be the first in the UK. Hopefully other areas will follow.

MRC (Marine Reserves Coalition):
-Research in the worlds richest marine area (in terms of species) shows that the size of MPA’s (Marine Protected Areas) does matter: http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/details.html?rsnpid=219898

There are several new organisations that I’ve become aware of via Twitter. This one is based in the USA. They are prolific tweeters!
FCF (Fisheries Conservation Foundation) “...promotes the principles of sustainability and sound science in our use of freshwater and marine ecosystems.”:
-Microscopic larval stage (glochidia) of a particular species of mussels extracts nitrogen from the gills of the Largemouth Bass. This demonstrates how seemingly unrelated species interact, and how detrimental impact on one could have an negative effect on another.  The larval mussels need the fish for that stage of their development, and the fish benefit from the activity of the larval mussels. It is likely that our native/local fish and shellfish also rely on each other in similar ways. Freshwater Mussels need 1. Suitable habitat. 2. Presence of host fish for glochidia 3. Good water quality: they are sensitive to changes. Out of 300 species, 77 are imperiled, 108 at risk.
-Promoting CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)and fighting for increased protection of Sharks and Rays internationally (as are all of the other organisations in this report).
-Raising awareness of the threats associated with plastics in the oceans
-Economic effect of RSA: http://trap.it/nEFzXd

DEFRA:
-Consultation on MCZ’s ends 31 March 2013: http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/12/13/marine-conservation-zones-1212/

 

Launched this month by David Miliband
GOC (Global Ocean Commission):
-90% of many large fish stocks have disappeared: http://www.globaloceancommission.org/
-Fisheries remove 80m tons of marine life from the oceans each year. Sustainable?: http://www.globaloceancommission.org/news/outstanding-opportunity/

 

Dorset Wildlife  Trust:
-This month is the last chance of have your say on MCZ’s
-The substance which affected a number of seabirds has been identified as ‘Polyisobutylene’, and the rescued birds have now recovered and been released back into the wild. It is currently unknown how many birds died at sea, or whether this substance was released in a large enough volume to have an effect on the food chain i.e. will it have had any effect on fish.

 

B.A.S.S:
-Recreational Sea Angling specifically mentioned in the CFP for the first time: http://ukbass.com/2013/02/08/recreational-fishing-included-for-the-first-time/

 

Hugh’s Fishfight:
-After success in assisting in raising awareness of discards, focus now widening to include other irresponsible and unsustainable practices, and supporting the creation of MPA’s internationally.
-New series has been on Thursdays on Channel 4. The last 3 episodes are still available on 4OD: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hughs-fish-fight/4od
-Last episode highlighted the incredible practices used to catch food for farmed King Prawns. Basically the fishermen are catching everything, and it gets minced up and dried and used to feed farmed prawns. I can only imagine that before much longer these fisheries will be completely wiped out, and then the fishermen will move further out. They are even fishing what are
supposed to be protected areas. It might be on the other side of the planet, but marine systems are linked. 38,00 messages were sent to UK Supermarkets following this episode and this campaign is likely to be one of the big ones of 2013.
-Held a protest march in London from the London Aquarium to the Houses of Parliament on 25 February in support of the creation of 127 MCZ’s.

 

PDSAA: Next meeting 21 March 2013.

Maria Damanaki (EU Commissioner responsible for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries):
-It's important to move to #CFPrefrom, for a real #discard ban, w/ clear & binding timetable - #CFPreform: flexibility to find solutions to make the #discard ban workable: yes! But undermining the very heart of the discard policy: no!
-We want an effective #discard ban, we want to stop high levels of discarding of all important species #CFPreform
-World #Ocean Review 2: illegal #fishing is a major issue. Between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish caught illegally a year http://worldoceanreview.com/bestellen/
-World Ocean Review2 is out: Maximum sustainable yield can prevent #overfishing. Alaska, NewZealand & Australia examples to follow #CFPreform - #USA & #EU tackle illegal #fishing - From a Shared Vision to Action' Op-ed w/ #JaneLubchenco #IUU @NOAAFisheries

 

Pew Charitable Trusts:
-Maintaining a review of a wide range of environmental issues, primarily CITES over the last month and ‘Project Scale’: http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/other-resources/remarks-from-pew-executive-vice-president-josh-reichert-on-the-launch-of-interpols-project-scale-85899454460?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Ocean&utm_campaign=iuu
-More on launch of Project Scale: http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/press-releases/interpol-launches-major-global-initative-to-fight-illegal-fishing-85899453604?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Ocean&utm_campaign=iuu
-and: http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/press-releases/interpol-launches-major-global-initative-to-fight-illegal-fishing-85899453604?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Ocean&utm_campaign=iuu
-Can The Southern Ocean gain protection before it is threatened?: http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/other-resources/antarctic-marine-protection-film-wins-international-film-honors-85899453170?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Ocean&utm_campaign=sos
-Impact of removing one species on the others: http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/other-resources/pew-encourages-timely-adoption-of-west-coast-ocean-ecosystem-plan-85899449551
-Australia making finishing touches on Coral Sea Reserve. Set to be the World’s largest MPA: http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/other-resources/protecting-our-coral-sea-85899451217?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=gol
-Protect Sharks and Rays (Video):

!

 

BBC:
-Bang Goes the Theory. Good overview of the Environmental impact of plastics: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01r6yqt/Bang_Goes_the_Theory_Series_7_Episode_1/

BBC News:
-Research suggests that 100 million sharks are killed annually: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21629173
-Endangered sharks return to natural home in Bahamas MPA: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/21497049
-Can commercial fishery technology save fish?: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21500701
-Progress on CFP reform: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21598367
-and: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21584863

 

The Independant:
-Example of the effects of human medication can have once they’ve been passed from the human body: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/something-fishy-going-on-antidepressants-contaminating-rivers-make-perch-antisocial-8495075.html

 

The Observer:
-Highlighting the creation of the GOC (Global Ocean Commission) and involvement of David Miliband: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/09/lawless-high-seas-threaten-the-planet?CMP=twt_gu

 

The Guardian:
-Reporting that industries fishing the high seas can’t be trusted to act responsibly, and supporting the creation of the GOC: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/10/stop-plunder-of-the-high-seas
-In support of Fishfight: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/15/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall-fish-fight-necessary?CMP=twt_gu
-Shark killings exceed 100 million every year: http://m.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/02/shark-killings-humans-become-predators
-Manta Ray worth $1m in a lifetime through tourism, or $40 as a catch: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2013/mar/05/manta-rays-cites-illegal-wildlife-trade?CMP=twt_gu

New York Times:
-Trying to explain how CFP reform is happening: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/europes-rift-over-overfishing-and-subsidies/?src=recg
-Making places MPA’s doesn’t mean they are safe forever: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/bracing-for-a-new-england-trawling-decision/

Daily Monitor:
-Cost of illegal fishing in Uganda. Showing that illegal fishing does not make money, it has a cost. Everywhere.: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Govt-loses-billions-in-illegal-fishing-annually/-/688334/1700982/-/2yxm4o/-/index.html

Honolulu Weekly:
-Report on the success of the world’s first oceanic no-fishing area: http://honoluluweekly.com/cover/2013/02/grand-food-banks-2/

 

Sun Sentinel:
-The issue of 'Ghost Nets' (abandoned commercial fishing gear): http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-ghost-net-20130228,0,350687.story

 

Science Direct:
-A Greenhouse, including hose fittings and flowerpots has been found inside a dead sperm whale. We have seen the considerable effect of plastics on seabirds when they mistakenly eat plastic in the sea. Fish must also be consuming plastics. Fish stocks are in decline everywhere and this is an additional pressure: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X13000489

Stuff NZ:
-Battle for MPA’s in New Zealand (showing that the same discussions are taking place all over the world: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/8326373/Kermadec-sanctuary-an-avenue-for-Kiwi-pride

Gulf of Mexico:
-Strategies in place for the restoration of Red Snapper. Interesting to compare to our own discussions on Bass and other local species: http://gulfcouncil.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/more-fish-less-fishing.html

Navitus Bay:
-Nothing to report

 

END OF REPORT