Palau: QED!

Source.

And here we go.

Looks like Palau's Marine Sanctuary has backfired.

All I can say is that I'm totally not surprised, see here and here.
That's what you get when NGOs parachute in and propose half-baked solutions to credulous politicians.

And now?
Accountability anybody?
 

Yeah I know I know...

Elena - Real World Shark Conservation!

Me gusta muchisimo!

Well done Elena, this is a most lovely video!

No not because of the honorable mention - because as one of last year's crop of Rolex scholars we've hosted, she is doing us proud by listening, understanding and then, educating! She is smart, passionate and hails from a developing country = exactly the kind of person to whom we would love to pass the torch!

And great to see her meeting so many good people and friends! :)

Enjoy!

Sustainable Shark Fins - encore!

Indeed!

Hah!

I totally missed this when it came out.
Please do take the time to watch it.

And now, read this op-ed by KT Tan.

Same old same old - remember this post? 

There you will also find links to excellent answers by Shark Savers to those allegations. In essence, KT's arguments once again detract from the fact that the majority of the fins originate from completely unregulated, unsustainable and often illegal fisheries.

So no need for me to dwell on a rebuttal.

But of course there's also a big kernel of truth!

It is certainly completely wrong to engage in unilateral Asia bashing. 

And from a conservation point of view, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to ban the fins of (already dead) Sharks that have been fished sustainably, let alone been certified - the more since if you watch the interview with the Singaporean fin trader at the end, there already appears to be a trade in sustainably sourced fins.

So, it's back to square one isn't it.

The various campaigns to curb the demand for Shark fin soup are laudable, and the successes are impressive - nice synopsis with excellent comments by Sam here. But like she correctly remarks, Sharks continue to be targeted for other reasons, and bycatch rates plus IUU remain a grave concern.

Solutions - and I am of course repeating myself!

• Depending on local circumstances (!), let's stop fighting for absolute bans and instead advocate full sustainability - which before you start getting agitated  does of course imply finning bans!

But to facilitate the monitoring and the enforcement, this is what we should ask for

• That anybody wanting to pursue any Shark fishing activity come up with independent proof that what he does is fully sustainable

• That anybody trading in Sharks and Shark parts come up with independent proof that his merchandise originates from sustainable and legal fisheries and has been obtained by legal means

As long as that proof is not forthcoming, the pressure on the industry should be kept up.

But once the industry shows a willingness to reform,

• Let us help establish and grow a premium market for certified Shark fins from sustainably managed Shark fisheries!

I know - not what the breathy sharktivists want to hear.

But it is the right thing to do. Like I said, you may oppose it and and then find yourselves trying to catch up later - or you can embrace it and be at the forefront of smart pragmatic conservation.

The choice is yours.

Best fishing Video!

Great find by Allen!

Yes I do fish.

Many I release, some I eat - and as long as they are fast growing and plentiful species like e.g. Mahi Mahi, there's nothing wrong with that. Provided that they are managed/fished sustainably, Fish are a renewable resource - and extreme positions like this one do NOTHING in helping to address the very real issue of overfishing.

Not impressed!

Anyway.

Great video - enjoy!

WildLifeRisk - one more gruesome Video!

Source.

And it's not only about those poor Whale Sharks.

Here's another look at the Shark slaughtering industry.

As per this older post by Gary, this is about much more than just the fins and the soup - and those in the movement that continue to indulge in racist attacks against the Asians would be well advised to have a long hard look at who kills the majority of Sharks (yes that would be the EU) and where the demand for those bogus dietary supplements comes from, namely predominanly Europe and the USA!

Solutions?

And yes, I'm very much repeating myself!

Anyway, watch.

Palau - Marine Sanctuary!

Source.

Remember?

And now it appears that it has been enacted.

I still find it silly - why not let Fish stocks recover and then fish sustainably according to strict, science based guidelines whilst slowly building a domestic fishing and seafood processing industry? If managed sustainably, seafood is a totally renewable resource - so why forfeit that source of income for the country?

Oh well.

Looks like some NGOs have spent a lot of time and resources to have it their way. Good on them as it will look good with the donors and will undoubtedly generate brownie points for the individuals that have conducted the negotiations.
For them, it is undoubtedly a great coup.

For Palau, not convinced.

Palau - Proposal for a Marine Sanctuary!

Tommy Remengesau - a visionary?

Wow.

The president of Palau is proposing to declare Palau's entire EEZ a marine sanctuary where any commercial fishing would be banned.

Prima vista, it sounds like a great initiative.

It is undoubtedly so that those distant water fleets are pillaging the Pacific without any regard for sustainability and against totally inadequate compensation - and I'm not only talking about Japan and Taiwan but very much also the USA and Europe! With that in mind, one should really finally tell them to fuck off.

But is a total fishing ban really the best solution?

Would it not be way smarter to start developing a local commercial fleet, to fish sustainably, process the Fish in Palau and then sell it offshore? After all, if managed properly, Fish are a totally renewable resource and truly sustainable fishing does not harm biodiversity - so why deprive the country of this income and the tourists, of their Lobster Thermidor?

Hell, defining and implementing 100% sustainable fishing quotas and techniques with the aid of some reputable NGOs would be a great project and propel Palau right to the top of visionary fishing nations!

Or am I missing something here?