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MEXICO ANNOUNCES PERMANENT
GILLNET BAN - VICTORY FOR VAQUITA
On June 1, 2017 the Mexican Government announced some great news. Gillnet fishing is permanently banned in the protection zone of the vaquita in the northern Gulf of California. The agreement is effective upon publication and was dated June 21, 2017. A lot depends on how the new rules are implemented and effective enforcement, but this is a critical step for the long-term preservation of the vaquita. Importantly, it includes bans on night fishing and on transporting or possession of gillnets in the area, but it does exclude the active use of gillnets in the corvina and sierra fisheries. This ban is essential for the vaquita to survive in its natural habitat, and is what scientist and conservationists have been requesting for many years. Congratulations to the Mexican Government; it's a boost to Save The Whales and many organizations who have been working for years to save this little porpoise.
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AGGRESSIVE ORCAS ARE
STEALING FISHING BOATS CATCH
After decades of relatively calm existence between Bering Strait cod and halibut fishers, Alaska's orcas appear to be changing the rules.The orcas wait throughout the day for a fisher to accumulate a catch of halibut and then force their hand. They stalk individual fishing boats and sometimes even force them back to port.
Harassment by orcas seems to be occurring in the Bering Strait, which is the body of water separating western Alaska from Russia.
Alaskan sources said that only recently has it become so bad that they avoid fishing there if whales are around. A 2014 study of the financial impact estimated the cost to fishermen at around $500US daily but in Uruguay, a 2015 study of boats using similar fishing techniques found that the presence of killer whales in the fishing ground seems not to affect the catch.
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DRINKING STRAWS
KILL MARINE LIFE
Some facts on straws.
- The Coastal Commission found that 254 different species of marine animals have been discovered as having ingested some form of marine debris.
- It is estimated that plastic makes up around 90% of marine debris.
- Chemicals inside plastic can react when exposed to UV rays. If a fish swallows that contaminated plastic and a human consumes that fish, that person is now exposed to toxins.
- It is estimated that 175 billion straws are used each year in the United States.
- It takes around 200 years for a single plastic straw to break down. Plastic does not disappear in the ocean environment, it just breaks down into smaller bits.
This is an easy way for an individual to cut straws out of daily use. When a server brings you a drink and straw, just say, "No straw, please."
Glass straws are said to be a safe and study alternative to plastic straws. We see more whales dying from plastic ingestion. Strawesome states that 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million seabirds die every year due to plastic pollution. To cut down on straw usage, the sidebar tells how to purchase a Strawesome.
The video is upsetting and has some swearing. It shows a straw being removed from a sea turtle's nostril. Copy this into your browser and return.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw
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President
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