tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43136448957201217142024-03-06T00:46:43.153-08:00Rachel's Marine BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-67414379753268958062009-12-02T06:07:00.001-08:002010-01-26T12:04:00.286-08:00Welcome to Rachel's Marine Blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b-UTVCCXofcvpYx7zlYBTHk49KuTfaHAjegCujc-uNyC1xkh_3koQnY1FYTsyaceh1R8o43UlLU4eFgpRDleIDOwbHzTm0UJ5Xv3vParlGB_b-qI-7kHYthcSZGInj6k74nRCP44BWgp/s1600/hammerhead_party_simon_rogerson.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408789082785971938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b-UTVCCXofcvpYx7zlYBTHk49KuTfaHAjegCujc-uNyC1xkh_3koQnY1FYTsyaceh1R8o43UlLU4eFgpRDleIDOwbHzTm0UJ5Xv3vParlGB_b-qI-7kHYthcSZGInj6k74nRCP44BWgp/s400/hammerhead_party_simon_rogerson.jpg" /></a><br />The following site is a summary of all wildlife crime lectures taught from 2009 to 2010. The links on the right hand menu give the reader access to all the previous blog posts and lectures.<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffcc00;"><strong>The course focuses on the current codes of practice and legislation in place to discourage the loss or depletion of biodiversity due to wildlife crime.<br /></strong></span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiuzPeYlxzFOYux4oX4868V5f5gK2zvgpUKdPf2WqVgSDhDXnm-piTt-WPlKQrWSCIH2VbORQnxwmgbT7pS1Te2wX5vMPhP5D6-MI0qvgbzyadXtOkCyzRbiaggTlWHXDFsTGzfM3fB8p/s1600/7034290806099-med.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408790462143166434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiuzPeYlxzFOYux4oX4868V5f5gK2zvgpUKdPf2WqVgSDhDXnm-piTt-WPlKQrWSCIH2VbORQnxwmgbT7pS1Te2wX5vMPhP5D6-MI0qvgbzyadXtOkCyzRbiaggTlWHXDFsTGzfM3fB8p/s400/7034290806099-med.jpg" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-74843059734566634592009-12-02T06:06:00.003-08:002010-01-12T08:57:17.934-08:00Detailed Summary of Defras Wildlife Crime Manual<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoryVcYlvXmYQIxe7ZJmv_EDT2JRAK37H85VQB3TbP6STwo3EqizWN2qdiA7cHs1vwnpIKzgKDicGPsAttkQiAY6cpDwEBYnHD8XNoyoLpx5V6UYYw2x7dWHt19A63OOd9GQ62l0MZLYg/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 176px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425893153725230562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoryVcYlvXmYQIxe7ZJmv_EDT2JRAK37H85VQB3TbP6STwo3EqizWN2qdiA7cHs1vwnpIKzgKDicGPsAttkQiAY6cpDwEBYnHD8XNoyoLpx5V6UYYw2x7dWHt19A63OOd9GQ62l0MZLYg/s200/untitled.bmp" /></a><br /><div>The full publication by Defra is available via this <a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/paw/publications/pdf/wildlifecrime-forensics.pdf">link</a>.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Background</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Police Wildlife Crime Officer's (WCO) network exisits in the UK and is part of the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit (<a href="http://www.north-wales.police.uk/nwcu/home.asp">NWCIU</a>). Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (<a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/paw/">PAW</a>) and Forensics Working Group (FWG) are also associated with UK wildlife crime enforcement.<br />The use of forensics (application of scientific knowledge to legal matters) is often used in wildlife crime cases as it can supply high quality eveidence that leads to a prosecution.<br />Issues featuring regularly in these cases are:<br />1) <em>what is the identity of the specimen in question?</em><br />2) <em>what is the provenance of the specimen in question?</em><br />3) <em>what is the cause of death ?</em><br />4) <em>can a suspect be connected to a wildlife crime scene?</em><br /><em></em><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Evidence Collected at a Crime Scene</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />The investigator must;<br />- avoid cross contamination<br />- establish what would be the most useful type of evidence to obtain<br /><br />Types of Evidence;<br />1) <span style="color:#ff9900;">Fingerprints</span>: Collected from suitable surfaces or on items potentially handled by a suspect.<br />2) <span style="color:#ff9900;">Fibres, hairs, & fur</span>: Fibres may be transferred from clothing or items used in commision of an offence.<br />3) <span style="color:#ff9900;">Footwear, tyre, & instrument marks</span>: Vehicles, tools & instruments feature in a variety of wildlife offences.<br />4) <span style="color:#ff9900;">Miscellaneous traces & glass samples</span>: This covers a range of materials which may have been transferred from a crime scene to a suspect or items in their possesion.<br />5) <span style="color:#ff9900;">Questioned documents & digital records</span>: This is in relation to documents that have been forged or altered to disguise the origin of items held illegally.<br /><br />The following techniques are used to analyse such evidence;<br />- Video spectral comparator (VSC): Questioned items are examined under infared & ultra-violet (UV) light which can visualise previously unseen features.<br />- Electrostatic Document analyser (ESDA): Used to examine indented impressions on subsequent pages of a writing surface and provides a transparancy record of the indented mark.<br />- Digital forensics: This is the examination of any digitally stored records & information.<br /><br />6) <span style="color:#ff9900;">Firearms</span>: The National Firearms Forensic Intelligence Database (NFFID) & Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) can compare components of fired ammunition for outstanding crimes & recovered weapons. A manual comparisson of specific cartridge cases & bullets is also conducted.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">DNA Profiling</span></strong><br /><br />DNA profiling examines a tiny proportion of the DNA sequence of an individual. The technique focusses on parts of the sequence known to cary between individuals. Various analytical techniques are used:<br />- multi-locus probe (MLP)<br />- single locus probe (SLP)<br />- short tandem repeat (STR) analyis<br /><br />Wildlife crime scenes should be examined for sources of human DNA, e.g cigarette butts, chewing gum, drinks cans, blood stains due to handling animals or tools, saliva from envelopes or stamps, etc.<br />DNA can also be used for the following;<br />- <span style="color:#ff9900;">parentage test</span>: to determine the parentage of a specimen that is claimed to have been captively bred.<br />- <span style="color:#ff9900;">to identify species</span>: useful when investigating parts or derivatives of species where morphological methods are limited. </div><div><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Wildlife Poisoning & Pesticide Analysis</span></strong> </div><p>Agricultural chemicals can be used deliberately & illegally to poison animals. Poisoning incidents fall into 3 categories:</p><p>1) Approved use of the product & poisoning occurs as an accidental result</p><p>2) Misuse of a product e.g failure to clear up a spillage, incorrect storage, etc.</p><p>3) Abuse of a pesticide in a deliberate, illegal attempt to poison wildlife.</p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">THE PLACING OF ANY POISONED BAIT IN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE IS ILLEGAL</span></p><p>Forensic techniques are available to detect the presence of residues from tissues of poisoned animals or baits used. Any suspected poisoned baits or victims should be photographed on site before disturbance. If suspected victims cannot be submitted quickly for post-mortem they should be refrigerated as a pose to being frozen. Analysis may not be easy as often the chemical is unknown & the amount present can vary. Sometimes analysis can be based on information gleaned at the incident scene e.g species & no. affected, discarded containers etc. Post mortem findings may include lesions which point to the chemical involved.</p><p><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Forensic Veterinary Pathology</span></strong></p><p>Forensic veterinary pathology can be defined as the study of disease or injury to animals for use in legal proceedings. The vet must be neutral and provide a clear account of any injuries found and present an unbiased opinion on how injuries occured.</p><p><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Analysis of Samples</span></strong></p><p>Presence of certain bacteria or parasites can be indicative of the animals origin. Many animals carry parasites such as worms or ticks that do not survive once their hosts are taken from the wild. Presence of such parasites can counter claims of captive breeding or domestic origin. Collection of samples such as faeces, feathers, or pellets may provide important evidence. The condition of the animal e.g stage or moult, behaviour, length of claws etc. may indicate how long an animal was held in captivity. Radiography can determine whether an animal was shot.</p><div><br /></div><p><strong>Wildlife crime news stories in the UK:</strong></p><p><a href="http://cms.met.police.uk/news/arrests_and_charges/wildlife_crime_unit_seize_fur_coatshttp://">Fur coats in Camden</a></p><p><a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/uk-birdcrime006.html#cr">Bird crime</a></p><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/3954963.stm">Bushmeat smuggling</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-23148282234185273672009-12-02T06:06:00.001-08:002010-01-25T13:08:30.856-08:00Fishing as a part of cultural heritage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFs6wsWpThC7LWhSqezxwTGj4R3e65RfE0fnxJdcu4P7KOoFfYRIaJy8F07NscjJJTZK9CLU_PTNhSD7Lf0NxjzkE6sjlkpUZQMwbOg_5f2uI5bXoPK8aOmlJp7Bkgvnv5SipLKCV3eEg/s1600-h/PICT0013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420655904636604002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFs6wsWpThC7LWhSqezxwTGj4R3e65RfE0fnxJdcu4P7KOoFfYRIaJy8F07NscjJJTZK9CLU_PTNhSD7Lf0NxjzkE6sjlkpUZQMwbOg_5f2uI5bXoPK8aOmlJp7Bkgvnv5SipLKCV3eEg/s400/PICT0013.JPG" /></a> Fishing has been an integral of human culture since ancient times, and fishermen of the past had a deep relationship with the sea- only taking what they needed whilst respecting the creatures living in it. The following chapter will look briefly at the history of fishing and cultures still harvesting respectfully in the present day.<br /><br /><strong>The Solomon Islands (present day):</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />The Solomon Islands posses a range of marine community types ranging from mangrove estuaries to coral reefs (<a href="http://www.spc.int/coastfish/news/trad/12/TRAD12-04-Johannes.htm">Johannes & Hviding, 1987</a>).<br />Bonito (tuna) are the most valued fish as they require expert techniques and knowledge to catch due to their unpredictable migrations from the deep ocean. Dolphins are harvested for their meat, with their teeth being used as money (British museum).<br />The following photo shows the beautifully hand crafted fish hooks used by fishermen in the Solomon Islands, each one designed for catching a specific fish, based on observations and years of experience passed down through the generations.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUbzP2riKiddLmzdJ7SoVFV2xxgKX2Q31Se6_nIdzXn3XMGeKKVq5PBQWcDBx4a3eWza06tEudBW4wfCOZwjz13x5kN_MaFhr3N4MBuBGskrm5HpKJUyM3sWHVPv49p7Jotr1re3QtEv-/s1600-h/PICT0023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420659115793487714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUbzP2riKiddLmzdJ7SoVFV2xxgKX2Q31Se6_nIdzXn3XMGeKKVq5PBQWcDBx4a3eWza06tEudBW4wfCOZwjz13x5kN_MaFhr3N4MBuBGskrm5HpKJUyM3sWHVPv49p7Jotr1re3QtEv-/s400/PICT0023.JPG" /></a><br /><strong>Guatemala:</strong><br /><br /><p>The Pacific coastal communities still consist largely of small-scale artisenal fisheries that fish using a variety of methods depending on the target species. These fisheries only make up some 6 percent of the overall Guatemalan fleet (<a href="http://bycatch.env.duke.edu/regions/ETP/Guatemala_ETP.pdf">Project Global, 2007</a>) and generally all the aquatic species landed do not get exported & supply only the Guatemalan market. Most communities have a fish "wholesaler" who buys a mixture of marine & freshwater organisms, aswell as sea turtle eggs, and which are then sold on in the larger cities & towns. Boats are usually made of fibreglass or wood & have a small outboard engine and fish using gillnets (trasmallo galleros), drift nets (red agallera), longlines, single lines with hooks, & beach seines & traps (<a href="http://bycatch.env.duke.edu/">Project Global</a>, 2007). Aquatic species targetted by the fisheries include some of the following; snapper, snook, shark, dolphinfish, shrimp, & bagre. These fishermen can be selective in what they catch & as they regularly check their gear their effect on non-target species is minimal- they are able to release unwanted species and be size selective. Ancient civilisations such as the <a href="http://www.authenticmaya.com/monte_alto.htm">Olmecs & Maya</a>, would have undoubtebly harvested the marine life of the Pacific coast of Guatemala, & there is evidence all along this coastline which suggests their presence. </p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIyeYVo63AgphOhy8oqZZIdVucgRzS7lk-0NNBGVqyS9mAZ5xxZT2v6zAcop5cW4qmKqh-3MfgSJ62ChSj7TzjtOzG0hRGHl-UJLJ4sL3iloxl5OyCQoZVMNKfqmumc2wQilppsFhp2s6/s1600-h/63.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430783528818764690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIyeYVo63AgphOhy8oqZZIdVucgRzS7lk-0NNBGVqyS9mAZ5xxZT2v6zAcop5cW4qmKqh-3MfgSJ62ChSj7TzjtOzG0hRGHl-UJLJ4sL3iloxl5OyCQoZVMNKfqmumc2wQilppsFhp2s6/s400/63.jpg" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-3640042172633667352009-11-27T12:49:00.006-08:002009-12-02T06:28:26.142-08:00Blue Fin Tuna Poster<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH52US5lIJBTyj6_y4-PCJvYc0wpCXCcLkQ2xSk2p3PtvoP0mXVo3wwqRFLeaMo4z9glUvAQC9Uf_Mpq11v3eUVpFRtUNTTllagPAPnjyQRHCgS1hGYRFwUdZ8gP0DM6LZXDr1XeY8YDBg/s1600-h/tuna+poster+jpeg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH52US5lIJBTyj6_y4-PCJvYc0wpCXCcLkQ2xSk2p3PtvoP0mXVo3wwqRFLeaMo4z9glUvAQC9Uf_Mpq11v3eUVpFRtUNTTllagPAPnjyQRHCgS1hGYRFwUdZ8gP0DM6LZXDr1XeY8YDBg/s400/tuna+poster+jpeg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410641847314993490" /></a><br /><br />The finished poster that will be displayed at the Falmouth Climate Change Conference, December 8th 2009.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-16532218889160978742009-11-27T12:49:00.005-08:002009-11-27T12:49:52.967-08:00Lecture 7Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-83765971052201370562009-11-27T12:49:00.003-08:002010-01-26T11:55:12.580-08:00Forensic Exam Reflections<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzSDvBN5c-k_XLW93oEL3MQVlfb2r3RYLeJo0LSanAGGqDAtKGxWYiAnLPQl8iM-ovAMiNyUbcIQ2cOCWLM6-ghItLMAQWmmLFL-_TeNg3Uh98WQMwxd0jOnSYo3y7wOb3dhWOcoJxtNa/s1600-h/wildlife_forensics_09.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430788626448482802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzSDvBN5c-k_XLW93oEL3MQVlfb2r3RYLeJo0LSanAGGqDAtKGxWYiAnLPQl8iM-ovAMiNyUbcIQ2cOCWLM6-ghItLMAQWmmLFL-_TeNg3Uh98WQMwxd0jOnSYo3y7wOb3dhWOcoJxtNa/s400/wildlife_forensics_09.jpg" /></a><br /><p><strong>Use of forensic analysis in solving wildlife crimes:</strong></p><p>Advances in forensic technology over the last decade or so has led to a significant crack down on illegal crimes committed against the natural world. Governments around the world are beginning to place high value on biodiversity and many strive to identify and protect important species and their habitats. Forensic technology is a vital tool for ensuring that those who violate wildlife protection legislation are identified and prosecuted. Years ago it would have been possible for poachers or smugglers to trade in endangered wildlife with a relatively low risk of a) getting caught and b) being prosecuted.... however, as forensic analysis becomes more sophisticated there seems to be fewer loop holes for these criminals to sneak through. The following press articles are modern day examples of wildlife criminals being caught out because the forensic evidence "gave them up":</p><p></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/kruger-anti-poaching.html?utm_campaign=UK%20wildlife%20photo%20finalists%3B%20New%20deadly%20vulture%20drug%3B%20Kruger%20poaching%2E&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Anti-poaching%20operations%20boosted%20in%20Kruger%20Park#cr">Kruger rhinos get high technology invisible tracking devices to up anti-poaching efforts</a></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/ivory-seizure938.html?utm_campaign=African%20wildlife%20for%20sale%3B%20Leucistic%20opossum%20%26%20shearwater%3B%20Saiga%3B%20Gorilla%20baby%2E&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Multinational%20operation%20against%20wildlife%20crime%20nets%20500%20kilos%20of%20Ivory%20in%20East%20Africa#cr">Multinational operation against wildlife crime</a></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/yorkshire-poachers.html#cr">Yorkshire police target poachers "Operation Jumbo"</a></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/saudi-hunting.html#cr">Saudi princes caught with forged hunting permits</a></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bangkok-ivory.html?utm_campaign=Siberian%20tigers%3B%20UAE%20Wild%20cat%3B%20Red%20kites%3B%20New%20chameleon%3B%20Leucistic%20deer%2E&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=2%20arrested%20in%20Bangkok%20for%20ivory%20smuggling#cr">Ivory smugglers caught in Bangkok</a></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/kenya-ivory939.html?utm_campaign=Huge%20ivory%20haul%3B%20850%20new%20cave%20species%3B%20Rare%20bird%20sighting%3B%20Irish%20Sei%20whale%2E&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Huge%20seizures%20of%201169%20kgs%20of%20elephant%20ivory%20in%20Kenya%20and%20Ethiopia#cr">Huge ivory haul in Ethiopia</a></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/deer-poaching938.html?utm_campaign=Humpback%20in%20the%20Thames%3B%20Gorillas%3B%20Flamingos%3B%20Frogs%20-%20No%20tadpoles%3B%20Appeal%2E&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Lancashire%20police%20step%20up%20hunt%20for%20deer%20poachers#cr">Hunting deer poachers</a></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bee-pesticide098.html?utm_campaign=New%20species%20giant%20rat%3B%20%27Extinct%27%20butterfly%20found%3B%20Ospreys%3B%20Golden%20eagle%20poisoned&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Are%20pesticides%20poisoning%20UK%20bees%3F#cr">Pesticides and bees</a></p><p>- <a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/poisoned-eagle029.html?utm_campaign=New%20species%20giant%20rat%3B%20%27Extinct%27%20butterfly%20found%3B%20Ospreys%3B%20Golden%20eagle%20poisoned&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Another%20Golden%20eagle%20poisoned%20in%20Scotland%20-%20Fitted%20with%20a%20satellite%20tag#cr">Tagged golden eagle poisoned</a></p><p>Reading the above articles it would seem that although a greater number of wildlife criminals are caught with forensic evidence this does not seem to be deterring people from commiting the crimes in the first place. It is as simple as supply and demand....as long as there is a market for trading in endangered species there will always be someone who is prepared to take the risk. A slightly bleak perespective or are governments <em>really</em> take the necessary measures to <em><strong>prevent</strong> </em>wildlife crime? </p><p>The following news story suggests the urgent need for international co-operation in order to prevent wildlife crime:</p><p><a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wildlife-for-sale.html?utm_campaign=African%20wildlife%20for%20sale%3B%20Leucistic%20opossum%20%26%20shearwater%3B%20Saiga%3B%20Gorilla%20baby%2E&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Wildlife%20trade%20raping%20Africa%20-%20Hundreds%20of%20species%20for%20sale%20on%20the%20internet#cr">Endangered wildlife for sale on the internet</a></p><p><strong>Links to international wildlife crime organisations:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.traffic.org/">Traffic</a></p><p><a href="http://www.cites.org/">Cites</a></p><p><a href="http://www.interpol.int/public/EnvironmentalCrime/Wildlife/Default.asp">Interpol</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-89335122821936279292009-11-27T12:49:00.001-08:002010-01-06T04:53:36.400-08:00Plight of the Northern Blue fin tuna (BFT)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCIKqKBY7NEaIucwPmy2yftpz7kxvKZ9FCyzbx1OqxTFVbm2uUqdCLTfPR2RWbMYY17e1r0klfB1KnXQTdl-NO524bqRldKij6oK3JYziPAL5ZD0lU9oPN0Qqzrp04h2SzlI02H1uZjNg/s1600/Fisherman-land-a-bluefin--001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410028909198674098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCIKqKBY7NEaIucwPmy2yftpz7kxvKZ9FCyzbx1OqxTFVbm2uUqdCLTfPR2RWbMYY17e1r0klfB1KnXQTdl-NO524bqRldKij6oK3JYziPAL5ZD0lU9oPN0Qqzrp04h2SzlI02H1uZjNg/s400/Fisherman-land-a-bluefin--001.jpg" /></a><strong></strong><br /><strong>BFT Biology & Ecology</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong>BFT are a pelagic (ocean going) species present in waters from 6 degrees Celsius to 22 degrees Celsius. They are largely a schooling species that feed on a variety of smaller fish (FAO, ). Individuals can reach more than 2 meters in length, and reach maturity at approximately 4 years (110 cm to 120 cm in length) (ICCAT, 2009) and are thought to live up to 30 years. During their lifetime they undertake huge circumglobal migrations to reach feeding and spawning grounds. Within the Atlantic two distinct "stocks" have been identified: The eastern stock spawns in the Mediterranean and Adriatic sea, and the Western stock spawns in the Gulf of Mexico (FAO, ).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-vWT9sN5sVIOhkLsTuNbdZIh0YB03vL75WsjCRPU8U7VmTdl_IcMNGpGX6WNgPHQ3nhP6YHKY2o5lEEdswjMpBVethiePzRW9K27hInsyuKa4FNZZARUDfJYRhjtRN7n88WtqOW9ugdy/s1600/tuna+dist.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410255160654049490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-vWT9sN5sVIOhkLsTuNbdZIh0YB03vL75WsjCRPU8U7VmTdl_IcMNGpGX6WNgPHQ3nhP6YHKY2o5lEEdswjMpBVethiePzRW9K27hInsyuKa4FNZZARUDfJYRhjtRN7n88WtqOW9ugdy/s400/tuna+dist.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#000000;"> Figure 1: Migration routes, including spawning grounds of the eastern and western BFT stocks.</span><br /><br /><div><strong>History of global tuna fisheries </strong><br /></div><br /><div>Tuna has been harvested in the Mediterranean since ancient times. Aristotle and others observed the tuna migrations through the narrow channels of the Propontus near Byzantium. Oppian's epic on fishing speaks poetically of the tuna migration from the Atlantic past Spain, France, Italy, and Sicily:<br /><span style="color:#ff9900;">"<em>The breed of Tunnies comes from the spacious Ocean, and they travel into the regions of our sea when they lust after the frenzy of mating in spring. First the Iberians who plume themselves upon their might capture them within the Iberian brine; next by the mouth of the Rhone the Celts and the ancient inhabitants of Phocaea (Massalia) hunt them; and thirdly those who are dwellers in the Trinacrian isle (Sicily) and by the waves of the Tyrrhenian sea. Thence in the unmeasured deeps they scatter this way or that and travel over all the sea. Abundant and wondrous is the spoil for fishermen when the host of Tunnies set forth in spring</em>". (Oppian Hal. 3.620ff.)</span> The ancients valued the tuna fish immensely and profited by harvesting it. The fish inspired litterature and artwork, as well as being served as a sacrificial offering to the Gods. </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPvY0oHEyk6j_BDJdnqEwXjantS8OsAwgS-DOKsRykLjG2E7i_shS1XFLlC2vCO-ATqaOmKri9YmBst8nMgfe84MGAk66WLyOXkbA70-MCzW7odnn_ESr_5sItrO8yCRWB3dGftSsOfn9/s1600-h/PICT0001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420649378390251986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPvY0oHEyk6j_BDJdnqEwXjantS8OsAwgS-DOKsRykLjG2E7i_shS1XFLlC2vCO-ATqaOmKri9YmBst8nMgfe84MGAk66WLyOXkbA70-MCzW7odnn_ESr_5sItrO8yCRWB3dGftSsOfn9/s400/PICT0001.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#000000;">This artifact from ancient Greece is on display at the British museum in London and is decorated with a swimming bluefin tuna.</span><br /><br />Off the Spanish coast of Andalucia, fishermen have been taking advantage of the BFT spawning migrations to the Mediterranean for centuries. The fishing methods of these artisenal boats has changed little during this time. The problem is, although these fishermen have had limited impact on the BFT stock as a whole, the overfishing of their commercial counterparts means that these small artisenal fishermen are potentially scooping up the essential breeding stock of an already decimated population. The fishery targets the breeding stock as they pass through the Gibralta Straits on course for the Meditteranean to spawn. Unfortunately to ensure the survival and conservation of the species for future generations, the present day fishermen will lose their livelihood. Watch the video <a href="http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,3267872001_1862333,00.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><strong></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4imeOoV31IFDt6Nyw4qqJ60NqDYwXuopIVTB-T6JqXwA39LkX80-_cpMKY_ahNZRgEGjkbISgPu6u5gIvFNJHnpc2r6TQqVhDR214F2oTw3UnyTfPCRdQCalHNrYNlhpJegNVmwSXoMs3/s1600/fishermen-catch-blue-fin-tuna.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410032121781892962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4imeOoV31IFDt6Nyw4qqJ60NqDYwXuopIVTB-T6JqXwA39LkX80-_cpMKY_ahNZRgEGjkbISgPu6u5gIvFNJHnpc2r6TQqVhDR214F2oTw3UnyTfPCRdQCalHNrYNlhpJegNVmwSXoMs3/s400/fishermen-catch-blue-fin-tuna.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>Sport fishing</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l2Rs5DLQ5ifEkkUAfRSS42D-kDOc3ijosypCbOaxFN93XXKOnKvBnW6jHASq06tBoJ-6xtJTCFsl0ONPxesB4BvaWJIqf9u5NJ21V0fRvOzw7mhwBpfMTqab9CQ4RomocEuwRkDKQcae/s1600/sepiabluefin.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410255618412474514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l2Rs5DLQ5ifEkkUAfRSS42D-kDOc3ijosypCbOaxFN93XXKOnKvBnW6jHASq06tBoJ-6xtJTCFsl0ONPxesB4BvaWJIqf9u5NJ21V0fRvOzw7mhwBpfMTqab9CQ4RomocEuwRkDKQcae/s400/sepiabluefin.jpg" /></a><strong>Decline of global stocks</strong><br /><p><em>The following information is largely taken from "The End of the Line: how overfishing is changing what we eat" written by Charles Clover.</em></p><p></p><p><strong></strong></p><strong>Tuna Farming or tuna fattening?</strong><br /><p>The concept of tuna "farming" began in Australia and involved purse seining the shoals of smaller tuna and then transfering them into sea cages. It may be assumed that the tuna were smaller in size due to fishing pressures, and larger adults were already removed leaving a smaller sized juvenile stock. The fish once in the sea cages, are then fed low value wild caught fish until they are essentially "fattened up". NO ACTUAL BREEDING TAKES PLACE.</p><p>Within the last ten years tuna farming has increased substantially throughout the <a href="http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/smart_fishing/sustainable_fisheries/bluefin_tuna/mediterranean_fisheries/">Mediterranean</a> sea- Malta, Siciliy, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Libya, Turkey, and Tunisia. See the <a href="http://assets.panda.org/downloads/med_tuna_farming_map.pdf">map</a>. The industry has generated a vast ampunt of business, but has severely compromised any accurate monitoring of blue fin tuna catches. Farmed blue fin tuna catches are hard to monitor as the fish are eventually landed in a different area to where they were caught. In 2004 WWF estimated that the actual annual blue fin tuna catch was some 1.5 times higher than the annual quota (<a href="http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/smart_fishing/sustainable_fisheries/bluefin_tuna/mediterranean_fisheries/">WWF</a>). Scientists of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (<a href="http://www.ices.dk/indexfla.asp">ICES</a>) based in Copenhagen estimate that the Mediterranean is catching double the amount that is considered a sustainable catch of blue fin tuna. </p><p>The Intenationa Convention for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tuna <a href="http://www.fao.org/Legal/treaties/madrid-e.htm">treaty</a> was first established in 1966 (<a href="http://www.iccat.int/Documents/Commission/BasicTexts.pdf">Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</a>) and now contains several member states, including the USA, Japan and the EU. Despite such a convention which should regulate overfishing of the blue fin tuna, the global stock appears under the heading "<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/21860/0">data deficient</a>" on the IUCN red list. Europe has access to the largest remaining population of Atlantic blue fin tuna and should be protecting the remains of a vulnerable stock. However the reality is very different. Although tuna farming has been heavily criticed by conservation groups such as WWF as being unsustainable (the farms take the juvenile fish before they have had chance to spawn and provide the next generation), under EU rules tuna farms qualify for aquaculture subsidies. The EU have spent millions on such <a href="http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/smart_fishing/sustainable_fisheries/bluefin_tuna/overfished_for_decades/tuna_farms/">subsidies</a>, allowing the continued growth of the industry throughout the Meditteranean. </p><p>A new concern is that this unsustainable farming initiative is spreading globally. Costa Rica is one of the latest countries to be tempted to establish a tuna farm in Golfito and is currently waiting for approval from the Environmental Ministry. Conservation group <a href="http://www.pretoma.org/campaigns/no-tuna-farmsno-a-las-granjas-atuneras/">Pretoma</a> are leading a national campaign to raise public awareness and prevent the tuna farm project from being approved. </p><p><strong></strong> </p><br /><strong>Publications & articles</strong><br /><a href="http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/science_magazine_may2009.pdf">Protecting the last great tuna stocks</a><br /><a href="http://www.panda.org/?uNewsID=184061">UN backs proposal for blue fin tuna trade ban</a><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XTMiCf_O3RY&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XTMiCf_O3RY&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-15640857723594433212009-11-27T05:59:00.000-08:002009-12-29T05:25:38.323-08:00Lecture 5: The ongoing debate on the fur trade<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkm6XgGtroo43XVNrLQfFXJ6wGNNaTpB4s8lXWUUYFh6vko-N99b9uH-0S1c2xgHQoQJ8YyGswc87WR9oVFfdRvnrr6r1XXk5OnQUe-87sYSyHcKlq2TkULgYmDPiHs8FERo9Qwt9vKZSo/s1600/alberta_1890s_fur_trader.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408897804233320514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkm6XgGtroo43XVNrLQfFXJ6wGNNaTpB4s8lXWUUYFh6vko-N99b9uH-0S1c2xgHQoQJ8YyGswc87WR9oVFfdRvnrr6r1XXk5OnQUe-87sYSyHcKlq2TkULgYmDPiHs8FERo9Qwt9vKZSo/s400/alberta_1890s_fur_trader.jpg" /></a><br />As 21st century Westerners, most of us wander around in a reality where capitalism and consumerism dictate our lives. We are considered to be the "privileged" nations... privileged because of our materialistic "treasures", but above all, we have choices that others do not. Because of these choices there seems to be a general feeling of apathy going around the status quo...Consumerism seems to bombard us with choices on a daily basis...shopping has suddenly become a moral mindfield. There are even ethics behind which toilet paper you pick off the shelf.<br />The UK has always prided itself on its moral standing with animal rights- the first country in the world to enforce laws that considered the welfare of animals. Although once a profitable industry, the last remaining fur farms in the UK closed in 2003 and the trade was subsequently banned in England and Wales under the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000. The ban in England and Wales was justified principally on grounds of public morality. But really, in principal, is wearing nice fluffy animal fur any different than our leather shoes and handbags? Did the moral line of right and wrong get a little fuzzy and caught up in the animal rights movement?<br />There is an obvious issue at the forecourt of fur trading, animal cruelty. Anti-fur groups often use images of sad looking foxes squashed into tiny cages..... of course they are miserable, who wouldn't be? But perhaps we should move away from that side of the argument, far away from the bourgeois, and look at the issue in a much more fundamental context.... in principal, <strong>is it morally defensable to wear fur?</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3086595.stm"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408897624346228450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhldCGDRtc2yB4Aj6jQjpHgZt4fv7J_b1WgS2nOIEafNYp1g0lQhRCDwVbI9UZ8VpcUesXu2tA5JZBrw0KK6MHeoyMP9bkHmSKUP3CLZtiSm1OV6PVEns0WoZouqjqgsrO80kCnVABkjN/s400/Fur_trade.jpg" /> The fur ban hits the UK<br /></a><br /><br />Nice parka......<br /><br />Ouside of the western world there are still a number of cultures that thrive on a more traditional hunter/gatherer lifestyle, one which values animals and the products they provide for humans. The following photo was taken of a display at the British Museum, London and shows several garments still worn by people of Alaska....all of which come from animals.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCv42Rwdtg2n2JXaE7AozxnRMDTtIc1WL7lIC9D_iPryWzJPxSTuPAScCsEBYxBdalj4O_AKyPYlJ2xyRKEuINRhyphenhyphenK6E8_KPPGYN4VrxSC8BnAfm_kVxsdfStp2_JTyUy-ljwtRbLHIgP/s1600-h/PICT0021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420641158913313442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCv42Rwdtg2n2JXaE7AozxnRMDTtIc1WL7lIC9D_iPryWzJPxSTuPAScCsEBYxBdalj4O_AKyPYlJ2xyRKEuINRhyphenhyphenK6E8_KPPGYN4VrxSC8BnAfm_kVxsdfStp2_JTyUy-ljwtRbLHIgP/s400/PICT0021.JPG" /></a><br />Is this morally defensable?? This is certainly where that moral line begins to get hazy and becomes a matter of opinion which would depend on the individual's cultural upbringing.<br />Condemning an Eskimo for wearing seal fur in extreme minus minus conditions is almost as futile as preaching about vegetarianism to a Massai farmer...no one has the right to judge these actions when they are crucial to the survival of these people.<br />The fur debate seems to actually be about another issue entirely.....a more appropriate question is, can one morally defend wearing fur as a fashion statement?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-53627856014109068272009-11-20T02:50:00.000-08:002010-01-25T10:54:58.116-08:00Lecture 4: Marine conservation & enforcement<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6Sv8E37E_iZq88dU5S5k7H9ioF6yW2yELMrx34kq8oi1XmRWrmq-iH1t7cY6RFgY-Radq2y0P9OYrnraJFZFT15glzG-cb54AHFNEHsP2LUX2yhlC4Mt_8qo9WR3jEwU17uR2ke89a1d/s1600/Basking%2520shark_Sennen%25205_Andrew%2520Pearson.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406144070534199218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6Sv8E37E_iZq88dU5S5k7H9ioF6yW2yELMrx34kq8oi1XmRWrmq-iH1t7cY6RFgY-Radq2y0P9OYrnraJFZFT15glzG-cb54AHFNEHsP2LUX2yhlC4Mt_8qo9WR3jEwU17uR2ke89a1d/s320/Basking%2520shark_Sennen%25205_Andrew%2520Pearson.jpg" /></a> <strong>Marine Bill</strong>:<br />On November 12th 2009 the British government finally passed the UK Marine and Coastal Act, also known as the Marine Bill. This is a huge positive step forward in the field of British marine conservation and aims to mange the marine environment through establishing Marine Cnservation Zones, a marine planning system, inshore fisheries reform, establishment of Marine Management Organisation and coastal access provisions (<a href="http://www.mcsuk.org/mcsaction/marinebill/marine+bill+-+an+introduction">MSC, 2009</a>).<br /><br />There is, as always, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8355116.stm">skeptisism</a> as to whether or not the new Marine Bill will be effective in protecting British marine life. Some conservationists say that the Bill lacks detail in some areas which may result in important habitats and species being protected.<br /><br />Here is the official draft of the British <a href="http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7351/7351.pdf">Marine Bill</a>, pubished April 2008.<br /><br /><strong>Some marine conservation terms explained</strong>:<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">Marine Protected Area (<a href="http://www.ukmpas.org/">MPA</a>)</span>, this is the generic term used when talking about SACs and SSSIs<br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Special Area of Conservation (<a href="http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-23">SAC</a>)</span> is a designated area that can be either marine or terrestrial<br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">Special Sites of Scientific Interest (<a href="http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/index.cfm">SSSI</a>)</span> are only terrestrial habitats (down to intertidal habitats) and are maintained by Natural England. 17% of UK land area has been branded SSSI.<br /><br /><strong>EU Habitats Directive and Natura 2000</strong>:<br /><br />In 2002 the European Council identified the importance of safeguarding biodiversity and aimed to halt its decline by 2010, which led to the Natura 2000 network. Sites uder the banner Natura 2000 cover some 10% of the EU land area with the aim of protecting natural habitats and species of interest (European Commission, 2003). <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/lifefornatura_en.pdf">LIFE-Nature </a>is a financial instrument that was introduced in 1992 to target the conservation of natural environments throughout Europe.<br /><br /><strong>Laws of the Sea</strong><br /><br />1609 The Free Sea<br />1635 Closed Sea<br />1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea<br />1995 UN Straddling Stocks Agreement<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff6600;">"<em>Quis custodiet ipsos custodies</em>?"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff6600;">Who guards the guardians?</span></div><br /><strong>Useful Publications</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/pdf/ukpga_20060016_en.pdf">Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act, 2006</a><br />"<a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/documents/pa-guid-english.pdf">Guidance for PAs on Implementing the Biodiversity Duty</a>", Defra<br /><a href="http://myweb.dal.ca/bworm/Myers_Worm_2003.pdf">"Rapid Worldwide Depletion of Predatory Fish Communities" Myers & Worm, 2003</a><br /><a href="http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/ssg_pelagic_report_final.pdf">The Conservation Status of Pelagic Sharks & Rays (IUCN)</a><br /><a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:164:0019:0040:EN:PDF">EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive</a><br /><a href="http://www.eeb.org/activities/water/20060221_NGO_briefing_MFD_EN.pdf">Comments on the EU Marine Strategies Directive</a><br /><a href="http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/proceedings_net_fisheries_turtle_bycatch_final_lower_res.pdf">IUCN Report Lowering Marine Turtle Bycatch </a><br /><a href="http://www.reefresilience.org/pdf/Principles_for_Design_of_Marine_Reserves.pdf">Principals for the Design of Marine Reserves </a>(in relation to coral reefs)<br /><a href="http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/science_magazine_may2009.pdf">Protecting the Last Great Tuna Stocks from Overfishing</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-58620159709274888232009-11-11T05:45:00.000-08:002009-11-11T07:09:32.429-08:00Summary of Lecture 3: The essence of wildlife lawWildlife law/crime is a way of giving the environment a legal standing within our anthropocentric world. Imagine a legal tool that named and shamed all the individuals in the world who are commiting attrocities against the environment on a daily basis.... wildlife law may in the future provide a legal framework to prevent such environmental crimes from continuing.<br />However, as a starting point we need to decide a universally acceptable standing in order to ascertain what can be classed as a wildlife crime........<br /><br />How do we agree on environmental ethics when our core values and beliefs differ from culture to culture?<br /><br />Individual core values are extremely subjective and unshakeable, which arguably are heavily influenced according to our social status and religious beliefs....we are often a product of the environment in which we grew up in. This may lead to a certain degree of prejudice.<br /><br />1) Anthropocentrism states that humans are the centre of all things and only humans have moral standing.<br />2) Biocentrism values all living things and it is therefor wrong to kill any living thing.<br />3) Ecocentrism, also referred to as "<a href="http://www.deepecology.org/movement.htm">deep ecology</a>", holds the belief that ecosytems have moral values.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-16900300078055378272009-11-05T04:45:00.000-08:002009-11-11T07:10:47.322-08:00Lecture 2: Structure of English LawTypes of law can be broken down into a 7 tiers, according to their hierachy:<br /><br />1) At the top we have <strong>International Law</strong>, often in the form of <a href="http://www.cms.int/">Conventions</a>.<br /><br />2) <strong>Regional Law</strong> i.e. European Law. For example there are various EU directives, such as in the import of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8033498.stm">seal pelts </a>into the EU will be banned.<br /><br />3) <strong>National Law</strong>, such as Acts of Parliment<br /><br />4) <strong>Statutory instrument</strong>, e.g. local governments agents such as the Environment Agency (England)<br /><br />5) <strong>Bylaws</strong> - local laws implemented by local authorities<br /><br />6) <strong>Codes of Conduct</strong>, which are simplified versions of the law which <em>advise</em> citizens on appropriate conduct<br /><br />7) <strong>Judicial law/presidence, </strong>are judge made laws based on previous cases of a similar nature<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbyqwTpbCyRIX5xa4ktyse6zassqAgu2VXJFC2kxVPmfzL2ViNzhR6xEzReCmoU-TyurCmwWwKYtF5wXp0OjvFc537GhQpnVRsqZ54xErscBw6rIP7xV4SHSlh5XemdNRIMNt4wsRU2f_/s1600-h/shark_finning.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400605879926834130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbyqwTpbCyRIX5xa4ktyse6zassqAgu2VXJFC2kxVPmfzL2ViNzhR6xEzReCmoU-TyurCmwWwKYtF5wXp0OjvFc537GhQpnVRsqZ54xErscBw6rIP7xV4SHSlh5XemdNRIMNt4wsRU2f_/s320/shark_finning.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.earthjurisprudence.org/documents/WildLaw_Report.pdf">Wildlife crime/law </a>is a relatively new area and aims to give the environment a legal standing. (See lecture 3). </div><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-58377865796794839092009-10-11T07:04:00.000-07:002010-01-25T12:25:20.560-08:00Lecture 1: Biodiversity<span style="font-family:georgia;">The term </span><a href="http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.354.aspx.pdf"><span style="font-family:georgia;">biodiversity</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">, in its simplest, can be defined as the diversity or range of living organisms within an area or habitat. It describes the totality of species and genes of an ecosystem within that area. The forming of natural barriers isolating flora and fauna from one another and species exploiting vacant niches, has contributed to the incredible diversity present in each and every corner of the planet. The term itself was first used by wildlife scientist and conservationist </span><a href="http://www.planetdrum.org/ray_dasmann.htm"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Raymond F. Dasmann </span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">in 1968. Over the last few decades it has become an increasingly important concept , and has been adapted by biologists, conservationists and political leaders world wide and concerns grow over the </span><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/extinction/index.html"><span style="font-family:georgia;">extinction</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> of </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8269000/8269414.stm"><span style="font-family:georgia;">many</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">species</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">, mainly due to encroching </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/climate-change"><span style="font-family:georgia;">climate change</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">.<br /><br />In recent years, it has been recognised that global biodiversity must be protected and various international treaties (</span><a href="http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?documentID=78&articleID=1163"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rio declaration</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">, </span><a href="http://www.cites.org/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Bonn Convention</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">, </span><a href="http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1377"><span style="font-family:georgia;">WACA 81</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">, </span><a href="http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Topics-and-Issues/Water/Water-Tools/WaterNet-tool/Sector/Information-for-all-sectors/The-Water-Resources-Act.html"><span style="font-family:georgia;">WRA 91</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">) and laws have been devised to strive for enforcing sufficient protection. The most renouned biodiversity act was devised during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and developed the UN Convention on Biodiversity. This international convention was signed by 150 countries, including the UK where the treaty was translated into the UK Biodiversity Action Plan & subsequent <a href="http://www.ukbap.org.uk/">BAP</a>s.<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lgFoc1RZ_vM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lgFoc1RZ_vM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Humans are almost totally dependent on the environment for goods and services. We rely on it for the production of food, water, and the air we breath. When considering biodiversity from an economic perspective, the following values are often attributed to the term;<br />-Direct use value<br />-Indirect use value<br />-Option value<br />-Existence value<br /><br />Although these values help others understand the value of biodiversity from an anthropocentric stand point, these terms are redundant in explaining why even the smallest or uglyest bug is worth saving (</span><a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/safs/staff/staffprofile.php?username=afs609"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Pullin, A.S</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">.2002.Conservation biology. Cambridge University Press).<br />Perhaps it is worth considering another value of biodiversity....Pullin (2002) describes it as the "wild experience", an inate spiritual value that most humans feel towards the environment.<br /><br /><strong>Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act, 2006</strong><br /></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">This act is commonly referred to as NERC, 2006 & is important in English legislation for highlighting the value of biodiversity. Section 40 specifically refers </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">to the </span><a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/documents/pa-guid-english.pdf"><span style="font-family:georgia;">conservation of biodiversity</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">. The act states that every public authority has a duty to conserve biodiversity through a range of activities, such as; conserving & restoring habitats aswell as their species, protecting species & habitats, developing & implementing policies, engaging with businesses & the public, conducting research, raising awareness of biodiversity. In short, public authorities have a "bioduty" & must consider conservation of biodiversity when carrying out their duties/actions.</span> </p><p><strong>UK Priority Species & Habitats</strong><br /></p><p>In 2008 1150 priority species & 65 habitats were listed under the UK BAP. Of these species, 87 are marine, & include the following; </p><p>- <span style="color:#ff9900;">Blue fin tuna <em><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/3296/en">Thunnus thynnus</a></em></span><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/3296/en"> </a><br />- <span style="color:#ff9900;">Mackerel <em><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2473/en">Scomber scombrus</a></em></span><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2473/en"> </a><br />- <span style="color:#ff9900;">Common</span> <span style="color:#ff9900;">Sole <em><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/3367/en">Solea solea</a></em></span><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/3367/en"> </a><br />- <span style="color:#ff9900;">Angel shark <em><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2046/en">Squatina squatina</a></em></span><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2046/en"> </a><br /></p><p>- <span style="color:#ff9900;">Plaice <em><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/3354/en">Pleuronectes platessa</a></em></span><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/3354/en"> </a><br />- <span style="color:#ff9900;">White skate <em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sharktrust.org/do_download.asp?did=33252">Rostroraja alba</a></em></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sharktrust.org/do_download.asp?did=33252"><br /></a>- <span style="color:#ff9900;">Herring <a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2886/en"><em>Clupea harengus</em> </a></span><br /></p><p>All of the above were highlighted as still, despite the scientific concern they are appearing in fishmongers and restaurants....essentially on OUR dinner plates.<br />Practically every species of cetacean & sea turtle present in UK waters also appear on the list. The full list is available <a href="http://www.ukbap.org.uk/PrioritySpecies.aspx?group=5">here</a>.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJqkXVeBcIYsFZ0RJ-Ft35ynttyjyMaJsl1fMfXJ8-tlFmPHaptKgjAVHMe2gewkXmN6OyWlyoFDCyBHeoR_CAMPR9kPjubgziO3k4W9PMEMe9_ldUr9NIyEF-53qBywRDOSFXxVPrgxo/s1600-h/PICT0033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430775781100058162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJqkXVeBcIYsFZ0RJ-Ft35ynttyjyMaJsl1fMfXJ8-tlFmPHaptKgjAVHMe2gewkXmN6OyWlyoFDCyBHeoR_CAMPR9kPjubgziO3k4W9PMEMe9_ldUr9NIyEF-53qBywRDOSFXxVPrgxo/s200/PICT0033.JPG" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-57051451417465053412009-10-08T15:29:00.000-07:002010-01-23T02:41:30.504-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPy7WUfYeRciwRURvW3pWS7dfP1Hnl97B26xw6kOu0L2pzd01B-enlvO9XQ9zJZL9uClOfQGzLpZA6O2B40OELGbsttB_3R6VLh1DygDfwG25V3tdFMrLfv53myZw8GC6VZOjihmRE_BH/s1600-h/shark+stuff.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390361864889862882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPy7WUfYeRciwRURvW3pWS7dfP1Hnl97B26xw6kOu0L2pzd01B-enlvO9XQ9zJZL9uClOfQGzLpZA6O2B40OELGbsttB_3R6VLh1DygDfwG25V3tdFMrLfv53myZw8GC6VZOjihmRE_BH/s320/shark+stuff.bmp" /></a><br /><div>Latest in the press (most recent stories first):</div><div><a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/florida-turtles010.html">1000's of sea turtles strand</a></div><div><a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/circle-hooks.html?utm_campaign=Wildlife%20Photographer%20of%20the%20Year%20disqualified%3B%20London%20bitterns%3B%20USA%20jaguars%2E&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=New%20hooks%20saving%20thousands%20of%20sea%20turtles#cr">New circle hooks saving 1000's of sea turtles</a></div><div><a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/cornwall-white-beaked.html?utm_campaign=Wildlife%20Photographer%20of%20the%20Year%20disqualified%3B%20London%20bitterns%3B%20USA%20jaguars%2E&utm_content=agent_funk02@yahoo.co.uk&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Rare%20white-beaked%20dolphin%20strands%20in%20Cornwall#cr">Rare White beaked dolphin strands in Cornwall</a></div><div></div><div>At last, the EU have closed the critically endangered <a href="http://www.sharktrust.org/content.asp?did=34507">Porbeagle shark fishery</a><br />Rare <a href="http://pacific.panda.org/media/?uNewsID=161822">Megamouth shark </a>caught in Philippines</div><div>Effects of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/08/climate-change-tropics-fish-food">climate change </a>on small scale fisheries</div><div>EU <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/11/uk-shark-finning-ban-extinct">ban</a> on shark finning</div><div><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6230103/Shark-washed-up-on-beach.html">Thresher</a> shark in Hayle, Cornwall</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.fao.org/fishery/topic/14750/en">Shark conservation </a>and management</div><div></div><div>Sea turtle <a href="http://www.euroturtle.org/13.htm">threats</a> (a picture of mine that made it!)</div><div><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8331113.stm">Tuna</a> ban</div><div>The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) <a href="http://www.iccat.int/en/assess.htm">stock assessments</a></div><div></div><div>1,147 fish species threatened with extinction: <a href="http://www.fis-net.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?country=0&monthyear=&l=e&id=34424&ndb=1&df=0">IUCN</a><br /></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-25515701255604568352009-10-08T03:16:00.000-07:002010-01-12T06:21:43.201-08:00Can sea turtle egg poaching be sustainable?<span style="color:#999999;"><strong>Sea Turtles on Guatemala's Pacific coast</strong><br /></span><br />Several of the world’s sea turtle species frequent Guatemala’s Pacific waters; the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), eastern Pacific green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) (Higginson, 1989). Of these species, only the olive ridley (local name “parlama”) and a rapidly declining population of leatherback turtles nest on Guatemala’s Pacific coast (Project Parlama, 2006).<br />Egg harvesting poses the greatest immediate threat to nesting turtles, local poachers intercept almost 100% of eggs laid, and some 2 million eggs are removed annually and sold (Project Parlama, 2006).<br />The combination of the traditional popularity of turtle eggs as a luxury food item and the high price that can easily be found for egg sales, makes it very difficult to ban egg collecting (as is generally sought by international conservation law) as egg sales are important to the local coastal economy (Project Parlama, 2006).<br />Egg sales in Guatemala generate a total retail value of $3,215,530 (Handy, 2006).<br /><strong><br /><span style="color:#999999;">The Donation System</span></strong><br /><br />In 1979 Guatemala ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which protects all species of sea turtles from international trade or commerce (Higginson, 1989).<br />However, a quasi-legal situation has evolved within the country, using a voluntary egg donation system where egg collectors are asked to donate 12-20% of each nest to a local hatchery (Handy, 2006), allowing the trade of sea turtle eggs. Eggs are smuggled illegally into Guatemala from other countries, such as Mexico or Nicaragua, where poaching and trading sea turtle eggs is illegal, and once safely in the markets of Guatemala, there is no way of knowing where the eggs came from (Peterson, personal communication 2006). This is hindering conservation efforts within neighbouring countries as there continues to be an incentive for poachers despite the high risks and difficulties involved (personal communication with FUNDACIóN COCIBOLCA, Nicaragua, 2007).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqh1vQa12sY2GjAdq1Nx4hM_JHlm4U-EB6lZpA-cCKi81cuaOdwxYBuSMgoIK6-q5NbVRGQ4hTpbDJgAYKc1GNHU6QiCOZwHoh-a2B_AF30bhyphenhyphenJxo3A7_54lwF8yn3g02uCGy2hdcqlP0/s1600/14.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408884860920082130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqh1vQa12sY2GjAdq1Nx4hM_JHlm4U-EB6lZpA-cCKi81cuaOdwxYBuSMgoIK6-q5NbVRGQ4hTpbDJgAYKc1GNHU6QiCOZwHoh-a2B_AF30bhyphenhyphenJxo3A7_54lwF8yn3g02uCGy2hdcqlP0/s400/14.jpg" /></a><br />Only towards the end of 2006 were regulations tightened on the trade and consumption of leatherback turtle eggs, due to their severely endangered status. A new national law in the Diario de Centro America numero 28, 5/10/2006, of Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas (CONAP) del gobierno de Guatemala prohibits the collection and exploitation of leatherback eggs between the 15th October 2006 until the 15th April 2007. Perpetrators face fines of up to 2.7 thousand US dollars and 5 to 10 years imprisonment (CONAP, 2007).<br />Despite the ethical debate as to whether or not it is morally defensible to permit the contuning harvest of endangered sea turtles eggs, the reality of Guatemala's current economic and political situation definitely highlights the virtues of having an egg donation system. Even when egg poaching was illegal, it still continued due to the lack of government funds available to police sea turtle nesting beaches. The geography of Guatemala's Pacific coast also makes this endeveor virtually impossible- some 250km of continuous coastline...where do police patrols begin and where do they end? How do you catch every poacher on 250km of beach?<br />The donation system ensures an above average hatching success rate....more baby turtles make it to the sea every year thanks to the 20 something sea turtle hatcheries stretching Guatemala's coast than if turtles were left to do it themselves in the wild.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham0vBEBvSePuTd5Ejbpj5bIPLM6P_HcKO4UWXteiiry4hvQfnVH8qjLQB39vKKGX7tGvg6w8AUVMKYC2D286K2ZD6eAWuw7ittvVT_h8F2zs_oAdfeegD5fQmS3CfiakUYDQFhi-pDOEK/s1600/table+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408882910312149458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham0vBEBvSePuTd5Ejbpj5bIPLM6P_HcKO4UWXteiiry4hvQfnVH8qjLQB39vKKGX7tGvg6w8AUVMKYC2D286K2ZD6eAWuw7ittvVT_h8F2zs_oAdfeegD5fQmS3CfiakUYDQFhi-pDOEK/s400/table+2.jpg" /></a><br /><strong><span style="color:#666666;">Table 1: Sea turtle egg totals for Project Parlama hatcheries 2006</span></strong><br /><br />Hatcheries are also the perfect settings to conduct scientific research on an under studied sea turtle population and carry out environmental education programmes within the coastal communities. The donation system has its flaws, but it is an effective conservation tool that makes good use of the resources that are available. It is a great example of grass roots conservation in action.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0z7o58fKITaRBpim0oPTeOy1i3FqkWRpk0ZT9I_RyLzNUdy-SkDv1nNmsLelwBAyq0lqKGDXYMIuzPoKlplFs-cdsE7rq43-MbjfQ7ekF0R4aLZzYueVjVzU8QNXAJccREWGrT50m25E/s1600/32.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408884487199977122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0z7o58fKITaRBpim0oPTeOy1i3FqkWRpk0ZT9I_RyLzNUdy-SkDv1nNmsLelwBAyq0lqKGDXYMIuzPoKlplFs-cdsE7rq43-MbjfQ7ekF0R4aLZzYueVjVzU8QNXAJccREWGrT50m25E/s400/32.jpg" /></a><br />To see the full article:<br />Brittain, et al. 2007. "Project Parlama- Sea turtle conservation on Guatemala's Pacific coast". In: TESTUDO, 6:4, 43-52.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ambios.net/seaturtles/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406151363321779570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEival4nUtPTfCjEcpt_Jrd_6Ms7cglfQs8LyIcHT2aNxkb4pbrl_PyqxT0_tonicG9Oxw9lcQNKjqrvgis9u_7y0SP-ofD_7yJlMOuNY7NJDWdGZDAxqJVdLSXtP01KkSHJrQofcKM_IhyphenhyphenG/s320/logo+3.jpg" /></a><br />Project Parlama is a grass-roots conservation project working with local coastal communites in Gutemala to try and conserve the nesting population of leatherback and olive ridley sea turtles. Check out the blog site: <a href="http://projectparlama.blogspot.com/">Project Parlama </a>blog...go support Project Parlama!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bLQKrrnuEMw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bLQKrrnuEMw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313644895720121714.post-60207410422337680612009-10-01T04:40:00.000-07:002010-01-23T02:43:11.226-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOx6-w6_HA69-rFI_CyAR_jcK8BPAZpssDlwzRcJJTSjfaukpOWqeCRGCNp4HNDocRQCH2kMFBySUfIufkiq1hWcNEw9jDhZoF1t9lmpOnRbdgCmNbkUs1aV_423ExYw_Q3oaVXIpfxtP/s1600-h/tuna-photo-by-dogonthesidewalk-from-flickr.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400224637928627970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOx6-w6_HA69-rFI_CyAR_jcK8BPAZpssDlwzRcJJTSjfaukpOWqeCRGCNp4HNDocRQCH2kMFBySUfIufkiq1hWcNEw9jDhZoF1t9lmpOnRbdgCmNbkUs1aV_423ExYw_Q3oaVXIpfxtP/s320/tuna-photo-by-dogonthesidewalk-from-flickr.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://endoftheline.com/">End of the line </a>for world <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0250e/i0250e00.htm">fish stocks</a>... it has been estimated that by the middle of the century the world's commercial fish stocks will have reached their carrying capacity and quite simply there will be NO FISH! <a href="http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/smart_fishing/sustainable_fisheries/bluefin_tuna/">Certain species </a>are already overfished yet consumers seem to be unaware of the current crisis.... maybe people are passively expecting supermarkets and the government to make the right decision for them?!?<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/roD47QiujY4&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/roD47QiujY4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div><div></div><div>So why do our global fish stocks STILL continue to be so heavily over-fished? </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/skate-extinction.html">80 year old mistake is fishing skates towards extinction</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0