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MASNA Press Release - FYI (1 Viewer)

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Brad

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PRESS RELEASE


Thursday, March 11, 2004



By John Brandt

Legislation Representative

Marine Aquarium Societies of North America





The United States Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) will recommend to Congress that the International trade in marine ornamental species be regulated. The Commission will release its preliminary report on April 20, 2004.



While giving a report to The United States Coral Reef Task Force on February 25, 2004, Dr. Paul Sandifer, Commissioner for USCOP, revealed a list of recommended actions to be presented to Congress to preserve and protect oceans and coral reefs. One recommendation is to adopt legislation ensuring that any marine food and ornamental species imported to the United States be collected only by sustainable means. No further details were available at the time.



The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy will publish its report in two stages. Notification of the release of the draft report will appear in the Federal Register http://www.access.gpo.gov , as well as the USCOP website http://www.oceancommission.gov. This report will be made available to Governors and interested stakeholders for review and public comment. After the deadline for comment, the report will be finalized by USCOP and presented to the President and Congress for the purpose of creating public policy. Copies of the report may be obtained by contacting dave@tricomassociates.com, or by calling the contacts listed below.



As mandated by the Oceans Act 2000 (P.L. 106-256), the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy will establish findings and make final recommendations to the President and Congress for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy. The new policy will address a broad range of issues, from ocean governance to the stewardship of marine resources and pollution prevention to enhancing and supporting marine science, commerce and transportation.
 

jamesw

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This would be a great article for the News section of the MARSH homepage.

Along w/ the other stuff that is going on. Check out Doug Robbin's review of the Marine Ornamentals conference in Advanced Aquarist

Cheers
James
 
G

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Like Bush would ever be for conserving something on this planet? If anybody harbors that illusion, see his policies on ANWR oil drilling, global warming, industrial pollution, forestry, arsenic in our drinking water, etc.

We should all be concerned for the vitality of the worlds' livestock. Some seahorse species are already threatened with extinction due to excessive collection. I've seen reports that corals in the wild have disappeared by massive percentages in the last 10-20 years.

Buy tank raised and aqua-cultured livestock when you can, it is more hardy and helps sustain the wild populations.
 

jamesw

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Hi Dave,

Sustainable collection of marine ornamental species puts food on the tables of fisherfolk in developing countries. I think we can all agree on that.
We can probably all agree that most collection isn't done sustainable, or that it MAY be, we just haven't studied it.

So what if we stop buying their ornamental fish "goods?" Perhaps they start cyanide fishing for grouper for the Hong Kong live food fish trade. Or they start dynamiting the reef... You see my point.

Personally, I'm 100% FOR sustainable harvest of marine ornamentals. The "landed value" for these guys is like 60 bux a POUND. Compare that to less than a buck for foodfish.

That means folks can collect a heck of a lot less ornamental fish - and still put food on their family's table.

Cheers
James
 
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