The Online Magazine for Sustainable
Seas
April, 2001 Vol. 4 No.4
April, 2001 Vol. 4 No.4
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The Online Magazine for Sustainable
Seas
April, 2001 Vol. 4 No.4 |
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Coastal Alert |
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Philippines World CRMP News RP, China agree to a fishing moratorium at Scarborough
Shoal Conservation groups lauded the moratorium, saying it will reduce pressure on the area’s fishery resources. Manila Bulletin, 04.08.01 Gov’t assures RP shrimp white-spot-symdrome free Measures are in place to prevent the introduction of the WSSV into the country, the agency assured. The total ban on the import of live shrimp, prawn and other crustacean species is in effect throughout the country, and facilities have been set up to contain any outbreak of the disease. "To date, there are 10 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratories throughout the country designed specifically to detect the presence of this devastating virus and, so far, there have been no reports to confirm the existence of the disease," said bureau director Malcolm Sarmiento. The PCR laboratories are in Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Cebu, City, Bohol, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City, Lanao del Norte, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), and at the BFAR central office in Quezon City. PCR is regarded as the most effective method of detecting and diagnosing WSSV in shrimps. R.A. Fernandez in Philippine Star, 04.08.01 Milkfish fry shortage over soon? The project, called"Milkfish Broodstock Development and Fry Production in Ponds and Tanks", is being undertaken under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) -UNDP Gainex Program or Gain Exports, a government program that aims to strengthen domestic technological capability in milkfish breeding and fry production. It involves the growing, maturation and spawning of quality milkfish broodstock (breeders) in ponds and tanks and the production of fry in private hatcheries. Milkfish production has been declining in recent years as the supply of fry from the wild dwindled and fell short of the stocking requirements of brackishwater ponds, fishpens and sea cages. In the past, the harvest of fry from the wild reached as much as 1.2 billion pieces a year. This dropped to 600 million fry in recent years, according to the agriculture department’s estimates. Even so, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) reports that production in the last 25 years ranged from 100,000 to 250,000 metric tons a year, suggesting fry catches of 1-2.45 billion, or an average of 1.7 billion a year. Domestic supply is reportedly augmented by imports from Taiwan, which was estimated at 20 million in 1994, and then 150 million in 1995. During the past few months, one firm was said to have imported an average of 1.5 million fry every day. The Gainex Program has achieved maturation of milkfish broodstock three years after the milkfish were stocked and maintained in earthen ponds in a facility in Iloilo. It maintains 96 milkfish breeders, which it lends to various hatcheries around the country. Since March, one hatchery using the program’s breeders collected 135.7 million eggs and harvested about 65.8 million day-old larvae. R.A. Fernandez in Philippine Star, 03.25.01 Pygmy seahorse sighted in Puerto Galera
Rehabilitation of La Union’s Naguilian River
watershed underway The program launched a"Scholarship Trees" project last March, involving elementary pupils in a massive and sustained tree-planting activity. With each student planting five trees, the six participating towns would be able to re-green at least 30 hectares of the basin this year, organizers said. The watershed, a major water source and a key economic resource for the province, is in a critical state. Of the 12,000 hectares of public forest within the Naguilian River basin, only 1.7% remains. The denudation has been attributed to unabated cutting of trees to feed tobacco kilns in La Union, northern Luzon’s second leading tobacco producer. Some13 cubic meters of fuel wood are needed to produce a ton of cured tobacco. G. Damaso-Dumo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 03.18.01 DENR poised to stop controversial
dolphin show In a report to President Macapagal-Arroyo, DENR Secretary Heherson Alvarez said,"The department ascertains its authority over activities that significantly affect the environment, particularly in the processing and issuance of ECCs for all environmentally critical areas." The swim-with-the-dolphins project of the Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium (SBME) had met stiff resistance from environmentalists even before it started operating on February 12. Concerned groups charged the dolphin show destroyed the complex social structure of the sea animals it uses, as well as the coral and marine ecosystem at the Freeport. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said it had the power to issue an ECC to the operator of the dolphin show under the SBMA charter, a claim the DENR refuted. Alvarez asserted the DENR has the sole authority to issue ECCs under Section 4 of Presidential Decree 1586, or the Environmental Impact Statement, which was strengthened with the issuance of the Administrative Code of 1996. In fact, Alvarez said, the SBMA recognized DENR’s authority when it applied for and was issued ECCs for at least two projects -- the SBMA-Tipo Road project and the Subic Bay power project. A DENR investigative task force confirmed the show had no ECC; imported, transported and collected marine animals without permits; and failed to satisfactorily answer issues on animal welfare. DENR-Region III issued a cease-and-desist order against the SBMA last March 12; SBMA ignored the order. C. Balana, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 04.7.01 Saltwater instrusion in Cebu aquifers worsens,
says expert Olaf Sholze measured 67 wells in nine areas in Cebu City and its environs from November 2000 to February this year. He said aquifers in Mandaue and Liloan"showed more than the expected tolerable level of saltwater." Experts say damage in the aquifer caused by saltwater intrusion is almost irreversible, as it takes several centuries to flush out salt and refill the aquifer with freshwater. It is aggravated by overpumping of groundwater in the aquifer. Cebu’s water supply comes entirely from groundwater. F.M. Sinson, Cebu Daily News, 04.16.01 Despite ban, trade in turtle meat continues in
Cebu Nobody has been arrested or charged for violating the ban. Reason? Policemen, court personnel, city officials and even some personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are turtle meat eaters themselves and regularly patronize Pasil’s eateries, according to observers. Turtle meat is reportedly smuggled in daily by purseiners from Bantayan, Medellin, and the nearby provinces of Negros Oriental and Bohol. Last year, authorities intercepted 100 kg of turtle meat in Liloan town. The Bantay Dagat (Sea Patrol) Commission said they have information that at least 100 kg of turtle meat are sold in Pasil every day. One serving of turtle meat costs about Php25. N.B. Banacia, Cebu Daily News, 04.15.01 World Trade agreements must consider environmental
issues A new round of trade liberalization talks will likely be launched at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Qatar in November. The Berlin meeting (20-22 March), held under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), looked at the linkages between environment, sustainable development and trade policies, which are often in conflict with one another. In his opening address, Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's Executive Director, said that over the last 50 years, there has been a rapid expansion of world trade with the total value of global exports growing from $US 350 billion in 1950 to almost $US 5.5 trillion in 1999. "Trade liberalization contributes to economic growth, yet the benefits have not been fairly shared between countries and, in some cases, have led to greater environmental degradation and increased poverty," said Toepfer. "One part of the solution is for trade and environment policy-makers to work together to develop mutually supportive trade and environment policies. Such collaboration will maximize the economic and ecological benefits that can be gained from trade liberalization," he said. New international plan of action targets illegal,
unregulated and unreported fishing IUU fishing is found within and outside the exclusive economic zone (200 miles from the coast), it is not confined to high seas fisheries, FAO said. In some important fisheries, IUU fishing accounts for up to 30 % of total catches, FAO said. IUU fishing is blamed for overfishing of several high value fish stocks. In extreme cases, it can lead to the collapse of a fishery or seriously affect efforts to rebuild fish stocks that have been depleted. Of particular concern are fishing vessels flying "flags of convenience" granted by countries that allow fishing vessels to operate under their flag without controlling their fishing activities. "The Plan of Action will make it more difficult for fishing vessels to threaten the sustainability of the world's fisheries resources," said Ichiro Nomura, FAO's Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries Department. "With this new plan, the international community has a powerful tool to fight illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. Countries should ensure the primary responsibility of the flag state, and use port and market measures as well as proper sanctions to make sure that nationals do not support IUU fishing. Monitoring of vessels, sharing information between countries and international cooperation in control and surveillance will help to combat IUU fishing," Nomura added. The International Plan of Action states that the issue of IUU fishing in world fisheries "is of serious and increasing concern. Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing undermines efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks in all capture fisheries". The Plan of Action calls upon states to ensure that their nationals do not support or engage in IUU fishing. No vessel should be allowed to fish unless so authorized. States should cooperate to identify those who are the operators or owners of vessels involved in IUU fishing. Measures should be taken against vessels without nationality on the high seas involved in IUU fishing. States should avoid giving economic support or subsidies to companies, vessels or individuals involved in illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. According to FAO, excess fleet capacity and weak national fishery administration are important factors that may encourage illegal fishing. The Plan of Action particularly stresses and promotes flag state responsibility. Countries should ensure, before they register a fishing vessel, that these vessels entitled to fly their flag do not engage in or support IUU fishing. All countries that are involved in chartering should make sure that chartered vessels do not engage in IUU fishing. The Plan of Action also tackles the problem of 'flag hopping', the repeated and rapid changes of a vessel's flag for the purpose of circumventing conservation and management. It calls on countries to take all necessary steps to discourage the practice, including the denial of an authorization to fish. A flag state should ensure that each vessel flying its flag and fishing in waters outside its sovereignty is authorized to fish, the Plan says. It also calls for better cooperation, information and data sharing between countries. For this purpose, a vessel monitoring system should be established, it says. The plan calls for strict monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing from catches, through the point of landing, to final destination. Vessels entering a port should be required to provide details of their fishing trip and quantities of fish on board. Where a port state has clear evidence that a vessel has engaged in illegal fishing, the port state should not allow the vessel to land in its port and should report the matter to the flag state of the vessel. Severe sanctions should be enforced against vessels involved in IUU fishing. "This may include the adoption of a civil sanction regime based on an administrative penalty scheme," the agreement says. The International Plan of Action against IUU fishing, as well as the other three International Plans of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries, for the Conservation and Management of Sharks and for the Management of Fishing Capacity, are non-binding agreements aimed at promoting more responsible fisheries practices. According to FAO, about 47 to 50 % of major marine fish stocks are currently fully exploited, with no room expected for further expansion. Another 15 to 18 % are overexploited, whereas 10 % of stocks have been depleted or are recovering from depletion. An estimated 25 to 27 % of stocks are underexploited or moderately exploited and represent the main potential source for expansion of total capture fisheries. ICRI notes continuing threats to
coral reefs, draws up action agenda for East Asia Nine East Asian countries were represented and reported on coral reef management initiatives in their respective countries. These were Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The other participants came from various organizations in Australia, France, Germany, Kenya, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, United States and United Kingdom. Key initiatives cited by participants included the development of integrated coastal management frameworks, policies and plans, which are now in various stages of implementation in the different East Asian countries. "The trend -- and continuing need -- is for strengthening local capabilities in coastal management," participants noted in a draft summary report distributed after the meeting."Much encouraging work has been accomplished to involve communities in coral reef conservation and management. The number of community-based marine protected areas in the region is increasing, and building local capacities in coastal resource management has become the focus of many governments." Despite such trend, however, degradation of coral reefs continues throughout the region, especially where human activities are concentrated. East Asia has the largest area of coral reefs and the highest coral reef biodiversity in the world. Studies indicate, however, that it is also where coral reefs are under the heaviest pressure from various impacts, both natural and human-induced. Country reports indicated less than 10% of coral reefs remain in excellent condition, and that human-induced threats, such as destructive fishing, pollution and sedimentation, continue to impact heavily on the reefs. Urgent attention was also called to the effects of global climate change on reef resources, as the widespread bleaching event that occurred in 1998 set back efforts to rehabilitate and protect reefs in most areas in East Asia. "Climate change puts added uncertainties to the future of coral reefs, wherever this may occur," participants noted."Events associated with global climate change -- carbon dioxide increases, temperature increases, rise in sea level, increase in severity of storms and changes in storm tracks, and hydrologic cycle changes -- can affect coral reefs, by reducing the ability of corals to calcify, increasing breakage, causing changes in nutrients that may lead to diseases, and generally producing multiple stress factors that cause heavy damage on corals." To address these concerns, ICRI member-nations and organizations in East Asia vowed to prioritize global climate change and impacts on the international and local agenda; mainstream marine protected areas as a strategy for coral reef conservation and fisheries and coral reef management; build capabilities in coral reef conservation and management; and promote sustainable and equitable practices in international trade in coral reef species. Among the measures participants agreed to promote were global climate change monitoring mechanisms that involve communities, national and local governments and academic institutions; the establishment of"marine insurance areas," which could provide an"insurance policy" against any large impacts of global climate change both inside and outside the reserves; bilateral and multilateral agreements in marine protected area establishment and management in large marine eco-regions such as the Sulu-Sulawesi and South China Seas; economic incentives that reward communities for managing their reef resources in a sustainable manner; a certification system that will allow self-assessment by local governments of their coastal resource management initiatives; harmonization of the collection and analysis of data on reef species harvests, trade, exports and imports; and"scientifically sound" development of reef species aquaculture. Sweden and the Philippines, as co-hosts of the ICRI secretariat in 2001-02, will set up national ICRI committees that will monitor the implementation of coral reef conservation and management among member countries. ICRI is a partnership among nations and organizations seeking to implement Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 and other international Conventions and agreements for the benefit of coral reefs and related ecosystems. A. Sia, IEC-CRMP , 04.24.01 Trade in coral reef species must be regulated
-- international forum Charles Barber of the World Resources Institute said trade in coral reef species worldwide is characterized by the over-harvesting of target species and the use of destructive fishing methods, such as cyanide, which threaten the reefs. Efforts to regulate the source of live fish for restaurants are not enough, he added. If demand for live fish is not regulated, the smuggling of live fish from the wild will not stop. ICRI member-countries and organizations in East Asia passed a resolution calling for the promotion of sustainable and equitable practices in the international trade in coral reef species during this month’s ICRI Regional Workshop for East Asia. Such practices include instituting procedures to ensure that, where trade in live fish and other reef species occur, these resources are harvested legally, as well as promoting the development of"scientifically sound" reef species aquaculture. Barber said aquaculture provides an alternative to harvesting from the wild. He noted that if live fish and other reef species traded in the world market can be supplied by well-managed aquaculture, pressure on reef resources will be significantly reduced. LAP, Sun.Star Cebu, 04.08.01 IMO approved convention on liability for oil
pollution It requires owners of ships over 1,000 gross tons to take out insurance against pollution from bunkers. Rules on compensation of victims are also set out, as well as resolutions promoting technical co-operation and legal protection for ship crewmembers who take measures to prevent or minimize the effects of a pollution incident. The convention has to be adopted by 18 countries before it will enter into force. Efforts to develop this convention are a result of IMO data in the early 1990s that showed that the number of oil spills from ships other than tankers was significantly greater than the number of tanker spills. Many general cargo ships carry more oil as bunkers than tankers carry as cargo, the IMO said in a statement. Moreover, bunker spills are considered to be more expensive to clean up. Coastal Guide News , 04.06.01 Report warns of growing destruction of world’s
coastal areas "Unless things change very quickly, the world’s coastal areas face a grim future. Many important coastal habitats like lagoons, wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs are disappearing," said Jonathan Lash, WRI president, during the release of the report, Pilot Analysis of Global Ecosystems (PAGE): Coastal Ecosystems. This report, along with similar studies on agricultural lands, forests, freshwater, and grasslands, comprise the first comprehensive analysis of the world’s ecosystems. Nearly 30 % of the land area in the world’s coastal ecosystems has already been extensively altered or destroyed by growing demands for housing, industry and recreation. An estimated four out of every ten people live within 100 kilometers of a coast."Coastal populations are exploding, and as they increase, pressures on coastal ecosystems will follow," said Lash. Nearly two-thirds of all the fish harvested in the world depend on coastal wetlands, mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. About 95 % of the world’s marine fish harvest come from coastal waters. More low-value fish are being caught today as stocks of valuable fish like cod, hake, and tuna are declining. Overall, 75% of fish stocks are depleted or being fished at their biological limit. The report says that beach erosion is also a growing problem and affects tourism revenue, especially in island nations. In the Caribbean, as much as 70 % of beaches studied over a ten-year period were eroded. Yet, the long-term success of tourism in the region is dependent on excellent beaches, a pristine marine environment, and warm weather. Studies by the world’s climate scientists indicate that an increase in ocean temperatures could result in rising sea levels by as much as 95 centimeters at the end of this century."The resulting storm surges could intensify erosion, habitat loss, increased salinity of freshwater aquifers, and extreme coastal flooding," said Yumiko Kura, one of the lead authors of the report. The protection of shorelines, especially in small countries and countries with limited fertile land, has become particularly important. In Japan, the government estimates that 46 % of its shorelines need protection and has spent more than $40 billion on this effort. The report also warns that the outright destruction of coral reefs by destructive fishing practices and mining is a serious problem. Coral bleaching -- which results from rising ocean temperatures caused by climate change -- is also increasing and further threatens this valuable resource. The Coastal Ecosystems report also reveals: In the last 50 years, as much as 85 % of the mangroves have been lost in Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan, Panama and Mexico. Globally, about 50 % of mangrove forests have been lost. In recent decades, the increase in pollution from inland sources and the loss of coastal habitats that filter pollution have led to the expansion of dead or hypoxic zones, such as those in the Gulf of Mexico. The incidence of harmful algal blooms along the United States coastlines increased from 200 in the 1970s to 700 in the 1990s. Since 1991, these algal blooms have caused nearly $300 million in terms of fish kills, public health problems, and lost revenue from tourism. More invasive or alien species are being found in coastal areas, often disrupting the food chain and eliminating native species. Scientists estimate that on any given day, as many as 3,000 different species are carried in the ballasts of the world’s ocean fleet. Scientists have identified 480 invasive species in the Mediterranean, 89 in the Baltic Sea, and 124 in Australian waters. Increased use of chemicals in agriculture a major
environmental threat As an NCEAS working group, the co-authors spent eight months gathering all the data they could find on the global impact of humans mediated by anything except climate change. Agriculture turned out to be the largest. World population, expected to be 9 billion (double the present population) by the year 2050, will require the conversion of natural ecosystems covering an area larger than the size of the United States including Alaska, as demand for food doubles. This expansion of agricultural land is expected to occur mostly in Latin America and sub-Saharan central Africa. The authors also explain that additional natural habitat would be lost to urban and suburban development. "During the first 35 years of the Green Revolution, global grain production doubled, greatly reducing food shortages, but at a high environmental cost," said the authors. The increase in grain production was accomplished through adding nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticides to the soils, which are then carried in run-off into the nearest bodies of water, explain the authors. These nutrients then cause large algal blooms to grow, which use up the oxygen, die, create scum and cause the fish in the area to die. Currently there is a "dead-zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, first discovered by fishermen. This zone is about 50 by 100 miles and is caused by agricultural run-off from the Mississippi Delta. Such "dead zones" are expected to increase world-wide. Use of fertilizers and pesticides and habitat destruction has also caused a "major extinction event," according to the authors who predict the trend to continue, thus lowering the world’s biodiversity and changing its ecology. Ecosystem "services" such as clean drinking water and carbon storage continue to be lost. "Neither society nor most scientists understand the importance of agriculture," said Tilman. "It’s grossly misunderstood, barely on the radar screen, yet it is likely as important as climate change." He said that those who are trying to farm sustainably are hit economically and it is often the more careful farmers who are squeezed out. "We need to rethink incentives for farmers," said Tilman. The authors give a number of suggestions using existing knowledge to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and still increase productivity. "Integrated pest management, application of site- and time-appropriate amounts of agricultural chemicals and water, use of cover crops on fallow lands and buffer strips between cultivated fields and drainage areas and appropriate deployment of more productive crops can increase yields, while reducing water, fertilizer, and pesticide use and movement to nonagricultural habitats," they explain. They call upon international agencies to aid third world farmers in the transition. Nonetheless, they state, "If global population stabilizes at 8.5 to 10 billion people, the next 50 years may be the final episode of rapid global agricultural expansion. During this period, agriculture has the potential to have massive, irreversible environmental impacts." Tilman explained that this research project could only have happened at NCEAS where working groups from many institutions are able to assemble and manage large computer data sets, and take the time to interpret them. "It’s the only facility that allows this type of cross-disciplinary integration of data," said Tilman. Oceans heating up Another new NOAA study claims that the recent warming of tropical oceans has led to changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation, which drives winter weather in the Northern Hemisphere. This theory explains stronger westerly winds over Europe and southerly flows over the Mediterranean observed over the past two decades. A paper just released by the University of Minnesota, USA, concludes that the more diverse an ecosystem is, the better it can serve to absorb carbon dioxide. All plants absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, but different species absorb carbon at different rates and different environmental conditions can also affect how well plants absorb CO2. Thus, ecosystems with high biodiversity will take up and sequester more carbon and nitrogen than do ecosystems with reduced biodiversity. These results have implications for the assessment of the role man-made ecosystems have in reducing climate change. Coastal Guide News, 04.20.01 FAO estimates 25 million cases of pesticide poisoning
each year "Chemical producers and government regulators believe pesticides can still be used safely, that they can be used appropriately on the correct crops at the correct times. However I think we will see something different going on in the actual fields and the villages," says Russ Dilts, FAO Regional IPM [Integrated Pest Management] Coordinator. Dr Dilts takes the BBC crew on the 'Toxic Trail', a documentary starting in Thailand and following the flow of toxic chemicals into Cambodia where they are posing a serious threat to human health and the environment. Methyl Parathion, Monocrotophos, and Mevinphos, all classified as 'extremely hazardous' by the World Health Organization and banned or restricted in many developed countries are sold freely, and widely used by poor farmers across Cambodia with no safeguards whatsoever. 'Normal use' in the field is a far cry from the 'safe use' touted by chemical companies, as farmers are literally bathing in toxic cocktails. Multinational companies disclaim responsibility for what happens to their products in Cambodia since they have no formal operations there, leaving the responsibility to the government. But after decades of civil war, the impoverished Cambodian Ministries are struggling to build regulatory capacity in an attempt to control illicit trade and use of pesticides. They are no match for the massive commercial pressure coming from both east and west. 'Toxic Trail' turns to the farmers. 85% of the Cambodian population relies on agriculture for their livelihood. The FAO's Community Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program has helped farmers to understand more about pesticides and their acute health effects such as vomiting, trouble walking, dizziness, burning eyes and skin, muscle cramps and shortness of breath. After spraying farmers often report 4 or more symptoms of pesticide poisoning. But there is a positive side to this otherwise grim picture. Across the region, Community IPM farmers are learning about rice ecology and how pesticides disturb the natural ecological balance. In Indonesia, IPM farmers have reduced the amount of pesticides they use and created farmer associations that sell pesticide-free rice and organic fertilizer at their own IPM kiosk. 'Toxic Trail' visits a farmer group in West Java, which has started their own farmer newspaper to spread news of alternative methods of pest control. These farmers are meeting with local governments, doing their own research and experiments, and encouraging ecologically sustainable farming in their community. 'Toxic Trail' was broadcast in two parts on BBC World Earth Report last April 23 and April 29. Earth Reports are produced by the Television Trust for the Environment (TVE). The broadcasts are accompanied by the website ToxicTrail.org, containing further information. For more information, contact: Andrew Bartlett Snr. IPM Programme Development Officer Programme for Community IPM in Asia 6221-7197887 AndrewBartlett@attglobal.net Web site: http://toxictrail.org FAO’s committee on fisheries establishes new sub-committee on
aquaculture The proposed Sub-Committee "would serve as an intergovernmental mechanism for information exchange, discussion and consensus-building on emerging issues in aquaculture", FAO said. This would include guidance for governments and international bodies on technical and policy matters. A sub-committee specifically dealing with aquaculture issues is deemed an "invaluable institutional tool" in assisting FAO's Committee on Fisheries to fulfil its mandate. There is currently no intergovernmental global forum that had sustainable aquaculture as its primary focus, nor is there any apparent potential for the establishment of such a forum elsewhere. China, Norway, Italy and the USA made offers of funding to help set up the new sub-committee. China offered to host its first meeting in conjunction with a meeting of the World Aquaculture Society and an International Aquaculture Exhibition in Beijing in April 2002. Norway offered to host the second session, also in conjunction with an international exhibition on aquaculture, in August 2003, and the USA offered to consult the aquaculture industry with a view to hosting a subsequent session. Italy indicated that it would join international efforts to provide additional funding in support of the sub-committee. Japan's proposals for fisheries meeting in Christchurch
rejected Masayuki Komatsu, a Counselor at the Government of Japan's Fisheries Agency said, "Japan is concerned that the Convention as adopted last year does not adequately provide for the conservation of these stocks in the region but unfortunately, New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific Island States have rejected our proposals to have discussions on how to improve the Convention and to allow participation of all States with a real interest in the fisheries of the area -- that is why we [did] not attend the Conference." Japan and Korea voted against the Convention, and China, France and Tonga abstained at its adoption at the seventh session of a Multilateral High Level Conference held last September. "Japan is a world leader in responsible fisheries but under these circumstances, we [could] not participate in the Preparatory Conference. We are concerned that the Convention as adopted is unlikely to achieve its goal of ensuring the long-term conservation and optimum use of these resources for present and future generations so we are committed to continuing our efforts to seek improvements," he said. Komatsu explained that the Convention, which was finalized last year but has yet to enter into force, has a number of serious flaws that will prevent its effective implementation. These include the fact that it excludes a number of states with a real interest in the fisheries of the area, that the boundaries of the Convention Area are not defined, that there is overlapping jurisdiction in area and species with other already existing fisheries agreements, that the procedures established by the Convention will not provide timely conservation decisions and that the Convention does not adequately take account of the different biological, socio-economic and cultural nature of fisheries in the area north of 20 north. Komatsu explained that because of these flaws, many possible members, particularly fishing States, will unlikely adhere to the Convention. "It is obvious that a Convention without the major fishing States simply won't be effective," he said. The meeting in Christchurch on 23-28 April was aimed at establishing draft regulations to implement the Convention. "We regret that Japan's proposals to discuss improvement to the Convention and to include those with a real interest have been rejected," said Komatsu. More knowledge of interactions between Asian
brown haze, global warming and ozone urgently needed, says UNEP Toepfer has just returned from Kathmandu where the chief scientists of the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) briefed him and a UNEP assessment expert. "Their research suggests that the thick brown haze which forms over much of Asia during the tropical dry season, could have profound effects on human health, crop yield and rainfall patterns in the Asian region," he said. Led by Prof. Paul Crutzen of the Max Planck Institute of Chemistry and Prof. V. Ramanathan of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California in San Diego, INDOEX involved 250 scientists from the United States, Europe, and India. In a US$25 million field experiment, atmospheric measurements were taken from ships, aircraft, satellites and ground-based instruments around the tropical Indian Ocean in 1999. The results show that the brown haze - a mixture of pollutants, mainly soots, sulfates, nitrates, organic particles, fly ash and mineral dust, formed by fossil fuel combustion and rural biomass burning - is reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the tropical Indian Ocean surface, thousands of kilometers from its source, by as much as 10 %; with larger percentage reduction over the Indian Subcontinent. The researchers tracked the haze over an area of about 10 million square kilometers, and believe it forms over much of the Asian continent, home to more than half the world's people. While in Kathmandu, the scientists and UNEP staff took a plane flight toward the Himalayas and found the haze extended vertically at least five kilometers - compared to the 3km ceiling measured during INDOEX. "It is too early to tell how the haze might effect the formation of the monsoon and regional and global climate patterns, but the significance of these initial measurements suggest more knowledge is urgently needed," said Prof. V. Ramanathan. The scientists plan to establish a network of ground-based monitoring stations throughout Asia to study the composition and seasonal pattern of the haze. UNEP has pledged to facilitate the continued research programme and, in the longer-term, look to coordinate policy responses to address the problem. "Forgive and forget" won’t fix Third
World debt "Before officials congratulate themselves they need to pay attention to a wider problem -- how to prevent this debt crisis from happening again," said David Malin Roodman, author of Still Waiting for the Jubilee: Pragmatic Solutions for the Third World Debt Crisis and Worldwatch Institute senior researcher. "Hundreds of billions of dollars in unpayable loans still need to be written off. And creditors have done little to change the lending practices that created the debt problem in the first place." Roodman calls for major reforms to prevent poorer countries from sinking back into debt. On the borrower side, these include making governments less corrupt and more accountable. On the creditor side, the reforms include: Giving poor countries greater access to foreign exchange earnings by lowering trade barriers in rich countries to allow more imports from the poorest ones. Basing government contributions to the IMF and development banks on how well these lenders reform management culture to reward employees for results instead of loan-pushing. Ensuring that aid agencies, from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to the World Bank, lend less and grant more to the poorest nations. Bycatch limits needed to conserve Europe's dolphins
and porpoises ASCOBANS, the Agreement on Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas, will be pressing the European Commission (EC) to restrict the level of marine mammals dying after entanglement in nets to less than 1.7 % of their populations as a first step towards improving their conservation. It is hoped that these "by catch limits" will form part of a review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which has been launched by the commission and which is due to be completed in December 2002. Klaus Toepfer, UNEP Executive Director, said, "Studies indicate that in some parts of the North Sea and adjacent waters, such as the Celtic Sea, six per cent of small cetaceans are being after becoming entangled in fishing nets. This may amount to more than 2,000 harbour porpoises annually in the Celtic Sea. Scientists advise that this level of bycatch is unsustainable and threatens to undermine conservation efforts". He added that the decision to review the CFP, partly with a view to make it more environmentally-friendly, offered a "golden opportunity" to address the threat to dolphins and porpoises from trawlers and other types of fisheries. "Placing a clear limit on the levels of dolphins and porpoises being lost in fishing gear could play an important role in guaranteeing a recovery of these charismatic and intelligent marine mammals in European waters," said Toepfer. Mark Tasker, the newly elected chair of ASCOBANS, said technologies such as pingers were available which might help fishermen reduce the level of by catch. Pingers are small devices which, when attached to nets, emit sounds that are designed to warn marine mammals of imminent danger. Tests in British and Danish waters indicate that the bycatch of small cetaceans can be cut by more than 90 % when pingers are deployed. Other technologies, which might help establish how and why marine mammals get caught and which may be commercially available soon, include special underwater video cameras. Peter Reijnders, the former chair of ASCOBANS, adds that other measures, some of which have been pioneered in the United States, might also be key. "The United States is in some ways ahead of Europe on the conservation of small cetaceans. Different types of fisheries have been ranked according to the risk or threat to dolphins and porpoises and appropriate action has been taken," he said. These actions can include closing or restricting the time that fishing vessels are allowed in areas where marine mammals are known to congregate. "Enforcement will be crucial to the success of reducing cetacean bycatch. We also need independent observers on fishing vessels to monitor levels of bycatch and to verify that technologies and measures brought in are working," says Reijnders. Robert Hepworth, Deputy Director in UNEP's Division of Environmental Conventions, stressed the importance of plans to carry out a survey of small cetacean populations, which is scheduled to launch in 2002 or 2003, would also be important. The survey, called Small Cetacean Abundance in the North Sea or SCANS II, follows a similar survey carried out in 1994 in the North Sea and adjacent waters. For the first time it gave governments, scientists and wildlife groups an assessment of the abundance of marine mammals including harbour porpoise, minke whale and white-beaked dolphin in the region. New fish species discovered in Murray-Darling,
Australia "We were doing some survey work at Lake Alexandrina," said Michael Hammer, an honors student in Adelaide University's Department of Environmental Biology. "A volunteer was helping me out and found what we thought was a juvenile pygmy perch. Later we ran genetic tests to see if it was different from other local populations of pygmy perch, and it turned out to be a totally different species," he said. Hammer is currently studying the southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis), a locally endangered species now found only in selected spots in the Mount Lofty Ranges. The new species turned out to be a Yarra Pygmy Perch (Edelia obscura), apparently far from home. "As its name suggests, it was originally found in the Yarra, but it's distributed from Melbourne up to Bool Lagoon in South Australia, so it's a fair way from the Murray," said Hammer. "No-one's ever identified it in the Murray-Darling Basin before," he said. " It's definitely a new species for the area, so we're trying to work out if it's a genetically distinct population in the species, or a new species altogether." That involves preparing tissue samples from different fish and, in a technique known as allozyme electrophoresis, letting them move through a series of gels. Different fractions separate as visible bands. Those of genetically similar specimens form the same pattern, while genetically dissimilar animals produce patterns that are conspicuously different. "As far as we know, the other populations of the Yarra Pygmy Perch are all distinct genetically," said Mr Hammer, "But we're looking at that during the next couple of months. That will help us decide whether this is a truly isolated population, or could perhaps have been released into the region historically. That seems unlikely but, in any case, it is a refugee population of an threatened species," he said. The Yarra Pygmy Perch is nationally potentially threatened, which means it is still common in certain regions but overall has suffered a large decrease in its range. The discovery of this population has significant implications for the management of the region. Vietnam fishery exports hit USD303 million Exports of frozen shrimp accounted for more than one-third of the export value, hitting 13,459 tons worth US$110 million. Frozen fish exports amounted to 19,345 tons valued at US$60.5 million. The biggest markets were Japan and the United States, which together absorbed about 27,000 tons of Vietnam’s fishery exports with a combined value of about US$161 million. China was the third biggest market, surpassing Hong Kong. Vietnam Ministry of Fisheries Collisions from ships pose risk to some whale
populations The paper notes that although "collisions with motorized ships are a recognized source of whale mortality, little has been done to compile information on the frequency of their occurrence or contributing factors." The study's authors therefore "searched historical records and computerized stranding databases for evidence of ship strikes involving great whales (i.e. baleen whales and the sperm whale)." Historical records suggest that ship strikes fatal to whales first occurred late in the 1800s as ships began to reach speeds of 13-15 [knots], remained infrequent until about 1950, and then increased during the 1950s-1970s as the number and speed of ships increased. Of 11 species known to be hit by ships, fin whales are struck most frequently; right whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, and gray whales are hit commonly." The number of whales hit by ships is at times surprisingly high. For example, in some areas, "one-third of all fin and right whale strandings appear to involve ship strikes."Full story at Seaweb’s Ocean Update" Strategy to integrate environment into European
Common Fisheries Policy On the basis of the outlined strategy, the Commission expects the Fisheries Council to adopt an integration strategy during the spring of 2001 for its presentation to the Gothenburg Summit. Additionally, the European Commission has adopted a Green Paper on the future of the CFP. The Paper puts forward new objectives and presents options on how to achieve them. The Commission has formulated four main objectives for the CFP: Improving the conservation and the protection of marine ecosystems, increasing the involvement of stakeholders in decision-making, securing an economically viable and self-sufficient fisheries sector, and promoting sustainable fisheries beyond Community waters. One of the Green Paper's and the Strategy's main outcomes is the proposal to drastically cut European fishing fleets by 40 %, to save the dwindling fish stocks in the North Sea. Ironically, according to the New Scientist magazine, the European Union has demanded an increase of up to 60 % in the amount of fish its trawlers are allowed to catch off West Africa in the same week it adopted the Green Paper. These waters, one of the world's greatest fisheries, are already heavily over-fished, making the demanded large EU catches unsustainable. As a result, the validity of the Commission's objective to promote sustainable fisheries beyond community waters is being questioned by the international community. The Green Paper can be accessed at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/policy_en.htm. Coastal Guide News , 04.06.01 Heads of environmental Groups arrested at EPA
entrance "We’ve taken our message from President Bush’s ranch, to the White House and now to the EPA," said Passacantando. "We want this Toxic Texan to know that trashing 30 years of environmental gains, then making a few token green announcements for Earth Day is an unacceptable environmental agenda." The environmental community is shocked at how much damage one president can propose in less than 100 days," continued Passacantando. "Even President Reagan took four years to propose his shortsighted environmental agenda and trash the earth." Greenpeace cited the following among"the many assaults Bush has made to the environment in less than 100 days": Reversing a campaign pledge to limit carbon dioxide pollution from power plants, cutting a budget for renewable energy programs, support for logging and the development on 60 million acres of untouched national forests, plans to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration and drilling, and slashing the EPA’s enforcement budget. President Bush yesterday expressed support for the international treaty to phase out of a dozen highly toxic and persistent chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants, or POPs. But Passacantando was unimpressed. "It’s easy for Bush to say he supports the treaty, but the real signal of commitment to reducing these dangerous chemicals will be when he fights to get the treaty ratified through Congress," he said. Greenpeace Alaska Oceans Network launches "Framework
for Healthy Oceans" "Each year in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, over 300 million pounds of fish -- enough to provide well over one billion meals -- and other marine life are caught and thrown overboard by large scale industrial fishing operations," says AON Coordinator Francine Bennis. "That is a typical yearly 'wasted catch' in the North Pacific, and this occurs in what federal officials hail as America's best managed marine fisheries." The start of AON's "Healthy Oceans" campaign coincides with the first National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) environmental evaluation of groundfish fisheries in twenty years. AON participants say that the NMFS management plan fails to offer any feasible integrated alternatives to prevent over-fishing, protect habitat and minimize bycatch and that crafting a revised Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is essential to safeguarding the North Pacific. The AON plan calls for "more conservative fishing quotas, recognition of the ties between a healthy ocean and coastal communities, restrictions on bottom trawling and establishing regeneration zones." For more information about the Alaska Oceans Network, call (907) 929-3553 or visit www.alaskaoceans.net. Contact: Francine Bennis, Coordinator, Alaska Oceans Network. Tel: (907) 929-3553; E-mail: aon@ak.net. Full story at Seaweb’s Ocean Update US environmentalists meet the enemy: Census 2000 Pointing out that America's environmental resources are cracking under the strain of such high growth, Washington-based population policy organization Negative Population Growth (NPG) called on President Bush and Congress to establish a national population policy to stabilize the US population at a smaller, more sustainable size. "Population growth spells disaster for any environmental issue you can name," said NPG executive director Sharon McCloe Stein. "More people means more demands for resources, more pollution, more waste, more energy use, and less habitat for other species. Our best efforts to clean up the earth, control sprawl, and preserve green space are being overwhelmed a constantly increasing population." Every year, America paves over an area equal to the entire state of Delaware to meet the needs of more people."More than half of our original wetlands are now gone forever," the group said in a press release."We produce 222 million tons of trash each year---4.4 pounds per person each day--more than half of which ends up in landfills. And each new American uses 175 gallons of water per day and 26 barrels of oil per year." US conservation & fishing groups hit federal
agencies' failure to protect Columbia & Snake River Salmon "We’re not going to just sit by and watch the Bush administration use the current energy crisis to justify gutting conservation measures that salmon and steelhead desperately need this year in order to avoid being massacred," said Scott Bosse, Idaho Rivers United Conservation Scientist. "In severe drought years like this, the fish need flow augmentation water more than ever." Recently, federal agencies have decided to curtail spill in the Columbia and Snake Rivers; a decision that has and will continue to have deadly impacts for salmon and steelhead in the Basin. Conservation and fishing groups have proposed a river operation plan that would put more water into the rivers to be used for both salmon and power. The money generated from the production of power would be used to offset any costs associated with the proposal. However, the federal agencies have ignored these proposals and have decided to run hydro operations in total disregard for the flow requirements of the recently released federal salmon recovery plan. "We’ve made recommendations for ways to get more water in the river both for salmon and for power," said Jeff Curtis of Trout Unlimited. "However, the agencies have continued to ignore these options and instead have relied on pitting salmon against power. In failing to consider all options available, the agencies are failing to meet obligations required under federal statute." The Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center filed the notice letters on behalf of Trout Unlimited, Idaho Rivers United, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, and Institute for Fisheries Resources. Further information at http://www.wildsalmon.org Oil firm’s shareholders support climate change
resolution "BP should listen to its shareholders and finally go Beyond Petroleum," said Athan Manuel, director of the Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG) Arctic Wilderness Campaign. "The best way for the company to do that is to cancel plans to drill in the Arctic Refuge and go solar." A number of PIRG activists attended the meeting and spoke in favor of the climate change resolution. The activists challenged BP to act like a good corporate citizen by respecting the rights of the Gwich'in -- an indigenous people who live near the Arctic Refuge -- by canceling plans to drill there. At the meeting, activists compared drilling in the Arctic Refuge, the crown jewel of America’s Arctic, to drilling in Buckingham Palace, and cautioned shareholders that consumers in Canada and America will punish BP if it drills in the Refuge. PIRG and a coalition of 131 environmental groups, investors and religious organizations filed a resolution in January calling on BP to rethink its plans for drilling in the Refuge. The resolution, which received support from an unprecedented thirteen % of shareholders at last year’s meeting, was rejected by BP on technical grounds. BP contended that U.S. owners of American Depository Shares do not have the same rights to file shareholder resolutions as investors with ordinary shares in the United Kingdom. Manuel remained determined, however. "We are going to keep pushing BP to stay out of the Arctic and go solar, year after year," he said. U.S. PIRG is the national lobbying office for the State Public Interest Research Groups. State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy groups. Coca-Cola shareholder vote on recycling - 'Better
than expected' Supporters of the recycling resolution secured enough support to bring the proposal back again next year, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules governing shareholder proposals. "We did better than expected. When you combine the yes votes and those who abstained, roughly 10 % of the votes went against the Coca-Cola management's recommendation opposing the recycling resolution. That's an excellent result for a first vote on any shareholder resolution," said Lance King, speaking on behalf of environmental groups and individual investors supporting the recycling proposal (Item 5) on Coke's agenda. Conrad MacKerron, representing the Education Foundation of America and Walden Asset Management, co-sponsors of the shareholder resolution, made the presentation in support of the shareholder proposal. The non-binding proposal calls for Coca-Cola to achieve two specific recycling goals by January 1, 2005: Make plastic bottles with 25 % recycled plastic; and Take steps to achieve an 80 % recycling rate for Coke bottles and cans. For more information on the shareholder campaign, visit the Internet at: www.grrn.org/media For corporate America, every day isn’t Earth
Day Said Mark Lowenthal, an advocate for ecopledge.com,"Opinion research has clearly shown that a majority of American consumers much prefer to give their money to companies that take environmental responsibility seriously and reflect it in their corporate policies. The five new companies being added to the ecopledge.com target list have been asked to make one simple, sensible policy change that will not only help the environment, but will also help them attract these increasingly green-conscious consumers." The nominees and the specific demands being made of them include:
Previously targeted companies still on the ecopledge.com list include BP Amoco, which is being asked to withdraw its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; Citigroup, which is being asked to withdraw its financing of the Three Gorges dam project in China; Coca-Cola, which is being asked to use 25% recycled plastic in its bottles; Disney, which is being asked to stop selling toys containing PVC plastic; PricewaterhouseCoopers, which is being asked to withdraw its membership in the National Mining Association; and Nestle, which is being asked to stop using genetically engineered ingredients in food sold in the United States. Founded in 1999 as a cooperative effort on behalf of numerous environmental groups (including the State Public Interest Research Groups, Green Corps, Free the Planet!, Student Environmental Action Coalition and Sierra Student Coalition), ecopledge.com harnesses the power of students, investors and consumers to influence targeted corporations to take simple, yet important steps to minimize their impact on the planet. The ecopledge.com website serves as the central command headquarters for the campaign and provides an opportunity for supporters to review current corporate targets and the specific demands being made of them; obtain the tools necessary to organize others to support the campaign; and sign the ecopledge. For more information, contact: Russell Jones Media Coordinator U.S. Public Interest Research Group (202) 546-9707 rjones@pirg.org Web site: http://www.uspirg.org Earth Day 2001: Chance to reflect on the global
challenge of balancing population growth with environmental leadership "Population and the Environment: The Global Challenge" is the first multimedia version of Population Reports, a respected journal which has been published quarterly for the past 25 years. Interactive enhancements on the CD such as animated charts, streaming video and audio interviews with renowned environmentalists help bring environmental challenges to life. "This CD paints a vivid picture of the relationship between population growth, industrialization and environmental degradation," said Phyllis Tilson Piotrow, director of JHU/CCP. "The big challenge we face is how to help developed and developing countries manage their natural resources without destroying them for future generations." Policy makers, journalists, researchers, educators and planners around the world can use this valuable new resource to help understand how population and industrial growth impacts the environment. For example, animated charts graphically illustrate how carbon dioxide emissions remained relatively stable for hundreds of years and then sharply increased with the dawn of the Industrial Age. To sample a taste of what the new "e-Population Reports" offers, check out http://www.jhuccp.org/popline/environment/index.stm or to order the complete CD, contact Kim Martin at (410) 659-6140 or go to http://www.jhuccp.org/popline/epoprpt.stm. For more information, contact: Kim Martin Chief, Media Relations Johns Hopkins University/Center for Communication Programs 410 659-6140 kmartin@jhuccp.org Shop green with an award-winning pocket guide. Through Shopping for a Better World, the nonprofit Council on Economic Priorities provides consumers with information that it claims are necessary to make purchases that are better for the planet. Shopping for a Better World rates over 200 companies with over 2,100 brand names in 23 product categories from cereal to home appliances according to their comparative performance in the following issue areas: Environment, Charitable Giving, Women's Advancement, Advancement of Minorities, Disclosure of information, Family Benefits, and Workplace Issues. Over a million copies of the book have been sold since its first release in 1988. The book is now available online for purchase at www.cepnyc.org/sbw.htm. The Council on Economic Priorities is a non-profit, public-interest research organization dedicated to the accurate and impartial analysis of the social and environmental records of corporations. New WRI website asks: How big is your CO2
Footprint? SafeClimate.net site challenges individuals and organizations to calculate the size of their own carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint and pledge to reduce it by taking one or more actions outlined on the site. According to climate scientists, CO2 emissions from human activities are the largest source of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. "We don’t have to wait for our government to lead. SafeClimate.net provides the opportunity for concerned citizens and organizations to do their part and demonstrate their concern on this issue," said Jonathan Lash, WRI president."Every step toward carbon reduction is a meaningful one in reducing the threat of global warming." Visitors to SafeClimate.net can use the site’s calculator to estimate their carbon dioxide emissions from energy and transportation use. It also offers a set of voluntary actions they can take to reduce their emissions like purchasing climate-friendly products on-line, signing up for green energy, and making easy lifestyle changes such as properly maintaining appliances for maximum energy efficiency. Any proceeds from the site will be used to fund climate protection projects. For more information, contact: Adlai Amor Media Director World Resources Institute 202 729 7736 aamor@wri.org Web site: http://www.wri.org Extreme weather cost US more than $8 Billion
in 2000 The report, which assesses the insured losses and disaster relief funds connected to extreme weather events, demonstrates that recent weather-related disasters are part of a global trend of rising frequencies and costs of extreme weather, consistent with scientists’ projections of the impacts of global warming. The authors of the report noted that, in addition to the Bush Administration’s announcement on March 13 that the President was reneging on a campaign promise to cut global warming pollution from power plants, President Bush announced that the U.S. would not support the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty to cut such pollution. Scientists predict that if global warming pollution is not reduced, global warming will lead to rising sea levels, the spread of disease and hunger, and species extinction. They also link global warming to a documented increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as storms, flooding, droughts, and heat waves. "We simply cannot afford to keep fiddling while the Earth burns," said U.S.PIRG Global Warming Associate Kate Abend, an author of the report."By reversing his campaign pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from dirty power plants, President Bush is joining the ‘Ostrich Caucus’-- burying his head in the sand to avoid addressing the potentially devastating consequences of global warming. This reversal appears to be a blatant payoff to the polluting industries that funded his campaign, and is a betrayal to the American public," she continued. Among the report’s findings: In the United States, weather-related natural disasters in the 1990s took nearly 4,000 lives and caused nearly $200 billion in economic loss, including 222 lives and $8.4 billion in economic loss for 2000. Worldwide, the weather disaster toll was more than 330,000 lives and more than $646 billion in economic loss, including 8,851 lives and $31 billion in economic loss for 2000. Worldwide, the number of great weather disasters in the 1990s is more than five times the number for the 1950s, and damages are more than ten times as high (adjusted for inflation). The average number of weather-related disaster declarations has more than doubled in recent years, with the 45 declarations in 2000 far exceeding the average 21.7 disaster declarations per year during the 1980s. Weather related damage throughout the 1990s was not centralized in one area of the country. The five states experiencing the most damage (insured loss and government assistance) for the decade were, in descending order: Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, Minnesota. Farm states and states struck by hurricanes bore the largest burden per capita. The five states with the highest amount of per capita weather damage (insured loss and government assistance) in 2000 were, in descending order: North Dakota, South Dakota, Louisiana, Nebraska and Montana. U.S. PIRG is the national lobbying office for the State Public Interest Research Groups. State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations active across the country. The Flirting With Disaster report can be found at www.uspirg.org. Environment is greatest success story of last
30 Years, study finds Public confidence in environmental quality remains pessimistic despite dramatic improvements nationwide in air and water quality, toxic emissions, and other significant improvements, according to Dr. Steven Hayward, director of the Institute’s Center for Environmental and Regulatory Reform. Sensational media coverage may exacerbate misplaced public concern and divert public debate, a trend that appears to be recurring as California’s energy crisis threatens to spread nationwide. Key findings include:
The Index includes a special in-depth section analyzing energy supplies, and finds that artificial market constraints have caused the current California energy debacle. Conventional energy sources remain abundant and modern technology has made them cleaner than ever. "For too long the commitment to environmental protection has been measured on the basis of growth of the EPA budgets, the number of enforcement actions brought, and the amount of fines levied," said Hayward."The next 30 years of environmental progress will be led by local control, cooperative dialogue, and results-oriented technological and market-based innovations, rather than cumbersome bureaucracy and decades of litigation." For more information, contact: Julie Majeres Marketing and Public Affairs Coordinator Pacific Research Institute 415-989-0833 x120 jmajeres@pacificresearch.org Web site: http://www.pacificresearch.org Japan whaling fleet kills 440 minke whales in
controversial hunt, despite international Protest Despite IWC criticism, international protests, and the threat of trade sanctions by the US Government, Japan went ahead with its annual whale hunts for their 2000/2001 whaling season, citing a loop-hole in IWC regulations, which allow for the taking of whales for ‘research’ purposes. Japanese government officials have confirmed that the whaling fleet has killed 440 minke whales since mid-November 2000. This follows the taking of 43 Bryde’s, 40 minke, and five sperm whales in this season’s earlier hunt. This is the first whaling season in which the Japanese government has included the endangered Bryde’s and sperm whales. The 440 minke whales killed by Japanese whalers, were hunted in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, an internationally protected whale sanctuary located in Antarctica and established, in part, through the efforts of former US Vice-President Gore. "This hunt vividly illustrates Japan’s determination to establish a commercial whaling industry under the guise of IWC scientific whaling," said IFAW President Fred O’Regan."The IWC passed two resolutions at its 2000 meeting criticizing Japan for this action, and urging Japan not to continue with its annual whale hunts. Despite this, Japan has expanded its whaling take this season to include endangered Bryde’s and sperm whales." South Pacific nations stand strong in favor of
international whale protection Ministers of Australia, Fiji, Kirabati, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tokelau and together with ministerial representatives from the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, and Tonga, and representatives of American Samoa, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna, attended the April 18-20 meeting. At the meeting, the South Pacific nations agreed to support Australia and New Zealand’s intention to resubmit the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary proposal at the meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in London in July. Some countries also expressed an intention to develop comprehensive legal measures within their exclusive economic zones for the protection of whales to complement an IWC approved sanctuary. "It should be clear now that there is widespread support amongst the island nations of the South Pacific for a whale sanctuary," said Sandra Lee, New Zealand’s Minister of Conservation. The South Pacific government representatives also agreed that whales play an important part in the natural and cultural heritage of the Pacific Island peoples and welcomed the growth of whale watching tourism in the region and its associated economic benefits to local communities. Case studies of commercial whaling were presented at the meeting, including the Kingdom of Tonga , which reported a total whale watching income of US$440,000 last year. This announcement also comes in the wake of IFAW’s Whale Watching Report, which has unveiled whale watching as a US$1billion global industry (for access to this report visit: http://www.ifaw.org/press/pr082200.html) EU bid for Senegalese fisheries alarms conservation
group "The European Commission knows first-hand the devastating effect ill-managed fisheries have had in its own waters," said Dr Claude Martin, Director-General of WWF International in an open letter to EU Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler opposing the EU's plans. "It is inconceivable to think the Commission would use taxpayers' money to export this unsustainable fishing practice to threatened coastal states in West Africa." With Africa's fisheries increasingly under pressure from highly-subsidized foreign fishing fleets, and lack of resources hampering the monitoring systems of most governments, reports that the EU is seeking to increase its access to fisheries in upcoming talks with Senegal also signals the urgent need to create national and regional fisheries' management plans. Every year, the EU spends about 270 million Euro to purchase access to fisheries' resources in other countries, the majority of which are in Africa. While this brings in much-needed foreign-currency to these countries, the payments are often way below the real market value. The current EU fishing agreement with Senegal ends in May 2001 and the next round of negotiations is scheduled to resume on 20 April, 2001, in Brussels. Similar fishing agreements with the West African states of Mauritania and Guinea Bissau are also set to expire soon, and the Commission is expected to renew these agreements as well. While such negotiations should be based on expert assessment of sustainability of the fishery resources available, that is not so with the latest EU bid which flies right in the face of proposed EU policy. "The conservation and sustainable use of fisheries' resources should be the starting point for fishing access agreements with third countries, not the short-term needs of the European Union," said Dr Martin. ''The Commission's own Green Paper on the Future of the Common Fisheries Policy, released last month, clearly states as one of its aims the acquisition of ''fishing rights in the waters of third countries without threatening the sustainable exploitation of fisheries." WWF believes that the European Union should match its words with action. There is potential for both West Africa and Europe to benefit from sustainable and equitable fisheries co-operation, but this is not what is being offered. Global change conference sets the scene for next
round of Kyoto Protocol talks But do we know enough about the functioning of our home planet to know how much stress it can take? A major conference in Amsterdam, Challenges of a Changing Earth, from 10-13 July will bring together global change researchers from all over the world to present the latest understanding of the Earth system. It will examine the effects on our societies and lives, and explore what the future may hold. Journalists are encouraged to participate in the conference. The Kyoto Protocol talks have recently been scheduled to continue in Bonn on July 16, just two days after the global change conference in Amsterdam. "Challenges of a Changing Earth will provide the scientific basis needed to understand the complexities of the Kyoto Protocol and will appropriately define the global carbon debate within a dynamic Earth System and human context," said Professor Berrien Moore, Chair of the Science Committee of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), a co-sponsor of the conference. The conference is being organised by IGBP together with its global change partners, the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the International Human Dimensions Programme for Global Environmental Change (IHDP). A second media alert with more information will be issued in May. Background on the conference can be found in IGBP NewsLetter No. 44. Also visit the conference web site www.sciconf.igbp.kva.se for up-to-date information. For more information, contact: Susannah Eliott Dr International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme +46 8 6739 556 Susannah@igbp.kva.se Web site: http://www.igbp.kva.se Fish stocks at risk reach record high "For the fourth year in a row, the number of stocks that are either overfished, experiencing overfishing, or both has increased," reported Lee Crockett, Executive Director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network, a national coalition of more than 100 top environmental organizations, marine science, and commercial and recreational fishing associations. "The number of fish stocks in jeopardy jumped from 98 to 107 stocks, or 43% of the managed species whose status is known. On this the 25th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, it's time to redouble our efforts to conserve marine fish." When Congress passed the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) amendments in 1996, it directed the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and eight regional fishery management councils to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, minimize the incidental killing of non-target species, and protect important f |
