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Tuesday, 11 June 2013 13:13

New Presidential Commission to Save Vaquita Takes First Steps

Written by Barbara Taylor

The first meetings of the Comisión Asesora de la Presidencia de México para la Recuperación de la Vaquita (Advisory Commission of the Presidency of Mexico for the Recovery of the Vaquita) were held in Mexico City in February and March of this year, and significant actions are under way. Ing. Juan José Guerra Abud, Secretario de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, formed the 17-member Commission to expedite actions to save Mexico's porpoise. The Secretary brought together the heads of government departments, the chairs of Congressional natural resource committees, representatives of the states of Sonora and Baja California, representatives of fishery unions, the Mexican Navy, non-governmental organizations and private foundations, and scientists to step up action on meeting what he describes as Mexico's moral obligation to save the species.

At its first meeting, the Commission identified three actions for immediate implementation:

  1. publication of the NOM (official standard) that will make the use of small-type trawls instead of gillnets mandatory in the shrimp fishery;
  2. much more effective enforcement of existing regulations; and
  3. commitment of financial resources to compensate fishermen for lost income as a result of vaquita protection measures. The NOM was published for public comment on schedule in February, and this sets the stage for large-scale gear changes before next fall's shrimp season. A small working group was established to develop the economic plan immediately.

Formation of the Commission was timely given recent indications that protection efforts to date have been insufficient to stop the vaquita population's decline – there are now estimated to be fewer than 200 individuals. The International Recovery Team (CIRVA) noted at its last meeting (February 2012) that although Mexico has made real progress towards saving the species, the Vaquita Refuge has only slowed, and not stopped or reversed, the decline. Not only is the Refuge too small, but enforcement of a partial ban of gillnets has proven infeasible. The good news, however, is that a breakthrough has been made in the development of alternative fishing gear that should not kill vaquitas but will allow shrimp fishing to continue.

Phocoena sinusSmall trawls that can be pulled from the artisanal fishing boats (pangas) have been tested by Mexico's fisheries agency. These trawls are equipped with turtle and fish excluder devices and use a 'tickler' chain to reduce bottom-fish bycatch. The trawls are effective for catching shrimp and are being tested for catching commercial finfish. Conversion will require training and gear replacement and it is anticipated that fishermen will need compensation to maintain their income. At the second meeting a proposal to further test the new gear involving more fishermen in August 2013 was adopted.

The Minister also decided on a new vaquita abundance estimation survey to be conducted as soon as possible. This survey will repeat the design of the survey in 2008 and could be conducted as early as fall 2013.

Progress will be closely monitored by numerous groups, some of which (e.g. IUCN, Society for Conservation Biology, and Society for Marine Mammalogy) have written letters to commend Mexico for actions taken and to plead for further quick and critical actions. Representatives of the CSG and SMM who are on the new Commission are optimistic that Mexico's new Administration is serious and prepared to commit the necessary resources for timely and appropriate efforts to prevent the vaquita's extinction. Stay tuned.

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Friday, 19 April 2013 21:16

Letter to New Zealand Prime Minister regarding seismic surveys and Maui's dolphin

Written by Helene Marsh

Rt. Hon. Mr John Key
Prime Minister of New Zealand

Hon. Mr. Nathan Guy
Minister for Primary Industries

Hon. Mr. Nick Smith
Minister of Conservation

Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6011
New Zealand

17 April 2013

Dear Sirs

The Society for Marine Mammalogy is the World's largest professional group dedicated to the study of marine mammals, with a membership of approximately 2,000 scientists from 60 countries. Its goal is to facilitate the understanding and conservation of marine mammals and the ecosystems that support them.

I write to you as President of the Society concerning ongoing seismic surveys within the area of protection for Maui's dolphins Cephalorhynchus hectori maui. The most recent science indicates that only about 55 individuals of this subspecies remain and government agencies are currently considering protection measures to eliminate deaths in fisheries by removing gillnets and trawling from the protected area.

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Sunday, 31 March 2013 15:28

Letter to General Director for Responsible Fishing, Mexico

Written by Helene Marsh

March 4, 2013

Aldo Gerardo Padilla Pestano,
General Director and Coordinator of the Subcommittee for Responsible Fishing

Dear Dr. Pestano,

Thank you for your letter of 18th February describing the very significant actions being taken by the Mexican Government to conserve the Vaquita.

Members of the Society for Marine Mammalogy are delighted to hear of the statutory changes requiring the netting practices to catch shrimp species in waters under the jurisdiction of Mexico to be changed to reduce the incidental take of Vaquita.

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Friday, 15 March 2013 13:50

Dr. Ian Stirling - 2013 Norris Award Winner

Written by Helene Marsh

I have the great pleasure in congratulating Dr. Ian Stirling on being the 2013 winner of the Society's premier award, the Kenneth S. Norris Career Achievement Award, a fitting acknowledgement to his contribution to marine mammalogy.

The Society established the Kenneth S. Norris career achievement award in honour of the Society's founding president and one of the truly great figures from our past. The Norris award is an acknowledgement of your exemplary lifetime contribution to science and society through research, teaching, and service in marine mammalogy.

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Sunday, 24 February 2013 22:35

Response to Presidential Letter Regarding Maui's Dolphin

Written by Conservation Committee

We received an email response to our presidential letter regarding Maui's dolphin from New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

 


 

From: J Key (MIN)
Sent: Wednesday, 20 February 2013 8:40 AM
To: Marsh, Helene
Subject: RE: letter from Society of Marine Mammalogy re Maui's dolphin

Dear Ms Marsh

On behalf of the Prime Minister, Rt Hon John Key, I acknowledge receipt of your recent email regarding Maui dolphins. Please be assured your comments have been noted.

I note you have also sent your correspondence to Hon Dr Nick Smith, Minister of Conservation, and Hon Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries, which is appropriate as the issue you have raised falls within their portfolio responsibilities.

Thank you for taking the time to write to the Prime Minister.

Regards

L Diehl

Executive Assistant | Office of the Prime Minister
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand

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Sunday, 24 February 2013 13:13

Letter to Maritime Authority of Panama Regarding Humpback Whales

Written by Conservation Committee

February 10 2013

Autoridad Maritima de Panama

Direccion General Marina Mercante
Edificio PanCanal, Albrook
Ancon, Ciudad de Panama
Panama

To the Maritime Authority (A la Autoridad Marítima de Panamá):

The Society for Marine Mammalogy is the world's largest professional group dedicated to the study of marine mammals, with a membership of approximately 2,000 scientists from 60 countries. Its goal is to facilitate the understanding and conservation of marine mammals and the ecosystems that support them.

I write to you as President of the Society to endorse the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) proposed by the Government of Panama and submitted to the Safety of Navigation Sub-Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the purpose of reducing deaths of humpback whales from ship strikes.

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