Bajame - 8-2-2005 at 01:12 PM
Check out the artical about the pacific Coast, Strange findings. MSNBC- News
bajablue - 8-2-2005 at 01:30 PM
nothing attached??..
sylens - 8-2-2005 at 01:51 PM
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8796487/
and yes, we've noticed in Ensenada that Playa CONALEP and Playa Hermosa have had lots of dead sea birds and an unusually high number of dead jellyfish
this year. very weird and alarming...
lili
And then there is this!
Baja Bernie - 8-2-2005 at 07:36 PM
August 2, 2005
Baja California News
A Slaughter of Sea Lions
In the struggle for control of Baja California's coastal waters, the sea lions
appear to be losing out to the global fish market. In the first 7 months of
2005, at least 53 sea lions died in Baja California. The death toll is a leap
from 2003 when at least 8 deaths were tallied and 2004 when 15 were counted.
Ricardo Castellanos Percevault, the Baja California state delegate of the
Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection, said more than half of
this year's dead sea lions were shot or bludgeoned to death.
"Our inspectors find between three and four dead sea lions every month, either
with bullets in their bodies or with their heads destroyed because somebody
smashed them in," said Castellanos. Last May was a particularly fatal time for
the sea mammals, with 26 of the creatures turning up dead in less than 15 days.
An elephant seal and a dolphin were also discovered shot to death. In the wake
of the finds, Mexico's Office of the Federal Attorney General opened an
investigation to determine who was responsible for the slaughter. The leading
suspects include sardine fishermen and the operators of pens where tuna are
fattened before being exported to Japan.
In the popular tourist town Ensenada, the sea lion population is on the
increase, apparently encouraged by visitors who come and toss food at the
creatures. The attraction has created a business opportunity for vendors who
sell cups of food for about one dollar each.
"My children love to come to the malecon just to throw fish at the sea lions,"
said tourist Rosario Mayo. "I spend $10 to $15 dollars every time we come."
One focal point of the killings is the Punta Banda coastal marsh just south of
Ensenada. A local fisherman there, only identified as Juan Carlos, said the sea
lions penetrate fishers' nets and snatch their bait.
"Sometimes we throw our lines in and catch something heavy, thinking we've
fished something big," said Juan Carlos. "When we pull on the fishing pole we
realize that it's a sea lion eating our bait. Later on, we see these animals
injured because the fishermen hit them with poles so they will leave the bait
alone. Many fishermen really hate them."
On the opposite side of the spectrum, environmentalists and school children
from Heroes of Baja California group have staged protests against slaughtering
sea lions.
"Fishermen and tuna breeders blame the sea lions for their losses, but they
should remember that it is humans who are invading their habitat," said Liliana
Manriquez, a member of the Gaviotas environmental organization.
In early July, Mexican Congressman Guillermo Velasco Rodriguez, a deputy for
the Mexican Green Party (PVEM), introduced a resolution in the federal Chamber
of Deputies calling for a multi-agency probe into both the sea lion killings
and legality of fishing operations in the zone where sea mammals are being
slaughtered.
"One might ask why sardine boats have been permitted to fish along the coast,
when they should not do that according to their fishing permit," said
Velasco. "Equally important, it should draw attention that the fishermen carry
firearms. Perhaps they have the necessary permits?"
The PVEM deputy proposed that authorities come up with a plan to protect the
sea lions and fishermen from each other.
According to Osvaldo Santillan, a biologist and fishing inspector, about 20,000
sea lions inhabit the coastlines of Baja California. Breeding colonies of the
sea mammals are concentrated around the Coronado Islands, Todos Santos Bay and
Punta Banda, the scene of much of this year's slaughter. An integral part of
the marine ecosystem, sea lions also serve as food for sharks, whose
populations face threats too.
Sources: El Universal, July 31, 2005. Articles by Rosa Maria Mendez Fierros.
Resolution by Deputy Guillermo Velasco Rodriguez, July 6, 2005. pvem.org.mx
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
For a free electronic subscription email fnsnews@nmsu.edu
surfer jim - 8-2-2005 at 08:00 PM
And the tacos seem to taste a "little different" this year.....Hmmmmm...
David K - 8-2-2005 at 08:11 PM
Jim, you're a sick puppy!
[Edited on 8-3-2005 by David K]
Neal Johns - 8-2-2005 at 09:55 PM
Maybe a little sick, but he and Hook fed me fish, hmmm?
You seemed to really like that fish, Neal.
Hook - 8-3-2005 at 09:04 AM
The others, too.
Thought maybe I'd post the basic fish-blackening recipe on the Recipe board. It is basically the recipe that is on the side of the Prudhomme's Cajun
Seasoning bottle.