flyfishinPam - 5-24-2007 at 02:28 PM
The shark norma 029 will be modified
http://www.oem.com.mx/elsudcaliforniano/notas/n288048.htm
Hook - 5-24-2007 at 02:38 PM
Thanks for the word, Pam, but they can modify it all they want and it will make no difference if there is no means of enforcing the modification.
Heck, they could ban the possession of bycatch altogether and it would be meaningless without enforcement.
I suspect this is meant to defuse the protests that have come about since it was passed.
fishbuck - 5-24-2007 at 05:07 PM
Can someone give a brief summary in english please?
Que ?
MrBillM - 5-24-2007 at 05:16 PM
I'll Second That.
I would suspect that the Majority of people here are less than accomplished at reading Documents in Spanish. While my conversational Spanish is
usually good enough to accomplish what I wish to, I usually find it tiresome to wade through the Mexican Newspapers even though I buy "La Cronica"
everytime I drive into town and work my way through it.
Crusoe - 5-24-2007 at 06:27 PM
Hook.......Again you have hit the nail spot on!!! ++C++
flyfishinPam - 5-24-2007 at 08:03 PM
pues no entiendo porque hay personas que viven en Mexico por tantos anos y no saben come hablar ni leer el espanol, no hay excusa, probablemente ellos
son las mismas personas que se quejan cuando alquien alli en el otro lado no saben como hablar ni leer ingles, yeesh...hay una persona aqui en este
foro quien esta protestando la norma que lo leen? yo, estoy evaluandolo porque tengo que entender mas sobre la pesca comercial y la norma y sus
implicaciones en la pesca deportiva antes que puedo tomar un posicion. creo es un buen idea para todos.
Hook - 5-24-2007 at 08:17 PM
Zinger there, Pam. 
Time for translating software I guess, Bill. But stay away from her second post. 
Ken Bondy - 5-24-2007 at 08:46 PM
Muy buen dicho, Pam.
++Ken++
Pescador - 5-25-2007 at 06:51 AM
I think I like Pam's sense of humor and correctness more every day. I think I am going to start a collection of Pam Philosophy like the time she sad
that the schools basically stink and she needed to seriously supplement the education her kids receive.
Reminds me of the person who I was standing behind in line at the Home Depot in Colorado who was complaining that they had put signs up in both
English and Spanish.
Don Alley - 5-25-2007 at 07:44 AM
So, some have a background in science. I have a background in conservation and environment, having sat through hundreds of meetings, served on boards,
committees, task forces, edited newsletters, and written, lobbied and passed regulations, in the US and Canada.
One thing I learned that there is a time to to step up to the plate and act. And thanks to those who have acted- like Minerva, Seawatch, The Billfish
Foundation, those who protested and the thousands who sent letters and emails- it appears that the Shark Norma may be modified to remove language that
clearly opened the floodgates for increased commercial harvest of species important to sportfishing.
I no longer take such an active role in conservation issues; I am just an indian now, not a chief. But I do pay my dues and read my mail from The
Billfish Foundation, and I have no apologies for following the lead of that foundation and their scientists, who have been intimately involved in the
science and politics of this measure for the last several years. There are clear issues here that have been on the table for years and there is no
pressing need for a last minute examination of the greenwash that surrounds them. What is important is that people contribute and voice their opinion,
not the language of that voice.
Mexico taking note?
Hook - 5-25-2007 at 09:26 AM
Articles in BOTH major SoCal papers (Times, Register) about the status of nom-29; both professing hope that the announced modifications will come
about.
Some other "facts" of note from the articles:
Greenpeace SUPPORTS the new nom-29. So does Defenders of Wildlife. So does the Ocean Conservancy. 
Meetings of the federal fisheries honchos and commercial interests in La Paz were closed-door; no recreational interests allowed.
By law, there was supposed to be a 60 day public comment period before the law took effect. That didn't happen.
This also did not go through the Mexican equivalent of Congress, and there is supposed to be an attempt to alter it by introducing new legislation.
Supposedly, also, Calderon has agreed to a meeting with recreational fisheries representatives to hear their side of the story.
It's just possible that Calderon has gotten bad advice on this. Maybe he THOUGHT he was doing something for conservation.
Or, maybe it's all about money................
No Translation ? No Problem !
MrBillM - 5-25-2007 at 09:30 AM
Whenever, I encounter one of these long-winded threads in "Spanish", I apply two (or more) Benchmarks.
Benchmark One is whether or not I have some immediate need (unlikely) to know what is covered. Immediate is the key because, if it is of any great
import, it will eventually appear in English and save me a lot of useless effort.
Benchmark Two is referring to the originator of the thread. I have a moderate (but Growing) list of those who I have no common interests or opinions
and no interest in hearing from them on whatever subject they might espouse.
Since this Thread meets both Benchmarks, I will go on to doing something more productive like sweeping the patio.
Lastly, I'm not sure what Hook believes I might think of her second comment, but it's nothing different from what I've heard her spout before. More
BS about how important it is to comprehend Spanish on a level which she has decided is necessary. I'm content with my communication skills and
everything important in that regard works out fine. There are some who delude themselves and others into thinking we have some responsibility to
"immerse" ourselves in the culture. In truth, we have no responsibility to do other than pay our bills, abide by the law and create no negative
influence on the host country and its citizens. Unlike some that Pam berates, I have NEVER complained because someone couldn't communicate with me in
English. I have either brushed up on my Spanish enough to accomplish the transaction OR gone and bought what I wanted elsewhere.
There IS a reason that all of these new businesses who put out huge banners saying "We Speak English" are doing such a good business. The free-market
at work. It has to be heartbreaking to all of those confirmed Socialists.
David K - 5-25-2007 at 09:35 AM
Oso, while I do agree that if one chooses to live in Mexico they should learn the language, most Nomads do not and posting in Spanish only just keeps
the articles from being read by all Nomads. I do think all Normads wish they spoke Spanish because we love Baja and her people, and will try to
practice it as much as possible... verdad?
Just a thought, it would be great if learning the language of one's country of residence was practiced by all the Spanish speakers who come north to
benefit financially, yes?
fishbuck - 5-25-2007 at 01:20 PM
Thanks Hook for the summary.
As for speaking and reading spanish... ya that would be a useful Skill in Baja. In fact I've taken some spanish classes but realized it's harder to
learn than I thought or even have time for. But I'm not going to let that prevent me from visiting or living in Baja.
Until I have a better grasp of spanish I'll need the kindness of the locals willing to help me in english. So when I'm in Loreto to fish I'll make
Sure to fish with the guys that speak a little english.
So I guess I won't be spending my money at Pam's.
Don Alley - 5-25-2007 at 01:44 PM
Latest newsletter from The Billfish Foundation
Pressure from within the Calderon Administration May Force Changes to Shark Norma (NOM-029)
On Wednesday the Mexican fisheries agency, Conapesca, issued a press release in response to urgent advocacy efforts within sectors of the Mexican
government by TBF and our Mexican conservation partners, including tens of thousands emails sent in opposition to the recently enacted "Shark Norma" –
NOM-029. TBF, La Fundacion para la Conservacion de los Picudos (FCP), Seawatch and other conservation organizations have asked for specific changes
in the regulations to prevent a new wave of longlining effort in the waters of the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. The press release attempts to
downplay criticisms and states that changes will be made to the new regulations to prohibit the commercialization of billfish and cites Mexican
fisheries law (Articulo 13, La Ley de Pesca) to clarify that species protected by the 50 mile conservation zones are reserved for the exclusive use of
the sport fishery and may not be taken by other than recreational fishing gear.
“We are pleased to see evidence that rational minds within the administration have looked to correct this terrible rulemaking effort by Conapesca,”
said TBF’s Chief Scientist Dr. Russell Nelson, “but unfortunately experience has shown that promises made by Senor Corral are to be taken with a grain
of salt.”
In December of 2003, at the beginning of his tenure as Mexico’s fisheries head, Ramon Corral announced that Mexico would ban longlines, factory ships,
large drift gillnets and rescind all permits allowing any taking of billfish and dorado following scientific presentations on the impacts of longline
and drift gillnet gear in La Paz and Cabo San Lucas. These actions never occurred. In January of this year, Corral and his senior staff met
with Mexican Senator Luis Coppola, Nelson, Guillermo Alvarez of FCP, and Alejandro Robles representing a coalition of Mexican conservation groups
focused on the Sea of Cortez. There he promised that the Shark Norma would not go into effect until new research was conducted to look at its
biological impacts. “Corral announced the implementation of the new regulations as we were involved with scientists in La Paz developing a work plan
to analyze the impacts,” said Nelson. (emphasis added)
“We no longer can deal in good faith with Conapesca,” said TBF President Ellen Peel. "We are going to keep up the pressure on this issue until it is
dealt with by Senator Coppola, Chair of the Tourism committee in the Mexican Senate, and we are still calling for a suspension of NOM-029 until all
the required changes are formally in place.”
Click here for details on the Shark Norma and TBF's position.
Join TBF or renew your membership today! Don't forget you can shop online for your tagging equipment and TBF apparel! Please visit our website at www.billfish.org.