I ran across the following article in the May 2004 issue of 'Sea - America's Western Boating Magazine'
[Cabo Update
Mexico Fisheries Agency to Ban Gill Nets, Restrick Longlining
Ramon Coral, the new head of CONAPESCA (Mexico's department of fisheries), has announced that drift fill nets will soon be prohibited in all Mexican
waters.
In addition, he announced that longline fishing will be prohibited on any boat larger than 27 feet, in a zone within 50 miles of shore; and 'factory'
fishing vessels will no longer be licensed to operate in Mexico waters. Dual permits that previoulsy allowed shark longliners to catch and keep
dorado and other game fish within 50 miles of the coast will also be eliminated.
The announcement was made in both La Paz and Cabo San Lucas, after Coral met with Billfish foundation scientist Russell Nelson and Guillermo Alvarez,
a representative of La Fundacion para la conservacion de los Picudos (FCP), a conservation group based in Mexico.
"Coral and his newly appointed science advisor, Dr. Martin Bottello, demonstrated a commitment to conservation and an understanding of the economic
value of sportfishing tourism that had been missing uner his predecessor," said Nelson, of the Billfish Foundation.
"Our work together with the Billfish Foundation appears to have made a positive impression on the new fisheries administration," Alvarez, of FCP,
added.]
I guess it's a step in the right direction...but I don't see any dates for these 'changes' to take effect.... elgatoloco - 4-14-2004 at 06:43 AM
Good news. Let's hope it is enforced with some vigor.
Dave - 4-14-2004 at 11:09 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Good news. Let's hope it is enforced with some vigor.
I wouldn't bet on it.Bajaboy - 4-14-2004 at 12:15 PM
Yeah-they'll probably ban it and then hand out a few get out of jail free cards to the highest bidders.
ZacJESSE - 4-14-2004 at 12:40 PM
Even if they did, the question is, who would enforce that law?
Sea Magazine?
Hook - 4-14-2004 at 03:25 PM
Why would an article of this potential importance first surface in a monthly mag, and not a newspaper?
Concur with the lack of teeth in enforcing it. Haven't gill nets been banned in Loreto Marine Park, yet locals have reported their continuing
existence.
Final note: longlining still allowed on 27 foot and under boats? Talk about a recipe for wasting fish.
Please
hyme7of9 - 4-14-2004 at 04:05 PM
This may be the answer to our prayers.Enforcement as always is the key element , but this law and how it is enforced will be the legacy of CONAPESCA
and the people who worked and rose above it all to save the Mexican fisheries.If sucessful, they should all be considered heros.If not they're losers
like the rest of their peers in government.Adios.Hyme
Here is a link to more info.
Hook - 4-15-2004 at 10:07 AM
Either there are conflicting accounts of what CONAPESCA is proposing or it depends on the "spin" placed on the proposals.
The recent proposals would seem to be LESS restrictive, if I'm reading this right. It's an attempt to find some other ecosystem for converted shrimp
trawlers to overfish.
Sorry for the cynicism, but the shrimpers and their regulators do have a history. Will allowing them to target a different ecosystem change their
mindset?
Interesting! I point you to the thread of corrupt cops in Ensenada. On one hand we expect fair enforcement and on the other we rail against it.
Confused!
