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55steve
Senior Nomad
Posts: 857
Registered: 4-24-2006
Location: Warner Springs, CA
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La Paz ray massacre
I usually try not to cross-post stuff but this got my attention - anyone know about this?
Terrible stuff
[Edited on 8-26-2008 by 55steve]
[Edited on 8-27-2008 by 55steve]
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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Nothing new, been going on for years. I really thought they slaughtered them all years ago, Most of the street taco stands have tacos with Manta Raya
you have to ask, by the way their low fat not deep fried.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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tripledigitken
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That is outragious. To lose that many Manta Rays in one location is beyond words!
Ken
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bajajazz
Nomad
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Registered: 12-18-2006
Location: La Paz, BCS, Mexico
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People who do things like this are defective. They should be subject to a factory recall.
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tripledigitken
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| Quote: | Originally posted by comitan
...... I really thought they slaughtered them all years ago....... |
Comitan,
I haven't been out on the water in La Paz, but every year I am out in either BOLA, or Mulege. Most trips down I will see Manta Raya's. Last July saw
a couple in one day off Mulege. They are magnificent to see and many times will jump out of the water. Sorry you are not getting to experience the
sight of these creatures.
Ken
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Ken Bondy
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Those are mobulas, not manta rays. They are smaller and travel throughout the Sea of Cortez in large groups. They are the ones that are commonly
seen doing fantastic aerobatics in their leaps out of the water. They are a true marine treasure and their slaughter is very tragic.
++Ken++
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palmeto99
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Location: loreto,BCS and East Coast USA (Spartanburg, SC)
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Mood: Trying to bring the worlds people together one post at a time.
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Are you really surprized. Most Mexican do not think in terms of the future or saving for a rainy day.
There is always a chorus on this board who say let them do whatever they want as it is their country.
After 19 years of Baja and many stories such as this. I have decided to look the other way and let them destroy the country and not get involved.
I am now in Baja just for the good weather and the sandy beaches and have given up on the majority of people in Baja
who are comitted to destroying the ecosystem as fast as they can.
The advice I am about to give you is worth what you are paying for it.
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gnukid
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If you look at the bahia de la ventana there are nets that are placed along the shoreline toward Punta Arenas to catch everything that passes along
the shoreline current. The fisherman catch shark and keep the fins only and catch manta raya.
They don't want to stop because it is what they have always done. Its how they have always earned their living and they have no other options. There
are less and less Rays and Sharks every year.
It could be great to mount a campaign to stop the nets that catch and kill so many fish and the finning of sharks, but how?
If you have the energy and can work with reasonable approaches it could help.
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Ken Bondy
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Manta ray:
Mobula:
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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can someone please give these guys the address of whatever enviro group might help...they have good evidence....Pam?
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by palmeto99
Are you really surprized. Most Mexican do not think in terms of the future or saving for a rainy day.
There is always a chorus on this board who say let them do whatever they want as it is their country.
After 19 years of Baja and many stories such as this. I have decided to look the other way and let them destroy the country and not get involved.
I am now in Baja just for the good weather and the sandy beaches and have given up on the majority of people in Baja
who are comitted to destroying the ecosystem as fast as they can.
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I am outraged everytime I hear of incidents like this. Surprized was a long time ago I'm sorry to say.
And thanks Ken for the pictures of the two different Rayas. I seem to recall now that distinction made over some pictures of them jumping awhile
back.
Ken
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cabobaja
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Ditto Shari!!!!!!!!!!
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
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There are quite a few smart people here, perhaps there are some suggestions for political approaches to reduce the amount of nets and reduce the
finning?
I think a multiple pronged campaign approach is good, logical, emotional, empathetic which speaks to the fisherman and the community while also
working as a group toward political solutions... which in turn will help replenish resources, improve business for tourism and guarantee future
resources and work in tourism and fishing.
The issue is one which almost can not be discussed in the surrounding community because it is so divisive, thats a big problem which could possibly be
overcome with education about benefits of reasonable conservation for the future. %@#&!
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Jack Swords
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Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
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There is always a daily catch of mobulas on the Magote off La Paz after the fishermen clean their catch. Also small sharks are there too. The
University is continually sending a boat out to measure the remains and take a skin patch (species identification) to ascertain the catch and keep
statistical data. I have talked to them at length and they are aware of the problem and are documenting it. Attempts are being made to retrain
fishermen into other endeavors to some success. Similar problems are occurring off the CA coast with few rockfish, no abalone, New Jersey sized dead
zone in the Gulf of Mexico, etc.
A valid contact in La Paz would be Florence Cassassuce
Project Coordinator on water
cassassuce@hotmail.com
(52) 612 122 1171
Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparajá, A.C.
La Paz, Baja California Sur, MEXICO
Niparajá is a strong environmental force in La Paz and environs. Flo would be my first contact. Good luck!
Jack Swords
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4baja
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Location: morro bay ca
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actually jack there is more rockfish off our coast now then there was ten years ago as reported by cal poly and several others but thats besides the
point. welcome to mex is all i have to say, walk along the shores on the pacific side and the beaches are coverd with them and hammer head shark
heads..
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Don Alley
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One strategy is not to focus strictly on species (mobulas, turtles, etc) but on the fishing gear used. Gill nets and drift gill nets are a big
problem, and any attempt to protect a particular species is worthless as long as these nets are in use.
Possible contacts include Seawatch
The East Cape hotel/fishing resorts have had some success (and recent setbacks) in limiting nets. Their experience currently is that nets are largely
being set by pangas working for a wholesale company with connections with CONAPESCA. There is no incentive to set these nets without the cooperation
of the wholesalers; it may make sense to begin any negotiations/regulations/enforcement there.
While little is being done, there are Mexicans who are aware of the problem and interested in solutions. I wouldn't hold my breath, but I haven't
quite given up.
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Paulina
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We've found that many times when we've ordered scallops off of a menu, we are actually eating Mobula. They usually use a cookie cutter, but the last
time we took a chance, the plate of scallops came to the table triangle shaped....Hmmmm? when's the last time you saw a scallop with three sharp
corners?
P<*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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elgatoloco
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Sad 
MAGA
marooons Are Governing America
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Ken Bondy
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In California waters angel sharks (fairly large, bottom dwelling, docile spade-shaped sharks) used to be taken by the thousands so their "wings" could
be cut up with cookie cutters and the meat sold as "sea scallops" (it was illegal in the US to call them "scallops" but "sea scallops" was ok). When
I started diving in California 30 years ago I used to see angel sharks on almost every dive at the Channel Islands. At a few spots at Catalina I
would see fifty or more on a single dive. It has now been about five years since I have seen a single angel shark.
++Ken++
Angel shark:
[Edited on 8-27-2008 by Ken Bondy]
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BMG
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Bondy[/i
]It has now been about five years since I have seen a single angel shark.
++Ken++
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That is incredibly depressing. I am not optimistic when it comes to the future of many of Mexico's fisheries.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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