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worldsaquarium
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Please help us add Dorado from Mexico as an IUU at risk species
Attention all fisherman Sport Fisherman and women in the Sea of Cortes. My name if Vince Radice and I represent a Non Profit called WorldsAquarium. I
live in San Carlos, Sonora Mexico, mainland side of the SOC and I am asking for your help. NOAA is now taking public comments for the presidential
task force on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud.
Here is the PDF on Public Comments, http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/iuu/iuu-atriskspecies_presentati...
Here is the issue in a nutshell:
Dorado in Mexico is a protected species. It is protected under Mexican law for sport fisherman only, no commercial fishing allowed. Even though Dorado
has protection under Mexican law last year 700,000 kilos of Dorado were illegally shipped to the United States of America. This has been going on for
years. Thousands of marine turtles die in the hundreds of thousands of hooks used in this illegal long line fishery. Legally caught Mahi Mahi from
Hawaii looses market value in the U.S. because of illegally caught dorado from Mexico flooding the southern California seafood market place.
I would urge all sport fisherman to please go to this link,
[url=http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail =NOAA-NMFS-2014-0090]Registry on
public comments[/url]
and tell the Presidential Task Force and NOAA that fish that are illegally and unsustainably caught, such as Dorado in Mexico, should not be
allowed to enter into the United States of America!
There is more information on this issue at our web site below and there will be a live Webinar on the 4th of June, we have until the 8th of June to
make public comments!
www.worldsaquarium.org
Thanks for your help, Sincerely Vince
[Edited on 5-27-2015 by worldsaquarium]
[Edited on 5-27-2015 by worldsaquarium]
[Edited on 5-27-2015 by worldsaquarium]
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worldsaquarium
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For some reason I can not get the link to work for the public registry on comments. If you go to www.worldsaquarium.org there are plenty of links to the Webinar and Comments page.
thanks
Vince
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55steve
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Dorado are not and most likely never will be an at risk species - they are the fastest growing and most widespread pelagic tropical/temperate species
on the planet.
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redhilltown
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Quote: Originally posted by 55steve  | | Dorado are not and most likely never will be an at risk species - they are the fastest growing and most widespread pelagic tropical/temperate species
on the planet. |
And therefore, we should allow them to be raped and harvested at will since they can never really be wiped out...
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Russ
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They are a rarity around here and fish numbers have been declining for years in this area. However I believe the commercial take of their food source
has a large part to do with that too. Since they are such veracious eaters they have to follow the food and I see more seiners than I do bait ball
these days.
| Quote: Originally posted by 55steve | | Dorado are not and most likely never will be an at risk species - they are the fastest growing and most widespread pelagic tropical/temperate species
on the planet. |
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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55steve
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You are correct Russ - an abundant food source is key. These fish only have about a 5 year lifespan and must constantly eat.
Conservation efforts need to be more focused on the groundfish that are critical to the health of the ecosystem - current regulations allow a 5 fish
take. Groundfish may only cover a small area in their lifetime and are easy to decimate.
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MitchMan
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This is not an "either or" situation. While it is true that Dorado reproduce better than most all other types of fish, their numbers and, in some
instances, the extent of their presence has diminished dramatically around the world and in Baja. Ground fish really need protection, but so do
Dorado.
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Hook
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I just find it very aggravating that Mexico cant enforce their own regulations. If commercial dorado fishing were truly banned, there would be no need
to try and stop its illegal importation into the US.
Vince knows I feel like this. But the reality is, commercial fishing and enforcement of commercial fishing in Mexico is a completely corrupt business.
It's akin to trying to stop the drug trade; just too much corruption on all sides of the equation. And the demand keeps it going.
I'm just a little worried that if the importation of Mexican dorado is truly banned in the US, then the illegal fishing ops will just find other
markets. There IS a significant amount of dorado available in restaurants, fish markets, etc., down here in Mexico.
The shills for the Mexican fishing fleet have done a good job of making this whole scenario into a Mexico vs USA debate and plying on Mexico's sense
of pride. They portray the fight to ban commercialization of dorado fishing as an attempt by rich "foreigners" to safeguard dorado fishing on their
big-bucks sportfishing boats.
In truth, if they enforced no commercial fishing for dorado, all the sportfishers in Mexico couldn't make a dent in the dorado population. They just
reproduce too fast.
I would like to see a size limit on dorado, though. People are still keeping 5-8 lbers over here, and those females havent had much chance to
reproduce.
I guess it's tough to resist the 5-8 lbers when the chances of catching ANY dorado have gotten so low. They are becoming rare over here. We just had a
two day tournament on Mem Day wknd, and only TWO weighable dorado (>15 lbs) were caught in approx. 288 boat/hours of fishing. It's a little early
in the year, but, come on..............the dorado are hurting.
In the end, I have to support Vince's efforts. Anyone who supports increasing dorado numbers, should.
[Edited on 5-27-2015 by Hook]
[Edited on 5-27-2015 by Hook]
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David K
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Is Talapia a guilt-free choice at restaurants? The squarecircle and I had lunch yesterday at an excellent Mexican restaurant on Home Ave. San Diego
(by the 805) and he recommended (and it was very good) the Talapia Torta.
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durrelllrobert
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Quetion
How would any official know that a Dorado was illegally and unsustainable caught Vs caught legally by a sport fisherman?
Also, what about the tons of Mahi-Mahi being brought in from other countries or are you only concerned abotu Mexican fish?
Bob Durrell
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durrelllrobert
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Maybe they taste OK but......
| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Is Talapia a guilt-free choice at restaurants? The squarecircle and I had lunch yesterday at an excellent Mexican restaurant on Home Ave. San Diego
(by the 805) and he recommended (and it was very good) the Talapia Torta. |
...The traditional way of farming tilapia is in ponds (some less than 12" deep) where the fish can make use of naturally occurring food. In many parts
of the world, including the USA, farm animals such as chicken and pigs are raised in conjunction with the fish ponds since their manure can be
used to make the pond richer in tilapia food. During the 20th century, two new methods for farming tilapia developed: tank farming and cage
farming. All three types of farming come with their own pros and cons which you can read more about on this site.
www.socalfishfarm.com/fish/index.php?option=com_content&...
Tilapia are a tropical fish, the scientific name is Oreochromis urolepis hornorum, and they are directly related to the common Gold Fish and many
people keep them in their aquariums.
Since tilapia is such a popular food fish it has been introduced to many different parts of the world and is now found in the wild on
all continents except Antarctica. Sometimes it has been deliberately introduced as food fish to lakes and other bodies of water, sometimes fish have
managed to escape from fish farms. Tilapia has also been introduced in order to combat mosquitoes and aquatic weeds. Since many tilapia species are
highly adaptable it is easy for them to thrive in their new homes and tilapia have become a problematic invasive species in several countries
[Edited on 5-27-2015 by durrelllrobert]
Bob Durrell
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Hook
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Really, I think worldsaquarium is simply trying to stop the commercial quantities of dorado that enter from Mexico. The legal sportfishing
quantities that return to the US, probably arent significant quantities and certainly not enough to keep fish markets and restaurants supplied. That's
where the demand is.
| Quote: | | Also, what about the tons of Mahi-Mahi being brought in from other countries or are you only concerned abotu Mexican fish? |
I think mahi fishing in other countries is legal for commercial use. This is about the fact that it is illegal to fish them commercially in Mexico,
where Vince and I live. But I appear to be speaking for the organization, when I really shouldn't. I am just guessing.
I'm pretty sure the name "worldsaquarium" is in reference to Jacques Cousteau's description of the Sea of Cortez as "the world's aquarium."
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chuckie
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There should be no question among those of us who fish the SOC that we catch far fewer and smaller Dorado each year. Why? I dunno....buts it's true.
Lots of "experts" have lots of opinions.....
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Pescador
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Vince produced a killer video showing the amount of fish being offloaded at the docks in Guaymas, showed them going to the coolers, and then loaded on
to trucks, which sailed right through customs into the US. When he showed that video to the the powers that be in Mexico he got absolutely no
response. There is a big push on to make the species legal for commercial fishermen and their biggest beef is that Mexico is trying to save a few
dorado for the rich gringos who come down here to sport fish. Three times when they held secret meetings, Minerva from Cabo found out and those of us
who could attend made it to the meetings. Only because these fish are such fast growers and prolific, is the problem so slow to come to the front,
but creel counts, size counts and other measures of the health of the population show that the dorado population in the Sea of Cortez is in serious
trouble. Gee, can you spell Totuaba?
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bajabuddha
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Sorry to hijack from Dorado, but an above-post caught my attention.
I saw a documentary on Tilapia, and why they are so abundant. Seems they are a fresh-water fish, a regular world's staple fish and endemic mainly to
shallow brackish lakes and streams in Africa, and are now imported world-wide because they're extremely prolific and easy to raise. The show
highlighted the use of Tilapia as a tank-cleaner fish for commercial striped bass farms in SoCal and AZ; they eat the feces of the bass, thereby
creating a double-fishery for the price of one. Once the bass have reached maturity, the tilapia are harvested next once the tanks are 'cleaned' for
the next batch.
I call 'em 'Turd-Eaters'.
Two weeks ago in Las Cruces we lunched at a sushi bar. We ordered what was supposed to be 'red snapper' nigiri...... the hostess let slip that they
were serving tilapia in place of, and RAW.... needless to say, it put me off my feed. No wonder it's $2.98 per pound, and catfish has soared to
$6.98.
Back to Dorado; literally ALL species of aquatic life are at risk in the SOC, the declining numbers of Dorado doesn't surprise me in the least. It's
reported that over 30% of all life in the SOC has been eliminated across the board. The point of dangerous over-harvesting is a blanket concern. The
inability of the Mexican Government to regulate or enforce anything is kind of a moot point, don't you think? The only 'regulations' have been the
regulating of self-appropriations for their own pockets. Dorado is one of their least concerns.
[Edited on 5-27-2015 by bajabuddha]
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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monoloco
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The comercial fishing of dorado continues unabated by the Punta Lobos co-op in Todos Santos. It's not unusual to see the pangas come in with 50-100
dorado, I have also seen them with marlin stacked like cordwood. They pretty much completely disregard the reglas. Personally, I stick to the sport
limit of two fish and release the females.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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AKgringo
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Education and legislation to protect the population of the game fish in the SOC is a worthwhile goal, but without aggressive and incorruptible
enforcement I am betting on greed to win.
With the top predators being removed, are any species benefiting from the lack of competition for the food source?
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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redhilltown
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I've said it before but what really peees me off is that the Sea of Cortez--relatively speaking--is such an easy body of water to patrol and control!
It is all Mexico...they can do whatever the want...or don't want.
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Russ
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X2
| Quote: Originally posted by redhilltown | | I've said it before but what really peees me off is that the Sea of Cortez--relatively speaking--is such an easy body of water to patrol and control!
It is all Mexico...they can do whatever the want...or don't want. |
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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chippy
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SKEET where are you?
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