It seems that Mexico’s long time struggle with drug wars and police corruption does not end on the streets.  Unfortunately the Mexican government’s extensive political strife also inflicts a great amount of strain on the well being of one of the World’s most important ecosystems, The Sea of Cortez.

The Sea of Cortez is located between the  Baja Peninsula and the Mexican mainland, it is approximately 600 miles long and 80 miles wide.  This stretch of sea is of enormous importance to hundreds of ocean species that rely on its waters.  In fact one third of the Planets marine mammals live here due to its biodiversity.  This region is not only vital to marine and aquatic life but also to the survival of Mexico’s commercial and sport-tourism industries.

Unfortunately over years of non-existent management of this precious ecosystem, the Sea of Cortez has been decimated by over fishing, pollution, insufficient fresh water flows and unregulated tourism.  A once thriving sea praised for being the best place in the World for Hammerhead Shark diving is now not even listed as being in the top 100 sites!

The commercial and tourism fishing industry of Mexico are vital industries to the Mexican economy and the Governments ignorance over the protection of this Sea will certainly be an enormous social disaster  in the near future if proper regulation is not implemented immediately.  So what is the hold up????

I discovered an organization dedicated to protecting the Sea of Cortez called Sea Watch (www.seawatch.org) located in La Paz Mexico.  It was founded in 1993 by, “a small group of Americans and Mexicans disgusted with the destruction of fisheries in the Sea of Cortes.”  According to their website, their greatest challenge seems to be with the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishing (CONAPESCA), an organization set up by the Federal Government of Mexico to help protect and promote, “the conservation of marine species, also to benefit all commercial and sport-reacreative fishermen and reduce the conflicts among them.”  (www.conapesca.sagarpa.gob.mx) However it would seem that more effort is being made to protect the success of the commercial fishing industry through the use of loop holes in laws intended to protect the well being of endangered and at risk marine populations.

The law in question is the NOM-029-PESCA-2006.  With good intentions this law was devised to help stop the over-exploitation of sharks and Rays in the Sea of Cortez making it illegal to catch and fin sharks.  The law states that commercial long-lining is illegal within 50 miles of the coast of the Sea of Cortez.  This law helped to protect the sport fishing industry within these boundaries, however the commercial industry soon found loop holes and ways to benefit from this seemingly positive regulation.

A newer regulation that was passed allowed commercial long-liners to fish within the 50 mile perimeter under issued shark fishing permits with new regulations over their fishing practices which included that all by-catch be kept.  Of course all of the by-catch to be kept included all of the sport fish which was initially set out to be protected including dorado, sailfish and marlin!  It became obvious the reality of this “sustainable” law when the price for by-catch far out weighed the price for shark catch…essentially this was really a licence to catch as much protected fish as you want in protected waters!

So going back to my “Is Mahi Mahi sustainable?”  I would have to say no.  At this time Mexico is the sole regulator for one of the World’s most important marine sanctuaries which is really frightening.  It is time for the Government to take a stand to commercial pressures for the sake of the success of their future.  I’m not entirely sure it is possible for this country to pull together however organizations such as Sea Watch are making a difference by including the public voice and demanding change.

For more information about what is being done today to protect the Sea of Cortez and how you might be able to help, visit www.seawatch.org.

I came across another great site the other day that I really want to mention as I received an update from them in my inbox this morning.  Surfing the Internet can sometimes be such a joy, especially when you discover more organizations and people working hard to make the ocean a more hospitable place  for our vulnerable marine species to live.

This organization is Ocean Conservation Research or OCR.  What makes OCR different is their unique mission which, “is focused on understanding the scope of, and exploring solutions to the growing problem of human generated noise pollution and its impact on marine animals.”

Although the ocean can naturally be a noise place due to volcanic eruptions, violent ocean storms, polar ice shifting and earthquakes, it has also unnaturally become a much louder environment thanks to human interference.  Our growing industrial travel, commercial fishing, military and oil industries are increasingly producing intrusive noise pollution which marine species are having to adapt too.  This adaptation can possibly be threatening the well-being of all marine life as most species use sound to communicate, find food and navigate our vast oceans.

It was once thought that the enormity of our oceans could not be affected by our human dependency on the ocean and the exponential increase of noise as a result, but according to OCR, “we are seeing dramatic evidence that our ocean antics are compromising habitat, depleting life, poisoning the water – and deafening sea life with our “acoustic smog.”

There is obviously a need for more research and thus new solutions to what will be an increasing problem over time.  Unfortunately there is a shortage in conservation marine biologists and environmental scientists that are also acousticians.  It is apparent that this is a very new science that needs to be made specific to the ocean requiring many more brilliant minds and determined hearts.

In their newsletter today OCR announced that, “The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries department has launched a third in a series of four fisheries research vessels designed around new, quiet technologies.” They went on to say that the boat (Piscies) “…is so advanced and quiet that it is likely fish and other marine animals will never know it’s there.  And that’s the whole idea.”

Ocean Conservation Research has a fantastic website full of information on the subject of marine biology acoustics including research papers and various letters to support its cause.  Another great feature of their website is their sounds page which allows visitors to hear how our fish and mammals communicate while sharing our negative human contribution to noise pollution as well.

I personally think that marine noise pollution is an incredibly valid and important issue that needs to be addressed in our enormous effort to bring our oceans back to life again.  I plan on keeping up with this organization to see what advances come of this new and vital marine science.

The David Suzuki Foundation has launched a new campaign through their marine and freshwater conservation team called “I am Fish”.  This campaign is totally up my ally as it involves educating the public about the ancient connection between humans and our oceans and why we must do what we can to protect these vital ecosystems. (see video below)

As we live on land, it is easy to forget that over 70% of the Earth’s surface is in fact occupied by our vast oceans, providing the planet with over 50% of our oxygen.  I tend to stress this statistic a lot because I find it often goes unheard.  Without healthy oceans our planet’s oxygen supply will be greatly diminished.

As Canadian’s we are blessed to have the diverse marine ecosystems that we have and it is up to us to protect them.  The “I am Fish” campaign is featuring one of those spectacular ecosystems which is located here in British Columbia.  It was named PNCIMA (Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area) in 2002 and is one of the relatively healthy marine ecosystems left today.

PNCIMA (pronounced pen-SEEM-a) is located on the west coast of Canada from northern Vancouver Island to the southeast coast of Alaska.  This 88,000 square kilometer incredible span of ocean life includes the infamous Queen Charlotte Basin, Hecate Strait, Central B.C. Coast and North Vancouver Island and is very similar to the size of the Great Bear Rainforest.

This area is home to hundred’s of seabirds, the planet’s largest animals, beautiful beaches and microscopic creatures.  This ecosystem is vital to the survival of many marine species and land animals!  It is also home to a 9,000 year old reef made of glass!  This particularly unique reef is now 1,000 square kilometers wide and over five storey’s tall!  However PNCIMA is also home to over 25 communities that depend on the health and wellbeing of this area that is currently being threatened by over-fishing, poor fishing practices, pollution,  growing traffic and industrial pressure.

That is why TODAY we must act and support marine ecosystems such as PNCIMA to ensure that they are protected.

In 2002 the Canadian Government recognized a need for an integrated management program for not only British Columbia’s coast line, but for 5 unique and vulnerable ocean regions around our nation.  According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “These areas are being prioritized to undergo a planning process that would aim to improve management, develop conservation strategies and ensure long-term ecosystem health.”

Although the majority of British Columbian’s alone would like to see more than 50% of these unique ecosystems protected, only 1% actually are!  A terrible reality really.  So today the citizens of Canada have a huge opportunity to actually have a say about this matter and make a difference.

Currently we are ahead of the game, PNCIMA is still relatively healthy, but for how long.  Can we afford to wait?

To make a difference, please visit www.healthyoceans.ca and sign their already prepared letter to Canada’s Minister of Fisheries to ensure that our Government makes ocean conservation a priority.

This is important…it is our future.

I found another site today that can help all of us at home make a difference on our personal computers!  I did some searching this morning for shark finning conservation programs and stumbled across a site called care2 .

This site is all about making a difference and actually allows individuals to create their own petitions for their personal causes and market them on their site!  Care2 covers everything from the environment, ocean conservation, women’s rights to politics and animal rights.

This site is fantastic as it offers viewers so many opportunities to have their say about causes that are important to them so that change can actually occur.

Care2 also goes beyond causes and news to additionally focus on green living and personal health.  The objective of Care2 is to encourage people to make a difference in all aspects of life with great lifestyle tips and even recipes for making your own earth friendly dish detergent!

Currently there are several petitions available for ocean supporters to sign including subjects such as shark finning, over fishing,  sea turtle protection, Japanese dolphin protection and much more.

Visit www.care2.com,  find your voice and make a difference at home!

What are you doing the week of September 19th – 27th?  Join the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up and help remove litter from all Canadian Shorelines!

Now the second largest conservation clean up in the world once began in 1994 with a handful of staff from the Vancouver Aquarium along the coast line of Vancouver!  Today the clean up is sponsored by TD Canada Trust allowing the program to extend nation wide. Now Provinces and Territories across Canada are cleaning up the shorelines of their local lakes and rivers!

The program requires participants to register in their area as the program is intended not only to clean up the shorelines but to also record the debris found and removed.  All data is tallied and forwarded to the International Coastal Clean up for their records.

“Last year, Canadians  removed 328,733 cigarette butts from our shorelines. Last year, Canadians removed 108,231 food wrappers and 62,405 plastic beverage bottles. These numbers rise every year, which means that Canadians still use our waterways for dumping grounds.”

For more information about this great cause, to register or to organize a clean up in your area please visit: www.vanaqua.org If a clean up is not organized in your community, find an area on your own and help contribute to cleaner waterways.

See you there!

It was bound to happen…we saw it coming…but the numbers are still shocking.  British Columbia’s treasured Sockeye did not return in their expected numbers this year, in fact over 9 million failed to return to the Fraser River.  They aren’t late, they aren’t lost, they just didn’t make it.   It is finally time to address Canada’s troubled salmon industry and do what we can to protect their survival before we loose them forever.

A document prepared by Stuart Nelson, Nelson Bros Fisheries Ltd, for the BC Seafood Alliance back in 2006 reviewed the glorious past of the BC Salmon industry and compared this industry’s success and overall impact on the fishery today.  As early as the late 1980’s, values for pink and chum salmon began to decline putting more pressure on the Sockeye catches. By the 1990’s, “changing ocean conditions resulted in dramatically lower harvest levels for pink and chum salmon in the north and central coasts. Lower volumes of pink and chum, coupled with lower per-pound values, made reliance on Fraser sockeye even more acute.”

In 1994 the sockeye industry peaked, with a poor Alaskan catch that season, BC sockeye was in high demand and resulted in an enormous economic return.   A  “10-million piece catch of Fraser sockeye with an ex-vessel value of more than $150 million, and a wholesale value exceeding $250 million.”  The over reliance on this fishery would soon take it’s toll and it did.  The years after 1994 showed a steady decline of salmon numbers, fleets and related fisheries.

Period     Fraser Run Size     Escapement     Cdn Comm. Catch
1990-97     13,314,405          4,514,305          7,046,191
1998-05    7,468,473             5,843,335            874,413

(courtesy of Nelson Bros Fisheries Ltd)

So…four years later, 2009, only 1 out of ten sockeye made their long return to the Mighty Fraser River.  An expected 10 million were meant to return but less than 1 million actually made it.  So what has lead to this massive drop in numbers??  Over fishing?  Sea lice?  Climate change? Weak research models and calculations?

Possibly all of the above.  According to Craig Orr, executive director of the Watershed Watch Salmon Society, “the mathematical models DFO uses to predict salmon returns are notoriously unreliable.”  Better research and development must be implemented to ensure realistic results in order to help solve these critical issues impacting our salmon.

Fish farms are also taking some heat for the poor salmon return as sea lice produced by such farms has long been a suspect in depleted salmon runs.  When salmon are young and returning to the ocean they do pass under such farms and have been documented to be affected by such salmon farming lice.

However climate change is also a serious threat to our salmon.  The ocean’s temperature is rising and so has the Fraser River.  According to Ernie Crey, fisheries adviser to the Sto: lo Tribal Council, “the Fraser River is warming rapidly. The river is currently at 21.9 degrees. Between 20 and 24, spawning success quickly falls off, and above 24, many fish die in the river, as warm water robs salmon of energy and increases their susceptibility to disease.” (The Globe and Mail)

It is clear that all BC Salmon is facing a crisis, one that must be addressed quickly with better research, commitment, and most of all protection.

Please visit Watershed Watch Salmon Society for new and up to date information concerning British Columbia Salmon.

Maybe now is not the right time to choose salmon for dinner!

I felt compelled today to talk a bit about this fantastic organization, one that I am thrilled to share with everyone as they are making real strides toward achieving change for our oceans. Their slogan “Start a sea change” says it all! This organization strives to keep the public informed about upcoming votes, bills and laws that are being discussed and passed which concern the welfare of our oceans. Knowledge is obviously a crucial step in our efforts to demand change and Ocean Conservancy is attempting just that.

We have seen the power of the people work first hand throughout last years American Presidential elections as well with our current demand for greener products and cleaner transportation so clearly following these same paths can indeed produce similar results.
Their website www.oceanconservancy.org provides the latest information on current issues that are affecting the oceans and marine life, but better yet, they also provide visitors with ways in which they can make a difference. Ocean Conservancy provides pre-written petitions and letters which outline the concern at hand and what should be done to fix it, a voice for the ocean. Visitors need only to type their name and email address and click send and the letter of concern is sent to the appropriate senator or council member.

Currently Ocean Conservancy is urging members to sign a petition against the ” the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s fish farming program that sets a dangerous precedent for the nation and puts Gulf ecosystems at risk…the Gulf Council passed a plan to develop the first-ever regional permitting system for open-ocean aquaculture (also known as offshore fish farming).”  We understand that fish farming may be the answer to sustaining the fishing industry but there is much lack in research in determining the long term damage that might occur because of it.  Shrimp and prawn farming is an excellent example of that.  Show your support for sustainable fish farming standards by signing their petition.

Visit their take action page to learn more about the many ways you can take action at home and stay up to date with their efforts by joining their mailing list so that you are always in the know about potentially harmful decisions being made without our consent.  As a public I believe that it is more important then ever to actively participate in these global decisions as our oceans may not have the luxury of much more time.

Thank you Ocean Conservancy for all of your ocean efforts!

Ocean Conservancy is an excellent website dedicated to protecting our oceans through education and awareness.  They provide information for their visitors on ocean related government policy, fishing regulation, retailer and consumer sustainability.

In their effort to fulfill their mission they have created a fantastic online game to help educate visitors while raising money to support their cause.  Play “Go Fish” and Ocean Conservancy will donate $1 for every game played to help make over fishing a thing of the past!

Share this link with everyone you know, a great way to learn and conserve!