SeaWeb In Action

Clear Communications Key to Ocean Conservation

2011-12-14T09:58:00.001-05:00

At the beginning of a wet and balmy week on the verdant Caribbean isle of Guadeloupe, approximately sixty participants converged for the 4th International Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management Symposium (ITMEMS4). The aim of ITMEMS is to bring together coastal and marine managers in order that they may share knowledge, experiences and tools for tackling common challenges of managing tropical ecosystems, which include coral reefs, seagrasses and mangroves.

“ITMEMS has provided me with an opportunity to share lessons and
best practices with other professionals from tropical regions around the world.”
Dishon Murage – Marine & Coastal Resources Programme Coordinator,
East African Wildlife Society, Kenya

Scott Radway, Director of SeaWeb's Asia Pacific Programme,
facilitates a communications training session. Photo - Russ Avery.

It’s all too rare that marine and coastal managers are able to meet face-to-face with each other, and with communications experts, coral reef scientists and technical trainers to discuss the issues they face in their work. The participants at this latest ITMEMS represented twenty-one countries in total, covering a truly vast area of ocean and variety of tropical marine ecosystems.

Throughout the symposium, participants gathered in
small groups for tailored workshops. Photo - Russ Avery

The reason this symposium continues to be so effective is that although coastal and marine managers may be from different countries and cultures, they all share the same challenges. Over four packed days in Guadeloupe, participants engaged with each other in a variety of workshops and mentoring sessions. The buzz was constant throughout the conference and there was a tangible energy in each of the discussions, which overflowed into the evenings, long after the days’ sessions came to an end.

“ITMEMS has provided me with the capacity-building tools to take back home and help us with the development of our management system.”
Alwyn Ponteen – Chief Fisheries Officer,
Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & Environment, Montserrat

The ITMEMS4 group. 21 countries were represented
by approximately sixty participants. Photo - Russ Avery.

At ITMEMS4, successful communications has not only enabled participants to share their knowledge with each other, but has also offered new ideas and step-wise tools to enable more effective engagement of local communities and stakeholders in management once they have returned home. The success of the symposium has demonstrated that the need for effective communications among the ocean conservation community is crucial.

“Coming to ITMEMS has been a great experience – learning from regional colleagues and partners within the wider Caribbean and also internationally”
Annelise Hagan – Science Programme Director,
Southern Environmental Association, Belize

The setting sun as seen from Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe.
Photo - Russ Avery.

The complexities of coastal restoration: Revisiting the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

2011-12-09T11:06:00.003-05:00

Attempts to control Deepwater Horizon fire.
Credit: U.S. Coast Guard/Marine Photobank.

Over the last year and a half there has been much attention to restoring the coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico affected by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. But these efforts have been less than simple, as have the goals in restoration. On November 16th experts from around the country came together to discuss the complexity in restoring these ecosystems for both economic and ecological benefits. The panel discussion, titled ‘Restoring the Ecological and Economic Vitality of the Gulf of Mexico’ and moderated by Mr. David Malakoff of Science Magazine, focused on some of the broad topics around valuing ecosystem services and the obstacles encountered in restoration attempts.

The marshes became flooded with oil
along the coast of Louisiana. Eileen Romero/Marine Photobank

As discussed by the panel members, the obstacles to effective restoration sometimes lie in both a lack of knowledge on how some ecological communities interact as well with the federal mandates for restoration programs. Dr. Nancy Rabalais, Executive Director of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium pointed out that this mismatch can create a scenario of shifting baselines in ecological data that can be a hang up in implementing restoration plans. She suggested a landscape view approach to restoration-where stakeholders determine what they want to see in the coastal estuaries and marshes over the next 25-50 years and that through prioritizing a set vision in the plans could led to an effective realization of restoration goals.

Man works to clean up oil from the beach.
Patrick Kelley, U.S. Coast Guard/Marine Photobank

The other main component of the discussion focused on the importance of recognizing and valuing ecosystem services. Ecological modeling software and economic analysis serve as main techniques in identifying and ascribing monetary value to ecosystem processes, but there are other novel ways to discern the full impact of these systems as suggested by Dr. Heather Tallis, Lead Scientist at the Natural Capital Project. Taking an ecosystem services ‘watershed’ approach- where ecological attributes, like critical fish habitat, are linked to the people who receive first (recreational & commercial fishermen) or secondary benefits (consumers, local businesses) within a geographical boundary- can help better illustrate the importance of certain ecosystem services to a region.

In moving forward, the panel made it clear that there is still much work to be done, with the full impact of the oil spill yet to be seen.

Written By: Kirby-Rootes Murdy

Not So Much of a Demon After All

2011-09-26T15:26:00.010-04:00

Sijmon de Waal/Marine Photobank.

The interaction of humans and sharks began only a short time ago, from a shark’s perspective. Sharks evolved somewhere around 400 million years ago and have been thriving on Earth ever since. In their most recent chapter of history they have encountered a new competitor, humans, who have quickly developed as a formidable foe and efficient predator. The populations of nearly every known species of shark have declined heavily in the last few decades and are still decreasing. The fate of sharks depends on our ability to turn this predator/prey relationship into a co-existing relationship that will maintain the integrity of the ocean ecosystem.

On Monday, September 19^th, a group of conservationists gave up their lunch break to gather in the conference room of the World Wildlife Fund to hear Juliet Eilperin, Science and Environmental Reporter for the Washington Post, discuss her new book, Demon Fish. The goal of the book is to convince readers to reconsider their preconceptions about sharks, inform them about problems these marine animals are facing, and educate them about what can be done to help sharks. Eilperin began by talking about the perceptions of sharks throughout history and how early humans portrayed them. Many early island cultures drew pictures of sharks and displayed them always as powerful, but sometimes benevolent and sometimes dangerous - a view that Eilperin believes we should return to. The view that the public holds today is of great fear that sharks are out to attack whenever they can, which is not the case. Her research noted that the Western world forgot about sharks in the Middle Ages until seafaring journeys became more common.

The great fear of sharks started when tales were told of sailors being attacked out at sea. Very few people had ever seen a shark before, so when they heard these great tales of beasts and saw portrayals by artists - ,many of whom had never seen sharks - of violent attacks, the public became terrified. At this time in history the Ocean was very much a mystery because humans didn’t have a way to explore the depths. This thought of monsters coming up from the depths became, and still is, frightening.

In 1916, there were a string of shark attacks on the New Jersey shore, which led to the film that viewers either love or hate: Jaws. This film sparked fear into millions of Americans and has had a heavy impact on the perception of sharks in the Western world. Peter Benchley, the director, had never seen a shark before making the movie and went on to become a serious advocate for sharks before his death in 2006.

Eilperin moved on to describe current issues affecting sharks. Many people are aware of the fact that up to 70 million sharks are killed every year to feed the Chinese shark fin soup habit. Eilperin had the opportunity to meet with shark fin merchants and visited markets in Hong Kong, where 80% of the shark fin trade takes place. According to one dealer that she talked to in Hong Kong, 20% of his fins sold from the market go to restaurants in Canada. Most of what she encountered were fins from sharks that were brought in full, not finned at sea, although she is sure that it does happen more than is visible. Eilperin is most shocked by the fact that the shark fin does not add any flavor to the soup at all, its only purpose is as a status symbol.

Sarah Valenti 2008/Marine Photobank.

The ecological and scientific importance of sharks is nowhere close to being fully understood and we are learning more and more about them as research progresses. We are still a long ways away from fully understanding the marine food chain and what could potentially happen if sharks were removed from the equation. Research is being conducted to mimic some natural shark functions, such as their ability to repel barnacles, attach to the bottom of boats, and cure diseases.

Eilperin is a proponent of ecotourism to help reduce the catch of sharks, as it helps to bring in alternate income to local economies. The value of a shark alive, through ecotourism and environmental factors, outweighs the value of shark fins and meat significantly. Fishermen should realize that shark finning is a dying industry and that by switching to ecotourism they can make more money for a longer term, in a sustainable fashion. Eilperin points out that there are limits to ecotourism, and activities such as feeding must be regulated so as not to alter the behavior of animals. In Grand Cayman, locals feed stingrays at Sting Ray City so that people can swim up close and personal to them, but as a result, the rays have gone from being nocturnal to diurnal due to the feeding.

Eilperin closed explaining how people do not think of the ocean as wilderness, like they do of Alaska or Yellowstone, because it is more difficult to see the beauty. When most people look out at the sea, they see a large, blue, homogeneous area full of water and do not realize the complexity of what lies beneath. The public needs to get away from the “out of sight, out of mind” way of thinking and realize that all life on earth is connected and that every person is impacted by what goes on in the ocean at all times.

Written by: Aaron Jacobson. Follow him on Twitter: @idratherbedivin

Finding Common Ground Between Seafood Messages

2011-09-21T22:35:00.004-04:00

On the final morning of the conference, the group reconvened to review the outcomes from yesterday's working groups. Over the course of several hours, the participants dissected each of the proposed risk and benefit messages, parsing out different messages for different audiences. Several commonalities emerged from each group-

Consumption benefits:

Low calorie, nutrient rich, lean protein, heart health omega-3s
Supports cognitive development
Supports local fishermen

Consumption risks:

Threats to seafood supply
Contaminants (i.e. mercury, PCBs, etc) may have adverse health effects (neurological, development, cancer, etc)
Potential pathogens, foodborne illnesses, allergens

Under the overarching banner of "eat more seafood," the attendees addressed issues ranging from audience to communication strategies. The varied perspectives and viewpoints represented in the room alone reflect the incredibly complex, dynamic nature of seafood as a food source.

Ultimately, there is no single seafood consumption message that applies to an universal audience. Rather, a mixture of audiences (children vs adult vs elderly, etc), concerns (environmental, health benefits, health risks) and authorities (EPA, FDA, USDA, advocacy groups, etc) that must be considered. Moving forward, all of the participants agreed that consumers should learn more about the fish they eat to promote a better, more holistic understanding of this important dietary component.

Starting the Dialogue about the Great Seafood Debate

2011-09-20T18:07:00.006-04:00

On a grey, drizzly Tuesday morning, 50 or so participants converged upon the University of Delaware for the "Framing the Message About Seafood" conference.

The conference kicked off with 8 presentations representing the government, industry, consumer and advocacy perspective. Each presenter tackled a different set of opportunities and challenges surrounding seafood consumption advisories, from risk communication to sustainability concerns. Following the talks, the attendees broke into four different working groups to distill the morning's messages down into simple, concise messages. After several hours of heated debate, each of the groups walked away from their session with a set of messages conveying the benefits and risks of seafood consumption. Each of these messages will serve as the grounds for tomorrow's discussion to combine and refine each idea into one or several concise consumption recommendations.

That afternoon, the team reconvened in the lobby for a bit of networking and poster presentations. KidSafe Seafood's poster generated some interesting dialogue around the NGO perspective and consumer messaging. Common themes throughout many of the conversations during the presentations and poster session adressed the potential roles, concerns and limitations of the consumer: How much information is too much? Should we communicated the risks AND the benefits? Should environmental messaging be incorporated with health messaging?

Following a quick break, the group joined up again at the conference center for dinner and drinks and the chance to unwind after a long day of discussion and debate. Dinner closed with an engaging dialogue led by Nancy Tringali Piho, author of "My Two-Year-Old East Octopus: Raising Children Who Love to Eat Everything." Parents old and new swapped stories and shared advice, bonding over their shared adventures in parenthood.

Stay tuned to find out if/what consensus is reached...can industry, government, consumer, health and environmental interests all agree on one message??

Aker Seafoods processing facility

2011-09-20T10:23:00.001-04:00

A white fish processing facility owned by Aker Seafoods was one of the last stops during the trip to Norway. This facility, located in Stamsund, in the Lofoten Islands (northern Norway) processes primarily cod but also saith. On the day of our visit, they were processing saith. This facility utilizes modern technology to keep the fish a low temperature (~1 C) throughout processing to optimize quality. Fishing and Seafood processing is a key industry for rural areas in northern Norway where there are few sources of employment.

The plant manager explains the grading process.

All byproducts from the filleting process are utilized. The worker above packs these byproducts.

A worker splits the fish into various cuts.

Packed fillets are prepared for transport. These are for the Scandinavian market.

Seafood or oil?

2011-09-16T11:16:00.000-04:00

Dock in the Lofoten Islands

While seafood is the second largest contributor to Norway's exports, oil and gas is the first, constituting well over 50% of the value of exports for the country. Oil and gas have been the biggest drivers in the Norwegian economy the past few decades are are responsible for the country's high standard of living. These resources are largely located offshore and compete for space with both wild fisheries and aquaculture.

However, in recent years the existing wells have become depleted and there has been growing pressure to open new areas to exploitation. One of the areas of interest by the oil and gas industry is near the Lofoten Islands. These islands are an important nursery area for seafood stocks, including cod and to some extent herring, two of largest populations in the world (according to biomass). While seafood is a key industry for the country, especially in rural areas in the north of Norway, such as the Lofoten Islands, it is difficult for it to compete against the oil and gas industry which is the primary economic driver for the country.

The future of the Lofoten Islands and its picturesque landscape remains uncertain.

Visit to Lerøy salmon farm

2011-09-16T02:47:00.001-04:00

One of the most interesting aspects of the trip thus far has been a visit to a salmon farm operated by the company Lerøy Seafood Group.

A salmon cage pen. The net on over the top prevents birds from eating the salmon.

Barge where staff monitor the salmon and dispense feed.

Staff monitor the salmon every day. They use cameras to monitor the fish's behavior for stress, identify disease and optimize feeding. They also monitor the nets for any wholes. Finally, they dispense feed with the computer system.

Michelle Cho (New England Aquarium) and I stand on the walk way around the salmon cage with a staff member who explained various features of the cage. Working at a salmon farm is seen as a fairly attractive job in Norway.

Salmon feed.

Consumer perceptions pose a challenge for "red list species" in Norway

2011-09-15T11:33:00.001-04:00

Norwegian red fish. The only red fish caught in Norway is as bycatch.

Despite strong management practices, some species in Norwegian waters are still threatened. While the Directorate of Fisheries has an annual priority list of improvements, a lack of consumer awareness plays a role in the continued (sometimes illegal) exploitation of threatened populations in Norwegian waters. WWF Norway lists six Norwegian species on the “red list” of their seafood guide.

· Coastal Cod (a specific cod population, other Norwegian cod populations are healthy)

· Eel

· Norwegian lobster

· Wolfish

· Monkfish

· Red fish

Norwegian consumers have an assumption that all seafood in Norway is domestically produced, which it largely is, and that because it is produced in Norway it is automatically from a sustainable well-managed population. This assumption, leads to very limited use of the seafood guide produced by WWF Norway and to consumers asking few questions about their seafood. While the majority of Norway’s seafood populations are in good condition, the failure of consumers to ask pertinent questions discourages the recovery of threatened species.

KidSafe Seafood is off to Delaware

2011-09-15T11:30:00.006-04:00

KidSafe Seafood will be attending the upcoming conference titled "Framing the Message about Seafood" organized by the Delaware Seagrant College Program. The conference will take place Sept. 20–21 at the University of Delaware’s John M. Clayton Hall Conference Center in Newark. The event will convene an array of different stakeholders including nutritionists, seafood professionals, scientists, public health professionals and dieticians to focus on the issues and implications of current messaging efforts related to seafood consumption.

The conference will specifically address issues related to the role of industry and government, risk-based approaches and the use of seafood guide cards and advisories, among other topics. Participants will attend presentations by research, government, industry, advocacy, and nongovernmental organizations followed by a series of workshops with the hope of reaching a consensus on messaging seafood consumption for health care providers and consumers through science-based, actionable recommendations.

Check back here for more updates from the conference!

Strong insitutions help manage Norwegian fisheries

2011-09-15T02:29:00.000-04:00

It has been a rainy but interesting few days in Bergen. After arriving earlyMonday morning, our group, composed of Katherine Bostick (WWF), Michelle Cho(New England Aquarium), Thor Lassen (Ocean Trust) and our host Børge Grønbech(Norwegian Seafood Export Council) and Carolyn Knott (Food Group) headed off tomeet with Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs and Directorateof Fisheries to learn about regulations governing the management of Norwegianfisheries and aquaculture operations. Followed on Tuesday by visits with WWFNorway, Institute of Marine Research and Cermaq, which operates EWOS (anaquaculture feed company) and also has salmon farming activities. The time inBergen wrapped up on Wednesday with a tour by Lerøy Seafood Group (salmon farmoperation).

Reports from the IMR

Seafood is an important commodity for Norway's economy, accounting for 6-7%of exports, by value. Significant quantities of Norway's seafood are export asdomestic supply far outstrips the demand. While wild-caught fisheries producesignificantly more quantity, the aquaculture industry accounts for close to 2/3of the value of overall seafood production, driven in part by high prices forfarmed salmon in recent years.
Strong institutions and management, along with active participation from theindustry help to support sustainable seafood production in Norway, though somespecies still have low populations and face challenges. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) is one suchinstitution. IMR has been in operation for over 110 years, working to providethe latest science on Norwegian fisheries, which in turn drives policy. IMR isabout 50% financially supported by the ministry.

A few of the management measures include:

· Mandatory fallowing period for all aquaculturesites after every production cycle.

· Mandatory third-party tests on the seafloorbelow fish farming sites to determine the level of environmental impact onbenthic communities. Sites that are found to have a high impact must havelonger fallowing periods and potentially reduce stocking densities in futureproduction cycles.

· Mandatory landing of all catches, includingbycatch species. There is a strong desire to utilize all fish, which is caught;discarding fish at sea is illegal.

· Licenses are required for all fish farmingactivities. No new licenses have been issued in the past two yeas.

· Ban on aquaculture of non-native species.

· The national government is working with localcommunities to develop coastal plans

Overall, the level of transparency has impressed me. There are significantinvestments in research on fisheries and aquaculture (commercial species areprioritized) and much of the data companies report are publicly available. The government and industry members we wereable to meet with have been forthcoming about the work they have done toimprove management and sustainability and also about some of the challengesthey still face. There also appears to be a high-level of cooperation between the government, industry and NGOs. Though some of the measures are clearly working, Norway hasthe largest number of MSC certified fisheries in the world and was recentlyranked first in the world for compliance with the FAO code of conduct forfisheries.

Seafood Choices is headed to Norway!

2011-09-08T10:16:00.000-04:00

Svalbard, Norway. Credit: Thomas Hallermann/Marine Photobank

SeaWeb’s Seafood Choices program was invited by the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC) for an educational visit to Norway to experience Norwegian fishing and aquaculture operations first-hand. Norway exports seafood to over 150 countries and is the 8th largest supplier of seafood to the US market.

The trip is intended to highlight the sustainability efforts of Norwegian seafood producers. SeaWeb’s Lacey Schmeidler will meet with:
•    The Norwegian Seafood Export Council – promotes the export of Norwegian seafood to all major international markets. NSEC also complies statistics and information on Norwegian seafood exports.
•    Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs – responsible for the sustainable management of Norway’s coastal and marine resources and the regulation of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
•    WWF Norway –one of the largest environmental and conservation groups working in Norway.
•    Institute of Marine Research – the largest marine science center in Norway.
•    EWOS Group – a major supplier of feed to the international aquaculture industry, with about a 1/3 share of the market.
•    Lerøy Seafood Group – one of the largest seafood exporters in Norway.
•    Aker Seafoods ASA/Norway Seafoods – a leading Norwegian seafood company encompassing harvesting, procession and retail operations.
•    Norwegian Seafood Federation – the primary trade association representing Norwegian seafood companies at all points of the value chain.
•    Norwegian Fisherman’s Sales Organization – provides services for fishermen related to the sale and trade of seafood.

This experience will be an opportunity to see how operations vary between the US and Norway, with a focus on sustainability measures and how these can be adapted on an international scale. We look forward to an open dialogue and welcome questions from our audiences for the organizations Lacey will be visiting. If you have questions, please leave them in the comments section below or email Lacey directly. Lacey will be posting updates on the meetings all next week, check back for the latest news!

Seafood Choices in Hong Kong - One year to the Seafood Summit!

2011-09-07T12:01:00.001-04:00

Although a year might seem like a long time, there is plenty of preparation for SeaWeb's Seafood Choices team to keep busy on until September 6, 2012 --opening day of our 10th International Seafood Summit and first Summit to be held in Asia. Philip Chou, SeaWeb Senior Manager, is in Hong Kong laying some of the groundwork. If you are unfamiliar with our Seafood Summit, please visit seafoodsummit.org to see the great things that happened at our last 2011 Summit in Vancouver.

Today Philip met with staff of the Kowloon Shangri-la Hotel to do a site inspection of the facilities, rooms, and meeting space. Past Summit attendees will not be disappointed. The Shangri-la has beautiful spaces, delightful staff, well thought out meeting spaces, and a great harbor view! Just look at the pictures attached from Philip's hotel room. Philip followed up the site inspection with a meeting to Shangri-la corporate headquarters and met with the Director of CSR & Sustainability, Director of Culinary Operations, and Group Director of Purchasing. Shangri-la Corporate is really looking forward to working with SeaWeb to make this one of the best ever Summits and is hotel leader in Hong Kong that has taken bluefin tuna and shark fin off their menus.

Philip also attended the Asian Seafood Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center to meet many foreign seafood businesses looking to break into the Asian market. Keep in mind that the Asian Seafood Expo will also be held next year in 2012, right after the Seafood Summit, so for those of you looking to get the most out of the opportunities the Seafood Summit and this trade show afford, get your calendars out and start marking the dates for what promises to be a great trip! Of course we must mention that the Seafood Summit will also be organizing workshops and field trips pre and post Summit like we have done in past years. We'll keep you updated on those as we already have plans in place to scope out a potentially great Summit field trip to visit some of the major aquaculture production and processing areas in mainland China, just over the border from Hong Kong.

A Sunny Farewell

2011-07-29T18:55:00.003-04:00

A pale sun finally peaked out from behind the clouds on Friday morning, washing the city of Halifax in a warm, dull glow. Spirits were high as we reconvened for the last time at the convention center, caffeinated and rejuvenated after last night's festivities.

The morning talks covered the socio-economic factors affecting mercury exposure and risk, a dynamic group of speakers working in different regions around the world to explore the connections between human development and seafood consumption. Each of the presentations touched on the importance of 'underlying processes' when trying to establish a cause and effect relationship between consumption and health. Researchers must consider a range of dietary factors such as how much, how often and what species of seafood is consumed, and where that particular species comes from (wild caught? farmed? local? imported?). Beyond seafood-specific data, researchers must also collect information on the subject's entire diet, as well as social, economic and environmental factors to determine and reduce potential exposure pathways.

The dialogue later progressed into the future applications of dietary research. When trying to determine the most appropriate outreach strategy to educate a particular audience, communicators must consider cultural, social, economic and political dimensions to best understand behavioral patterns and frame the message for the audience. The ultimate goal is not to dissuade people from eating seafood, rather to provide guidance on which options will enhance the health benefits (omega-3s, lean protein) while minimizing the health risks (neurotoxicity).

After an informative, exciting four days in Halifax, we are all looking forward to reading the new research coming out of the conference. Check SeaWeb's Marine Science Review for a thematic review of the latest papers to come out about marine science.

Until the next mercury conference, see you in Scotland!

Presentations, Posters and Parties

2011-07-28T21:00:00.006-04:00

The fourth and final full day at the conference was packed with presentations, posters, and parties!

The morning special session focused on mercury in fish. The presentations addressed the importance of ecological and physiological characteristics in determining mercury concentrations. Factors such as habitat, growth rate, and trophic level may explain the variation in mercury levels in and among species. For example, mercury concentrations are influenced by the physical environment and where a particular species is found on the food chain. The findings are consistent with the current thinking behind consumption advisories that recommend eating smaller fish like sardines and anchovies that are found lower in the food chain.

Following the morning session was the first 'poster hour' of the day. KidSafe Seafood was featured among the posters addressing socio-economic factors affecting mercury exposure and risk (S19). Many people were eager to weigh in on the consumption debate, discussing the many challenges and benefits to creating comprehensive guidelines. KidSafe Seafood received several accolades for our three-pronged approach, combining contaminant, environmental and health interests in our recommendations. Whereas many of the posters presented purely scientific research, KidSafe Seafood provided an applied approach, using the scientific information to provide public health guidance. As such, the poster attracted much interest, and praise, from the attendees.

After a quick lunch, we all hustled back to catch the afternoon special session. The health effects of mercury series was a two hour crash course in biogeochemistry! Each of the presentations addressed the complex interactions that go on in and between individuals (i.e. between mother and fetus/nursing child). Mercury, a known neurotoxin, disrupts normal body function, creating several health risks. Furthermore, the environment in which we live and our genetics play a significant role in how we respond to mercury exposure.

Later that night, the entire conference hung up their thinking caps for the evening for a gala at the historic citadel overlooking downtown Halifax. We were treated to a demonstration by the citadel guards, dressed head to toe in traditional uniform. The conversations continued as we loaded up our plates with tasty treats and filled our glasses. The sun slowly fell below the horizon as the night wore on, fueled by good company, good food, and lively conversation.

Keep reading to find out what exciting adventures are in store for the final day of the conference!

2011-07-27T14:14:00.010-04:00

As the fog rolled in, hundreds of scientists rolled out of bed and into the World Trade & Convention Center in downtown Halifax for the third day of the International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant. Despite the drizzly weather and early hour, the 8:30 am session was packed to the gills with standing room only!

The morning 'special session' addressed the fate of mercury in

ecosystems, from sources to consumers (S14). The eight presentations looked at global trends in mercury deposition and how those different sources (both natural and man made) influence local exposure risks.

The discussions continued with a more detailed look at regional implications for estuaries in the northeastern U.S., the Gulf coast, the Gulf of Maine, the Mediterranean and the San Francisco Bay.

Following the hard hitting science presentations, the discussion turned to more practical applications, translating toxicological and environmental data into human health risks and consumption advisories. We learned about the many complexities and challenges of creating consumption advice for at risk populations like women and children. The last presentation even mentioned the KidSafe Seafood program among their review of current seafood advisories in the U.S.!

The session concluded with a provocative discussion about where the burden lies when it comes to responsible consumption. In other words, should it be the government's responsibility to monitor/reduce contaminant levels (like mercury) and ensure sustainable fishing practices, or should the consumer be responsible for selecting healthy, environmentally friendly options? What do you think?

Click here for additional information on the session, presenters, and their affiliations.

Keep reading for more updates from the conference!

KidSafe Seafood is headed to Canada!

2011-07-25T15:44:00.003-04:00

SeaWeb's KidSafe Seafood program is going to Halifax, Nova Scotia from July 26-July 29 for the 10th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP). The conference will explore the linkages between the transport and sources of mercury to the environment, and the health risks associated with mercury exposure among humans and wildlife.

Look out for our poster on Thursday, July 28 in the exhibit hall as part of the Special Session S19 series: Socio-economic factors affecting mercury exposure and risk

S19 – Socio-economic factors affecting mercury exposure and risk

PRINCIPAL ORGANIZER: Marc Lucotte, Université du Québec à Montréal
CO-ORGANIZER: Xinbin Feng

This special session will bring together scientists and science u

sers to discuss the most effective ways to reach vulnerable populations exposed to Hg throughout the world and to help them adopt long-lasting healthy behaviour and practices considering their socio-economical realities. Particular attention will be given to neglected populations that are amongst the most exposed populations in the world.

With over 900 registered participants and a schedule packed with relevant, interesting sessions KidSafe Seafood is looking forward to learning about the most recent and important advances in mercury research.

Stay tuned for more information from the conference!

Ocean Dance

2011-06-03T17:51:00.002-04:00

The day presentations were concluded with a beautiful performance by Capacitor.org, choreographed by Jodi Lomask, depicting the movement of the ocean (the video below is just the beginning)

After J and Sarah thanked everyone, we moved on to another ocean relaxation session inside the Planetarium... then onward to checking out some of the Academy exhibits during NightLife...

Ocean words and ocean sensuality

2011-06-03T17:24:00.004-04:00

Author Julia Whitty (Deep Blue Home) delighted us with a few excerpts from her book that were written on Rongiroa Atoll...

While Anne Rowley gave us some clues as to why we fall in love with the ocean (the same dopamine culprit that motivates Jeff Clark to ride enormous waves actually) and why generally, we align the ocean with the feminine (except for a lone reference to macho Poseidon) and with sensuality

break

2011-06-03T17:18:00.003-04:00

Even the coffee break cookies at BlueMind have an ocean theme! and were delicious... the few breaks in the day were a great opportunity to network and fuel additional ideas from our brains on ocean

Ocean Meditation

2011-06-03T17:09:00.006-04:00

Jaimal Yogis, author of Saltwater Buddha, and an avid surfer, led a short meditation session with the audience... then Dr. Philippe Goldin from Stanford University told us what our brain was going through during the exercise...

Taste and the Ocean

2011-06-03T16:43:00.003-04:00

Chef Loretta Keller of Coco 500 and and the Moss Room, along with nutritionist Dr. Andrea Garber of UCSF told us all about how real food -from fresh, sustainable, organic ingredients, cooked with love - vs. factory food affect our brain chemistry and our moods. Two brain images showed how food and addictive substances, like certain street drugs, stimulate and light up the same areas of the brain - how we seek the same reward... and how the reward is blunted in obesity. Dr. Garber also reminded us how the food industry is well aware of research showing that environmental cues stimulate overeating (and therefore over-spending)... large portions are one example... even if we have stale popcorn in front of us, if we're sitting in front of a large bowl, we'll tend to eat more of it!

Chef Keller told us of fishing tales and restaurant decor that inspires consumers. The Moss Room, her restaurant at the California Academy of Sciences, among other things boasts a large pond with river fish - NOT the kind you can order for lunch, she emphasized! Chef Keller showed us images of delicious, sustainable seafood dishes from her kitchen as well as from a trip to Mexico... including some mouth-watering squash blossom tacos... we were ready for lunch!

Sound, color, and real estate

2011-06-03T16:09:00.005-04:00

During the first morning sessions we learned about how our brain responds to natural underwater sounds -from a variety of marine mammals- in contrast to man-made underwater sound or noise, and how both affect our moods and health.

Then a great team presentation from Neil Osborne from the International League of Conservation photographers and Dr. Amir Vokshoor, from the Institute of Neurosurgical Innovation (top right pic) enlightened us about how the blue color of the water relaxes us, and how powerful ocean imagery motivates us to act on behalf of ocean conservation. When asked by a young member of the audience for tips on underwater photography, Neil responded that what matters is not so much technique and equipment, but what one does with his/her photography once acquired - how many GB of powerful and inspiring imagery sit on storage drives of commercial photographers without having a chance to inspire?

Just before the break, Eric Johnson from Sotheby's (top left) told us just how much more his clients are willing to pay for an ocean view given two otherwise identical units... if your guess was around 40%, you were in the right ballpark...!

BlueMind Summit a success

2011-06-03T15:57:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was a very full day of ocean stories, neuroscience, emotions, meditation, and even dance. The Summit was a definite success.

The day presentations opened with a beautiful prelude by Cellist Jennifer Kloetzel, and closed with a powerful ocean dance performance by a Capacitor.org production. In between we heard about compassion for ocean disasters like the Deepwater horizon oil spill, addiction to junk foods and craving for sustainable seafood, big-wave surfing, effective ocean communication, ocean acoustics and why the ocean is sexy, among many other themes. Let me try to recap the highlights for you

Visual notes from BLUMiND

2011-06-03T00:20:00.000-04:00

Here are some visual teasers from the BLUEMiND Summit. The caliber of speakers was really impressive and overall the Summit was a great success. More to come!

Dawn Martin, President, SeaWeb

Jeff Clark, Legendary Big Wave Surfer

Luca Penati, Ogalvi

Dr. Amir Vokshoor, Institute of Neurological Innovation (left), with Neil Osborne, Intl League of Conservation Photographers (right)

SeaWeb in San Francisco: Your Brain on the Ocean

2011-05-19T17:12:00.000-04:00

SeaWeb is co-organizing and attending the BLUEMiND summit at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, CA. Join us on June 1st and 2nd at this first-of-its-kind event to explore the intersection of neuroscience and ocean conservation.

As humans, we have a deep emotional connection to the sea that drives many of our decisions: what happens to the brain when we are in proximity to the ocean? Why do we spend hard earned money to vacation, live or dine within the view or sound-shed of the sea? What are the links between the ocean, relaxation, stress and public health?

Bringing together trailblazers in a variety of fields ranging from neuroscience, ocean science and conservation, experts in technology forecasting, photographers, explorers, writers, dancers and ocean advocates, the unprecedented Summit will help answer these questions and define the “brain on ocean”.

A livecast of the June 2 summit will be available at www.justin.tv/calacademy. SeaWeb's own Daria Siciliano will be providing updates from San Francisco during the Summit, at the ensuing "ocean relaxation" session at the state-of-the-art Planetarium, and during the NightLife event of the CalAcademy. So stay tuned to find out about the "brain on ocean"!

For more information about BLUEMiND, visit www.mindandocean.org.

And the Seafood Champions are.....

2011-03-21T10:52:00.000-04:00

SeaWeb's annual Seafood Champion Awards reception was held last night at the Boston Westin in conjunction with the International Boston Seafood Show. The room was packed wall-to-wall and among those in the room were four of the six Seafood Champion awardees whom we were honoring for the evening. The 2011 winners are:

Robert Clark, Executive Chef, C Restaurant, & Harry Kambolis, CEO, Kambolis Restaurant Group, Vancouver, Canada

Phil Gibson, Group Director Perishable for Seafood, Safeway, Inc., San Francisco, California, United States

Dune Lankard, Founder and Chairman, Eyak Preservation Council, Cordova, Alaska, United States

Steve Phillips, President and CEO, Phillips Foods, Inc., and Seafood Restaurants, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Olivier Roellinger, Vice President, Relais & Châteaux, Paris, France

Peter Weeden, Head Chef, Paternoster Chop House, London, United Kingdom

Seafood Champions: Dune Lankard, Jonathan Cartwright (accepting award on behalf of Olivier Roellinger), Becky Marshall (SeaWeb), Harry Kambolis, Melanie Siggs (SeaWeb), Steve Phillips, Phil Gibson. Not pictured: Robert Clark, Olivier Roellinger, Peter Weeden.

Unfortunately, Champions Olivier Roellinger, Peter Weeden and Robert Clark were unable to join us in person but their positive energy filled the room nontheless.

Now in its sixth year, the annual Seafood Champion Awards recognize outstanding leadership in advancing the market for sustainable seafood. Nominated by the seafood community and judged by a panel that includes previous winners, the awards have been bestowed upon individuals, companies and organizations from the fishing, aquaculture, seafood supply and distribution, retail, media, restaurant and foodservice sectors. Winners of this award have influenced the marketplace with regard to the sourcing of ocean-friendly seafood while successfully integrating innovative models to advance sustainability in the seafood industry. The Seafood Champion Awards are presented by SeaWeb’s Seafood Choices program.

Talking Seafood Sustainability in Boston

2011-03-15T16:21:00.000-04:00

SeaWeb will be in Boston, Massachusetts for the 2011 International Boston Seafood Show, which starts on Sunday March 20 and runs through Tuesday March 22. While in Boston we’ll be announcing the winners of the 2011 Seafood Champions awards and celebrating their great achievements in seafood sustainability, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for that exciting news. You can read more about the finalists and the awards here.

SeaWeb's Seafood Choices team will also host a panel about illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing on Tuesday, March 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Show. During the past decade, the incidence of IUU fishing has grown at an alarming rate and irresponsible fishing activities undermine efforts to manage fisheries properly. As fisheries provide an important source of food, employment, income and recreation for people throughout the world and IUU fishing diminishes the resources for the millions of people who depend upon seafood for their livelihoods, this is a critical issue to be addressed. We hope you’ll be able to join us for this presentation. You can read more about Seafood Choices' work on IUU here.

We’ll be providing updates from Boston on this blog, so stay tuned as we continue the conversation on seafood sustainability.

Seafood Summit: Seafood Sustainability in Seattle & Looking to the Future in Asia

2011-02-04T14:32:00.000-05:00

A day trip to Seattle was a great way to officially close the Seafood Summit. 17 delegates ventured across the US/Canada border for a visit to Seattle's Ballard Port to learn about the commercial halibut fishery. Jeremy Brown of Commercial Fisheries of America led delegates along an informative learning experience, and culinary adventure.

Seattle's Pike Place Market

It was a whirlwind of a trip in the best way possible. Delegates were engaged and could barely tear themselves away from the fishermen who kept feeding them information about the successes and struggles they've endured fishing for halibut just outside of Seattle. In addition to the talks given by the fishermen, delegates were treated to three delicious meals at three Seattle seafood lover staples - Chinook's, Ray's and Steelhead Diner. Each restaurant is sustainability conscious and sources locally.

Delegates returned to a dark and rainy Vancouver very late in the evening, but there was still a lot positive energy in the air as delegates said their goodbyes. Lots of new connections were made and important relationships built toward improving the fishing industry and seafood marketplace. Everyone is looking forward to Hong Kong, but a lot of work will need to take place between now and then. Let us know your thoughts as we prepare for the future of sustainable seafood in Asia. See you in the Fall of 2012 in Hong Kong!

Seafood Summit: Day 3 - Summit comes to a close

2011-02-02T22:05:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe that the final day of the Summit came and went, but not without some incredible milestones worth noting. The sessions were well attended and engaging even on the last day, which is a true testament to the incredible content in each of them.

Delegates who join us for the closing presentation had the honor of being addressed by His Royal Highness the Price of Wales in a pre-recorded video in which he discussed the need to improve fisheries and take a collaborative approach to research. He noted that while positive steps are being made through multi-stakeholder partnerships, the way forward will not be without intractable problems. His hope is that partnerships can be found so it is crucial that we keep talking for as long as it takes. Partnerships must be built that safeguard biodiversity and sustain livlihoods based on fishing to achieve balance toward a more sustainable future.

His Royal Highness made it clear that while it is easy to despair, solutions are in our grasp. We can see thriving and productive oceans, if we do change our fishing policies. His Highness’ regret was that he couldn’t join the delgates in person, but recognized all of the tireless work Summit attendees old and new have been conducting for years, and experessed gratitude and encouraged leadership toward a sustainable future. “Enlightened individuals have the biggest influence,” he said; a big compliment to every single Summit attendee.

Hong Kong night skyline

SeaWeb’s own Melanie Siggs took the stage for the final close, with a big announcement on the tip of her tongue. Where the Summit will be hosted next is not just about geography. There are physical and geographic challenges to moving the sustainable seafood movement forward so the need to go to Asia is important more than ever. Melanie announced that the 2012 Seafood Summit will take place in Hong Kong, on a 18 months schedule instead of the traditional 12 months schedule. So, hopefully we’ll see you on in Hong Kong in the fall of 2012?

Give us a little reflection and listening time about how we make it a success. We want to engage more with colleagues to help bring them in and improve on all of our successes from the past. Between now and then, we hope to conduct many business roundtables, workshops, attend the Brussels Seafood Show and Boston Seafood Show, engage in the World Seafood Congress and World Fisheries Congress and continue the conversation on an international basis.

Our common goal is global sustainability. We hope you’ll continue to be a part of the conversation. Though the Summit isn't officially over - delegates will join us early Thursday morning for a trip across the borden into Washington State to tour of a halibut fishery and visit to Seattle's famous Pike Place Market. Stay tuned for a recap of those adventures soon.

And now, to celebrate the many successes of the 2011 Seafood Summit!

The Future of Seafood Sustainability & China

2011-02-02T17:42:00.000-05:00

The China seminar, China's Seafood Marketplace: Our Common Future, was certainly a discussion of scale...on how to think and rethink our engagement on sustainability given the world's largest population group, largest exporter, and biggest consumer of seafood per capita. An illustration provided by Jack Liu, Zhangzidao Fishery Group, is the immense size of their shellfish production area, which covers 1,500 square kilometers, an impossible reality in other parts of the world. A major takeaway provided by Hugo Contreras, Cargill, and supported by other speakers is that the world must face the changing reality of "made in China" to "made for China". Finally, Peter Redmayne, SeaFare Group, noted that a major key to successful engagement in China is building trust and understanding the importance of guanxi, which loosely translates to one's personalized network of influence. It seems a lot of this relationship building for business is built around dinner and drinks, with emphasis on the drinks!

Spot Prawn Fishery Field Experience

2011-02-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

A select few Summit delegates had the unique opportunity to join fishermen Steve Johansen and Frank Keitsch aboard the Organic Ocean spot prawn fishing boat early Tuesday morning. It was a hard sell to ask the 6 delegates to tear themselves away from the thought provoking sessions, or leave the comfort of the climate controlled conference center and brave the unseasonably cold Vancouver temperatures for a two-hour excursion, but those things were quickly forgotten once on the water. As we boated toward the snow-capped peaks in the distance, Steve and Frank gave insight into Organic Ocean’s philosophy and how important it is to keep the fishery sustainable for their own business needs as well as for the longevity of the species. Steve and Frank harvest their spot prawns with traps rather than nets, which leave little impact on the sea bed and allow for little to no by catch. In additional, much of what Organic Ocean harvests is distributed to local restaurants, which keeps their environmental impact and carbon footprint low. After a short 15 minute boat ride we arrived at their buoys and watched as they pulled up the traps, which boasted colorful and active spot prawns. These traps had been placed 24 hours prior and while they produced plentiful prawns for our viewing – and tasting - pleasure; one can imagine how bountiful they would be over a whole season.

Instead of trying to describe with words the incredibly interesting experience learning about BC’s spot prawn fishery, I’ll revert to the saying: “a picture is worth a thousand words.” One last thought before I leave you with these snapshots: Steve’s infectiously positive attitude left the delegates with a lot to be hopeful about, both in terms of the spot prawn fishery and fisheries in general. Maybe we need more of a positive attitude to move in the right direction?

We conduct these field experiences as part of the Seafood Summit because it gives the delegates the opportunity to see (and touch, and taste and feel) fisheries in their true form, and truly wrap their heads around what works and what doesn’t. Hopefully you'll be able to join us one one of these trips in the future.

Congratulations to Seafood Champions Finalists!

2011-02-01T19:09:00.000-05:00

Congratulations are resounding through the hallways for the SeaWeb Seafood Champ ion finalists, which were announced at the Summit. The Seafood Champions are nominated annually and recognize individuals and companies for outstanding leadership in promoting environmentally responsible seafood. The award was established to honor those in the seafood industry whose contributions demonstrate a commitment to innovation that leads to change. Selected from more than 50 nominees, the 2011 Seafood Champion finalists are:

Robert Clark, Executive Chef, C Restaurant & Harry Kambolis, CEO, Kambolis Group. Vancouver, Canada

Phil Gibson, Seafood Group Director, Safeway Inc. California, United States

Dune Lankard, Founder & Chairman, Eyak Preservation Council. Alaska, United States

Steve Phillips, President and CEO, Phillips Foods and Seafood Restaurant. Maryland, United States

Olivier Roellinger, Vice-Président, Relais & Châteaux. Paris, France

Peter Weeden, Chef, Paternoster Chop House. London, United Kingdom

Falmouth Fishselling Co. Cornwall, United Kingdom

Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association. Olympia, Washington, United States

Many Seafood Champions from years past are among the 700 plus attendees this year and all working together to continue to push the envelope of progress toward sustainability! Melanie Siggs, SeaWeb vice president for sustainable markets congratulated the finalists saying “On behalf of those who nominated them and the panel of independent judges, we are delighted to recognize these eight finalists for their significant efforts to ensure responsibility is at the forefront of their activities and businesses. We look forward to presenting the 2011 Seafood Champion Awards at the Boston Seafood Show in March.”

Photos of Dune Lankard and Robert Clark

Seafood Summit: Day 2 - Thoughts as we enter a new day

2011-02-01T17:56:00.000-05:00

A thought-provoking plenary session kicked off Day Two of the 2011 Seafood Summit with a pre-filmed video presentation by Dr. Ray Hillborn. He then joined the conference to take questions from participants via live link from New Zealand. Dr. Hillborn presented his thoughts on the state and trends of the world fisheries, and the efficiencies of eating from the sea versus the land. Hillborn indicated that based on the work he and others have undertaken recently that the majority of fish stocks are stable and not in rapid decline. One of the conclusions he reached was that terrestrial agriculture has greater overall impact and uses far more energy and resources than fishing. He highlighted the example of the relative efficiencies of protein generation to feed Chilean anchoveta to fish (aquaculture) rather than farmed animals. The overall message was that the state of fisheries is not straightforward and that we need to look at the broader elements which includes the state of the ecosystem, and how it is modified and maintained.

If ever there was a need to clone oneself it is at the Summit! The array of interesting sessions makes for tough choices. The morning’s offerings included exploration of food security in the Coral Triangle, the challenges of traceability in Mediterranean farmed Bluefin tuna, to the role of producers businesses and governments in eliminating confusion about sustainable choices for consumers.

Dr. Alan Knight

Alan Knight (The Virgin Group) highlighted that sustainability is a challenge facing all supply chains and raised the question for what's next for ecolabels and product stewardship. He poised the question of how many ecolabelling schemes do we need to solve the problems of the planet and recommended the need to coordinate these schemes. He also emphasized the importance of ‘knowing your product’s story’ and that business and CSR needs to get to grips with that story.

Framing Seafood Sustainability

2011-01-31T22:37:00.000-05:00

Squamish Nation Elder Audrey Rivers

A traditional blessing from Squamish Nation Elder Audrey Rivers provided an evocative and emotional opening to the 9^th International Seafood Summit. She welcomed people from the ‘Four Directions’ noting the relationship between the traditional medicine wheel and characteristics of each direction--including foresight from the east and hindsight from the west. She spoke of the importance of honoring the past, acknowledging the present, and looking to the future.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson shared his thoughts on sustainability, inspired in part by his own experiences sailing and fishing as a young man in the Vancouver area. He welcomed participants and thanked summit organizers for choosing Vancouver noting that local restaurants and chefs have been leaders in putting sustainable seafood into practice. It’s Dine Out week in Vancouver so there are plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy what Vancouver restaurants have to offer!

Yvon Chouinard, Henry Demone, Jim Cannon

A provocative keynote speech from Patagonia founder and “accidental businessman” CEO Yvon Chouinard challenged summit participants to think more deeply about what sustainability really means. “With 7 billion people on the planet—this finite planet--I don’t believe there’s any economic activity that is truly sustainable. We have to qualify that word ‘sustainable’ with ‘less’ or ‘more’ in front of it.” He appealed to the seafood industry to ask deeper and deeper questions as he chronicled his own journey to create a responsible business.

The opening plenary session also featured a dialog in response to the question ‘How Far Can and Should the Sustainable Movement Go in Improving Fisheries Worldwide?’ Jim Cannon from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership joined Yvon Chouinard and Henry Demone in the conversation facilitated by SeaWeb Vice President of Sustainable Markets, Melanie Siggs.

Afternoon sessions offered attendees a wide array of topics from which to choose. Chefs took center stage for a discussion entitled ‘Gatekeepers to Cuisine Consciousness—Chefs Explore Their Influence on, and Responsibility to, Sustainability. Vancouver-based Chef Robert Clark of C Restaurant—who is also a Seafood Champions finalist—talked about serving smaller portions and rotating menu items to account for seasonality as some ways to enhance sustainability. Chef Xavier DeShayes, Executive Chef of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center noted the role of a chef is to teach—whether it be the kitchen staff, front of house staff or clients.

Rainbow Creek Dancers

The day was rounded off with a lively reception for all 700 plus delegates who were treated to traditional dancing from the Rainbow Creek Dancers and a focus on the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Initiative.

Tomorrow’s agenda is equally full—so stay tuned for more!

Seafood Summit: Day 1

2011-01-31T11:19:00.000-05:00

As the day dawns in Vancouver, the snow-capped peaks surrounding English Bay provide a dramatic and inspiring backdrop to the start of the 9^th International Seafood Summit. Nearly 700 attendees from more than 30 countries are gathering to address this year’s summit theme ‘Responsibility without Borders?’

Pre-meeting conversations on the topic have yielded many thoughts on the summit theme including the observation that fish and other marine species are simply not cognizant of the geographic borders that we humans tend to place so much stock in. Examining responsibilities beyond the scope of traditional physical borders will be intriguing and thought-provoking and is sure to stimulate a great deal of dialog.

But the concept of borders doesn’t just refer to physical boundaries. The summit theme also refers to responsibilities across sectors. SeaWeb’s Seafood Summit brings together academics and government officials, business leaders and non-governmental organizations to help tackle the tough questions surrounding sustainability on the seafood supply chain.

Attendees are excited to be here and ready to tackle the challenges ahead!

Seafood Summit: Vancouver Island Shellfish Aquaculture Field Trip

2011-01-30T16:29:00.000-05:00

The 2011 Seafood Summit kicked off early Saturday morning with 33 Summit attendees aboard a bus en route to Vancouver Island. Despite the early hour, spirits were high as we embarked on an overnight adventure to learn about various shellfish farming operations on Vancouver Island.

Pulling up nets with farmed scallops.

Leading the field trip were Bill Taylor, Bill Dewey and Jon Rowley of Taylor Shellfish Farms who run operations for Taylor Shellfish on Vancouver Island as well as in Seattle, Washington. Aboard the ferry to Vancouver Island, Bill Dewey explained how ocean acidification is affecting the shellfish on their farms and how they’ve had to adapt to ensure longevity and sustainability of the shellfish, as well as their business.

The idea of adapting to changing ocean chemistry was resonated by other shellfish farmers and fishermen we visited along the way, though ocean acidification isn’t the only thing they’re up against. Land based runoff, natural predators and disease are also issues of daily concern when operating shellfish farms in the Pacific North West.

After lunch at Fanny Bay Inn, where legendary oyster burgers were served, and excursions to several shellfish farming facilities, attendees settled down for Q&A with folks from Taylor Shellfish and Canada's Department of Fisheries and Ocean. There was great dialogue and lots of thought provoking questions among participants and everyone was very engaged in learning.

But there was also so fun to be had, and Bill, Bill & Jon had set up a lantern-lit wine and oyster tasting on the beach. Attendees got to shuck fresh picked oysters and enjoy local wines and no one seemed to mind that it was very cold, very dark and their shoes and socks were soaked.

The evening concluded with a trip to the brand new Vancouver Island University Marine Field Station – a facility designed with the surrounding environment in mind, including the ocean – and a delicious meal of fresh shellfish right out of the Bay prepared by Vancouver Island Culinary Institute students led by chef Xihn Dwelley of Xinh's Clam & Oyster House in Shelton, Washington. The station is two weeks away from its public debut, but station manager, Brian Kingzett, made a special exception for Summit attendees so he could show off all the beautiful, eco-friendly new building, the great science research work they’re doing, and the delicious culinary expertise of the students. The Field Station will afford VI University marine science students the opportunity to conduct field research in Deep Bay and lab work in the lower level of the field station. Some of the students were on hand to tell us about their research and explain the unique centerpieces at each table (shown above right). Each flask held water and live shellfish from the bay and next to it was a flask with murky, algae-filled water. The students advised us to pour the ‘dirty’ water into the larger shellfish-filled flask and watch them go to work. By the end of the delectable meal the water was clear again – a creative demonstration of the important ecosystem services shellfish provide.

Special thanks to Bill Taylor, Bill Dewey, Jon Rowley, Brian Kingzett, Brian Yip and Philip Chou for making the field trip a very memorable one for participants.

We're looking forward to officially welcoming everyone to the Summit and getting everyone checked in at registration this afternoon. More to come as we talk sustainable seafood at this year's Seafood Summit!

Will you be in Vancouver for the 2011 Seafood Summit?

2011-01-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

We hope to see you at the upcoming ninth annual Seafood Summit: "Responsibility without Borders?," to be held in Vancouver, Canada, from January 31 to February 2, 2011.

The Seafood Summit brings together global representatives from the seafood industry and conservation community for in-depth discussions, presentations and networking with the goal of making the seafood marketplace environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

In addition to the exciting presentations being given at the Summit— including from keynote speaker Patagonia's Yvon Chouinard—we will have two unique field trip opportunities, one before and another after the Summit.

Can't be there in person? Follow our SeaWeb in Action blog to keep you up-to-date about what's happening at the Summit!

Leaving China with Hope for a Sustainable Future

2010-11-03T16:32:00.000-04:00

Blogging from the Beijing airport before boarding my flight back to D.C. Tuesday concluded a day spent on the trade show floor of the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo. This is the largest seafood trade show in Asia. It had approximately 800 exhibitors in three separate halls, one featuring international companies and the other two domestic. This year was also the first year for the trade show to include a Sustainable Seafood Pavilion housing stands from Det Norske Veritas, GlobalGap, Marine Stewardship Council, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, WWF and ourselves, SeaWeb's Seafood Choices Program.

At the booth, we featured information about the upcoming Seafood Summit to be held January 31 to February 2 in Vancouver, Canada, including postcards about the event and other material in Chinese. The Seafood Summit is a unique conference that brings together global representatives from the seafood industry and conservation community for in-depth discussions, presentations and networking with the goal of making the seafood marketplace environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

As the seafood industry increasingly focuses its tention on China as the world's largest seafood exporter and largest potential market for seafood consumption, SeaWeb is working with other organizations to scope our potential collaborative role in catalyzing greater sustainable practices in the Chinese marketplace. Bringing Chinese seafood industry stakeholders to the Seafood Summit is one good starting point to engage them in our broader, cross-sector conversations.

It was a great day connecting with industry players in the electrifying environment of the show floor. It featured exhibitors from more than 30 countries, including Norway, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Iceland, South Korea, Peru and the UK. Exhibits featured large and small producers and distributors, country-specific promotion councils, logistics companies and equipment sales. Seeing the dizzying array of seafood, its origins and its destinations puts in plain view the challenges and complexities of the seafood trade. Having everyone under on roof also gives us hope, knowing that with the rightmotivation and will, we can get everyone working together toward greater sustainability leading to a diverse and healthy ocean.

-Philip

Talking Traceability and Sustainability at the Forum

2010-11-02T13:01:00.000-04:00

Philip Chou moderating “How Sustainable is Chinese Seafood? China's Attitude Towards Seafood Sustainability” at the forum.

Monday concluded a very successful day at the second China Sustainable Seafood Forum, which ran a full day of panels and presentations followed by a dinner that was attended by forum speakers, organizers, sponsors, and local dignitaries, including Consul General of the United States Sean Stein in Shenyang, China.

There was a good turnout of almost 200 attendees. The forum geared toward invited

Chinese producers, processors and exporters and government officials working in fisheries and aquaculture. Several representatives from international nongovernmental organizations were in attendance, including those from WWF's Smart Fishing Initiative, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and the Marine Stewardship Council.

Attendees were given postcards, written in Chinese (lower, far right), about SeaWeb's upcoming Seafood Summit to be held January 31 through February 2 in Vancouver, Canada.

Some of the highlights and new themes from the forum that stood out are:

- More and more of China's seafood is going toward the domestic market and seafood imports to China are growing very quickly as Chinese citizenry become bigger global consumers. This was repeated both by SeaFare's Peter Redmayne and the Vice Executive President of China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Association's Mr. Cui He.

- Buyers of Chinese product represented by Canadian retailer Sobey's, European seafood processor Findus, and importer Santa Monica Seafood emphasized the internal processes they go to ensure sustainability and traceability of the products they source. Much of these processes go beyond outside certification, and there are many examples of buyers working hand-in-hand with producers on fisheries and aquaculture improvement projects.

- Fishmeal and fish oil are not a limiting factor to growth of the aquaculture industry, according to Director General of the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Oranisation Jonathan Sheppard. Advances in use of alternative ingredients in feeds as well as better management of forage fish stocks are keeping up with the growing demands for fishmeal and fish oil in the aquaculture industry.

- According to a WWF-hosted panel on whitefish traceability, measures being called for by the European Commission to eliminate IUU fishing and improve food safety is creating advances in China's traceability systems. But most acknowledge it is a tough job for the Chinese industry, in particular for species that go through many channels into a processing plant and may be consolidated along the way.

Some of the lunch crowd in the beautiful venue, including Phil Werdal of Trace Register and David Smith of Sobeys.

The panel I moderated, "How Sustainable is Chinese Seafood? China's Attitude Towards Seafood Sustainability" considered the perspective of those working on the ground in China. Panelists included a major Chinese industry player, a governmental industry association, a nongovernmental organization working on aquaculture improvement projects and a Canadian company raising close containment farmed salmon in China. I think many of the non-Chinese listening may have been surprised at the leadership in environmental sustainability occurring at both the industry and governmental levels in China. I feel there is real pockets of momentum to improve sustainability practices, but the challenge lies in the vast size of the industry and the fiscal challenges for the great number of small and medium-sized enterprises that would need to make significant changes.

Again, it was a wonderful day. Beyond all the learning, many new relationships were formed and strengthened. The collaborative movement among government officials, retailers, Chinese producers and fellow nongovernmental organizations can catalyze and support the seafood movement in China.

Fabulous dinner after the forum! Left to right: Logan Kock of Santa Monica Seafoods, Jessica and Paul of SeaFare and Jonathan Shepherd of International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation.

Arrived in Dalian!

2010-11-01T01:32:00.000-04:00

After 20 plus hours of traveling, I'm finally in Dalian, China! On Saturday night I met up with Melanie Siggs as I transferred through Beijing International airport. Today, Sunday, was mostly a free day, but in the afternoon Melanie and I went to the convention center to pick up our badges for the Sustainable Seafood Forum and Seafood Expo, check on our booth location and scout out the venue. We were fortunate to have SeaFare Group's Peter Redmayne (with me, above), who is the lead organizer of the Forum and Expo, to show us around.

In the evening, we had a nice dinner with other presenters and sponsors of the Sustainable Seafood Forum. It was great to have the opportunity to meet each other before the Forum. As we left the restaurant, we saw these two huge shark fins and samples of shark fin menu items. There's definitely a lot to discuss around sustainability issues in China, and like the issues associated with shark finning, much of it is as much about understanding culture and history as it is about economic, social and environmental circumstances. Definitely looking forward to a big day tomorrow at the Forum discussions.

Seafood Choices Talking Sustainability in China

2010-10-29T14:41:00.000-04:00

I fly out of Washington, D.C., today to attend the China Fisheries and Seafood Exposition, being held November 2 to 4 in Dalian, China, where I’ll also participate in the second Sustainable Seafood Forum beforehand on November 1. The forum is a day-long seminar designed to encourage the Chinese seafood industry and its global partners to connect with the issues of sustainability and support explore initiatives.

I’ll be joined by SeaWeb's Vice President of Sustainable Markets Melanie Siggs, who will moderate a panel on "How Sustainable is Chinese Seafood? China's Attitude Towards Seafood Sustainability.” SeaWeb will also be hosting a booth in the Sustainable Seafood Pavilion on the show floor of the Expo. I am sure to see some exciting panels covering hot topics, such as forage fisheries role in aquaculture and why more buyers are now demanding sustainable products.

Join us as we meet new people and hear perspectives on seafood sustainability from China!

—Philip Chou, Outreach Manager, Seafood Choices

World Leaders Call for Action on Climate Change

2010-09-09T22:52:00.000-04:00

At the opening plenary to the conference yesterday morning, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was expected to join the President of the Republic of Kiribati, Anote Tong, on a call for action on one of the most significant threats to our ocean, climate change. Well, Schwarzenegger couldn’t make it at the last minute, but President Tong delivered a strong and passionate statement for a united action on protecting the ocean, asking developing countries to join Pacific Island countries in their commitment. President Tong was the key driving force behind the designation of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), the largest MPA in the world and now a World Heritage Site, and said that the designation of PIPA “goes to the heart of the climate change debate,” a threat that puts his country, the largest atoll nation in the world, at particular risk to seal level rise and the increase in frequency and intensity of storms. For this country of low-lying atolls, the threats are real and imminent, and require swift regional solutions and effective collaborations with other Pacific rim countries—because for Kiribati, as President Tong reminded us, “the alternative is simply not acceptable.”

Later in the afternoon President Tong gave a special introduction and participated in the panel of one of the most exciting sessions of the day, highlighting the Pacific 2020 challenge. Meg Caldwell of the Center for Ocean Solutions moderated a panel with speakers and government leaders from Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati and the United States, including Colin Philps, President of the Fiji Voyaging Society who recently completed a 7,000 nautical mile journey in the Pacific in a traditional canoe to raise awareness of the threats the ocean faces.

Tons of concurrent sessions throughout the day made it hard to choose which to attend… I sat with great interest on a session on “Measuring the ocean economy” in which one of the speakers, an economist from San Francisco State University, made a passionate plea for someone to organize a forum between ecologists and economists to further our nascent understanding of how to value habitats and the ecosystem services they provide… (hmmm ripe ground for SeaWeb?). Lastly, a Marine Debris session enlighted us on recent effort from local, state and federal government to find solutions for the problem of outrageous quantities of plastics and other debris we produce and consume. It was heartening that our great city of San Francisco is leading the charge on the front of local governments, and that California is also leading the nation by example with source-reduction legislation and infrastructure improvements.

California and World Ocean 2010 Begins

2010-09-09T15:29:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the California and World Ocean international conference kicked off, providing about 1,000 participants from government, academia and industry the opportunity to share ideas and stimulate creative approaches to address the ecological, environmental and economic challenges that the global ocean faces. Topics such as climate change impacts, marine spatial planning, ocean economics, marine protected areas, and renewable offshore energy are all featured.

Winning, Inspiring Imagery at BLUE

2010-08-30T03:28:00.000-04:00

Looking back on the past few days at BLUE, a few questions seemed to be always hovering in the air: How do we capture viewers interest with beautiful shots of the ocean and not deceive the audience into believing that this is the norm and all is well? Alternatively, how do we show the environmental decline of our blue world without also desensitizing and fatiguing audiences? What inspires people to not just be interested in but to actually take action on behalf of the ocean, stunning imagery of its beauty or the starker images of the many threats to its health? What indeed is more powerful, the beauty or the beast?

The answer may be a bit of both. The winning films of the BLUE Ocean Film Festival were announced at the Blue Carpet Awards Saturday night. Although “Under the Sea 3D” received the Special Jury Award, the top prize was not given to a sweeping epic but rather “Bag It,” an independent film that tells the story of one man’s journey to rid his life and as much of the rest of the world as he can of our addiction to plastic. The enthusiastic applause seemed to indicate the audience approved of the choice.

Before the film winners were announced, the Making Waves Award was presented to Celine, Fabien and Jean-Michel Cousteau and the Sylvia Earle award to fellow ocean advocate Carl Safina by the woman herself. Singer Paula Cole paid tribute to the late underwater photographer Wes Skiles with her song “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone.”

The mood of the evening was indeed both sober and celebratory. Later at a silent auction and birthday gathering for Sylvia Earle, we took a Google Ocean tour of her life’s milestones paired with their geographic locations of where they occurred and then watched her dance while five fans serenaded her with her own birthday ballad.

Earlier in the day, she had spoken to a packed house with a collage of imagery, both beautiful and arresting, playing behind her. She told those at BLUE that we should use every avenue available to us to inspire others, including powerful imagery. “We’re all here to give the ocean a voice.”

Thanks, Sylvia. We at SeaWeb couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

The Power of Red at BLUE

2010-08-28T04:39:00.000-04:00

Although the Ocean Film Festival is called BLUE, the other important color of the event is red. The bright knit caps like the one Jacques Cousteau and his Calypso crew wore can be seen bobbing throughout the crowd, reminding us this legendary ocean explorer is always among us. I’m sure that is how Celine and Fabien Cousteau feel, long after their grandfather’s passing. He would have been 100 years old this year.

Indeed, watching the descendants of a legend like Cousteau on stage on Friday, one cannot help but expect them to be doing something grand. Under the watchful eyes of the world, perhaps such expectations did help motivate Fabien and Celine to, while not exactly following in their legendary grandfather’s flippers, to certainly be on a similar path of trying to make the word a better place.

With their father Jean-Michel in the audience, the brother and sister team told a room of BLUE attendees about their latest projects. While independent, they were created out their mutual desire to turn the sometimes passive act of conservation filmmaking into more hands-on. As Celine said, “Maybe people will see those films and go home and feel bad about [what is happening to the environment], but what then will they do the next day?”

Fabien also commented that while showing stunning images of our blue planet can inspire, it is also misleading that all is well with our ocean. “We do an injustice to the world if we only show pretty pictures.”

Fabien launched his Plant a Fish project on World Oceans Day this year out of “my frustration of not being able to answer the question satisfactorily … about what we can do.” Patterned after the long-successful plant a tree campaign, his program has “replanted” marine species in their local habitats in distressed bodies of water around the world. Initial targeted projects in 2010 to 2011 will include sea turtles in El Salvador, mangroves in South Florida and corals in the Maldives. The first project they completed was to replant oysters in New York harbor. They did it on “zero dollars and only volunteers—at risk youth, with a graduating rate of less than 50 percent, that have one-parent homes, who never have seen the ocean or gone swimming. To get them to go out and become stewards of the ocean. It is very empowering.”

Celine has created CauseCentric Productions to give more punch to nonprofit organizations that don’t have the resources to produce film to explain what they do. Combining her passion for different cultures and her desire to assist those in need, Celine recently completed such a short for an organization providing medical assistance to the inhabitants of the Amazon. “Traveling from the ocean to the Amazon, I feel like I have a flipper and a hiking boot on all the time.”

Taking a question from the audience after their talks, Fabien tried to explain what environmental economics really means: “What does it mean if we loose a whale? What does it mean if we loose the Gulf of Mexico? ... Why not look at our planet as a bank account? Why not stop eating the capital and start living off the interest?”

Perhaps Celine explained it best: “We owe it to ourselves to put everything into this life we can. Whether it be in the oceans or the Amazon, it all comes back to us.”

VIPs, BLUE Style

2010-08-27T14:32:00.000-04:00

The BLUE Film Festival and Conservation Summit has been host to the leading luminaries of the ocean world. Conservationists and filmmakers have rubbed shoulders with policymakers and activists. But even the leading lights of the conference take notice when these VIPs come to town:

Sherman and Sam. Shark and Sea Lion. Putting aside the awkwardness of the predator-prey relationship in order to work together to spread the word that "We Don't Trash Where We Splash!"

We followed this unlikely duo - passionate pinniped and charismatic carcharodon - around the festival, where they shared their conservation message with attendees.

(If you have problem seeing the video, please use this direct link)

Take a Tour of Monterey Bay's Marine Sanctuary

2010-08-26T18:11:00.000-04:00

Monterey Bay Aquarium hosted a tour of the Bay's Marine Sanctuary for BLUE attendees, for the young and young at heart. Tour guides covered topics ranging form sustainable seafood to how the resident otters wrap themselves in kelp to anchor themselves in place. Watch this clip to learn more and see what they found living in the Bay.

Out of the Mouths of Babes, Conservationists and Policymakers

2010-08-26T03:40:00.000-04:00

More than 500 gathered at the Golden State Theater in Monterey tonight for the opening ceremony of BLUE. The mix of attendees was reflected also on stage. Festival co-founder Debbie Kinder started the evening by praising Monterey for not only its warm welcome but also its long-time commitment to the ocean. She was followed by a slew of stars in the marine community, including Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Executive Director Julie Packard and Congressional Representative Sam Farr. Farr credited the ocean community for bringing marine issues into the light: “We are no longer to be discovered. We are now in the mainstream.”

However he also pointed out that even with a new ocean policy in place, the work really begins on the local level to implement needed changes.

But perhaps who really stole the show was the young nephew of a filmmaker whose film stars the young boy being interviewed about why whales should not be hunted. After the showing of the short, he came out on stage dressed in his white suit, red tie and of course the coordinating red cap as a nod to marine legend Jacques Cousteau. Why should we not hunt them? “They are special,” he said. “They are giants.”

Flippin' Out at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival

2010-08-26T01:58:00.000-04:00

The first official day of the BLUE Ocean Film Festival has come to a close and I sit in my room with head spinning from a day of controlled chaos. The incredible group of ocean filmmakers, photographers, NGOs, funders, scientists and even BLUE volunteers are still sipping local wines, making the rounds of the conference center's lobby, sharing stories about their ocean experiences while catching up with old friends and colleagues. Long before any of us were able to kick back and socialize, BLUE attendees snatched up their Flip cameras and got to work making their own guerrilla films documenting their experience here at the festival. Along with a team from NOAA, SeaWeb is helping to promote and produce attendee-generated content so that you can all find the BLUE in you wherever you may be.

Today we asked those who borrowed the pocket-sized camcorders to ask this question of their interviewees: "What is your favorite ocean memory?" In a crowd so passionately motivated by their experiences with the ocean, this question truly struck a chord. Check out a few of the responses which we have captured and clipped for you to see.

If you have any trouble viewing the clip below, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMo-VfyVqHI

Check out more guerrilla films on the BLUE website.

Building an Ocean Conservation Ethic Through Art

2010-08-25T19:35:00.000-04:00

The David Doubilet photography exhibit on the opening night of the BLUE Film Festival was a great success. The gallery installation featured many of David's striking photographs, from whimsical nudibranches to shocking images of spinner dolphins being slaughtered in Japan.

BLUE staff interviewed some of the attendees and asked about their impressions of the art, and how that impacts their view of the ocean.

Diving into BLUE

2010-08-25T12:47:00.000-04:00

Showing Our Love of the Now Noisy, More Acidic, Marine Plastiscapes

Conservationist J. Nichols launched the BLUE Ocean Film Festival with his talk on Oceanophilia, the neuroscience of emotion and the ocean. Although given how we tend to treat the ocean, how much we love this precious resource is not all that obvious.

As J. puts it, we put too much in and take too much out of it. All kinds of marine debris, that animals consume or get caught in accidently and die, is filling our marine ecosystems. Plastic is forming what J. has called “Plastiscapes,” brought together by swirling ocean currents. In addition, more and more carbon dioxide is taken up by the ocean, making it more acidic. And as more and more of us to be near the ocean, we are also are degrading its coastlines.

Less in, less out, protect the edge, is J.’s message. He also wants us to know we have reason to hope. We have unprecedented knowledge of what is happening in what had once seemed to be an “endless bounty.” We have a global network of passionate activists working on the ocean’s behalf. And we have the power of creative communication.

J., who is both a scientist and artful communicator, says that we can no longer afford to separate emotion and reason; rather it is our emotions that allow us to make reasonable decisions. After all, advertments already pull on our emotions to make us buy products, such as Coke saying “Open Happiness.” We need to capitalize on this NeuroMarking and transform it into NeuroConservation.

“The mind ocean connection is understudied. We need to change that, we need to dig in and understand the mind-ocean connection,” says J. “It is time for a full court press. It is not time to be on the sidelines.”

Down By The Sea...

2010-08-24T18:53:00.000-04:00

The SeaWeb team has made it to Monterey for the BLUE Film Festival! Although the after effects of flights from DC to CA are not going to wear off any time soon, we're excited to see the opening reception, featuring works by renown photographer David Doubilet.

We will be blogging all week, bringing you highlights of the events, sessions, and films occurring at BLUE.

SeaWeb is Going BLUE

2010-08-23T10:44:00.000-04:00

SeaWeb staff will be attending the BLUE Ocean Film Festival and Conservation Summit in Monterey, CA. Join us from August 24-29 for the conference and films, and follow our blog live from the event.

With a fantastic lineup of films and talks by leaders in ocean conservation, BLUE will be the "must attend" event for marine filmmakers and environmentalists!

Hope for the oceans from the Galapagos

2010-04-09T18:31:00.001-04:00

Mission Blue concluded today in the Galapagos with a wonderful array of commitments to support ocean conservation. Millions of dollars have been pledged for efforts to sow the seas with protected areas – hope spots – in fulfilment of oceanographer Sylvia Earle’s wish. Among many great ideas, these funds will help protect the Arctic as the ice retreats, support efforts to create the world’s largest marine protected area in the Sargasso Sea, campaign to eliminate harmful subsidies that fuel overfishing, and spread the word to children about the wonders of the seas, and their urgent need for protection.

I last came to the Galapagos Islands ten years ago to look at the design of the new zonation scheme for the marine park. Would enough be protected? Would it work? The design was good, although some habitats like offshore waters remain under-represented. But it turned out that implementation was the tough part. For a time, fishers in the Galapagos declared war on the Marine Park. They even held the staff hostage and threatened to kill ‘Lonesome George’, the last survivor of his species of giant tortoise.

I am glad to say that things are much better now. The conflict has subsided and from what I have seen underwater, the marine reserves are well protected and full of big fish. Mission Blue will help to cement this success. Participants will donate a million dollars to complete a world class surveillance and enforcement program for the Galapagos Marine Park. What a way to finish this voyage.

Photo: Charlie Zielinski, Marine Photobank

More than 1%

2010-04-08T15:06:00.000-04:00

Presentations given at Mission Blue by speakers of such repute as Jeremy Jackson, Daniel Pauly and Enric Sala show that the condition of the oceans is getting worse rather than better in many places. But there has also been good news. Enric highlighted the extraordinary Kingman Reef from the Line Islands in the Pacific, which has no land and has never been fished. There the weight of predatory fish outweighs that of herbivores and others by 5.7 to 1. He showed images of a reef so packed with sharks, jacks, groupers and snappers that it took my breath away. This is truly a ‘hope spot’ as Sylvia Earle calls such places.

Another hope spot much talked about here has been the UK Government’s recent decision to create the world’s largest marine protected area – and largest no-take reserve by far – bang in the middle of the Indian Ocean. At the heart of this reserve are the reefs and islands of the Chagos, most of them uninhabited. This announcement creates another hope spot for the planet. A place that through its sustained future health and vitality, could help to buffer other places in the Indian Ocean from the stresses imposed by growing tide of humanity and climate change. The announcement takes the area of the oceans protected above 1% for the first time in history (which also highlights that we have a lot more work to do!).

The UK Government’s decision is welcome. In a bold move, they chose the strongest protection option. In truth, it would have been hard to justify the other options, whereby the protected area would be paid for on the back of a tuna fishery that has, until now, brought harm to the open ocean wildlife of the Chagos.

Here in the Galapagos, Mission Blue had a rare treat. From the inflatable boats we got a close up view of a male and female killer whale attacking a turtle. Their black fins scythed through the curling face of a lifting breaker as they struck. Against the backdrop of Isabella Island’s dark volcanic flank, there can be few grander sights in the world.

Photo: Rod Mast, Marine Photobank

Mission Blue, Galapagos - Day 1

2010-04-06T12:25:00.000-04:00

I am Callum Roberts, Board Member of Seaweb and marine conservationist from the University of York in the UK, blogging from aboard the National Geographic Endeavor in the Galapagos. For the next four days, this ship will host a remarkable meeting of minds to try to find solutions to the ills of our seas.

Mission Blue, as it is called, is part of the fulfilment of the world famous oceanographer Sylvia Earle’s TED Prize wish: “I wish you would use all means at your disposal — films! expeditions! the web! more! — to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas, hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.” Sylvia has convened a meeting of some of the best minds in ocean science and conservation to share ideas with some highly creative people from the worlds of the film, publishing, art, business and philanthropy. It is hoped that this coming together will stimulate new thinking on ocean conservation, and will help to further Sylvia’s wish of a planet seeded with hope spots, places that will reveal new ways in which we and ocean life can flourish together.

Today I had a fascinating conversation with Peter Tyack from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution about the effects of ocean noise on whales and dolphins. The oceans are no longer the ‘silent world’ that Jacques Cousteau dubbed them in his first book published in the 1950s (his son Jean Michel and granddaughter Celine are on board). Since then background noise from shipping has increased by three decibels per decade. The loudness of sounds measured on the decibel scale increases tenfold for every ten decibels. So today’s seas are around one hundred and eighty times noisier than those dived by Cousteau in the early 1950s.

Peter told me of dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, that react to approaching boats by whistling more to each other and forming tighter groups. Incredibly, they get disturbed by boats an average of once every six minutes during the day – truly urban animals. Whales get by in noisy places by shouting to each other above the din, and by changing the pitch of their calls so they are on different wavelengths to the noise produced by boats. Noisy oceans are just one way in which life has become harder for marine animals in the last century. Finding a solution to this one won’t be easy.

More from Mission Blue tomorrow.

Photo: Rod Mast, Marine Photobank

Not just bluefin - coral jewelry, too - courtesy of Japan

2010-03-30T06:19:00.000-04:00

Hello from rainy London! Thanks for reading over the last couple of weeks as we reported the at-times depressing news from Doha. I have another little tidbit to share....In addition to serving bluefin tuna sushi at their receptions in Doha, Japan also decided to shower delegates with coral tie-pins and jewelry. Nothing like being subtle. The world will be watching as these "new" management measures are put in place for bluefin (ICCAT, on the last day of the conference, if you recall, said something to the effect of, now we've really got to get our act together) and red and pink coral. Apparently, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) is supposedly going to create some new management measures for red and pink coral, but it's unclear to me exactly how. In the meantime, I fully support the Christian Science Monitor's excellent editorial that states we need an 'Endangered Species Hour' - not just Earth Hour:

"As countries prepare for the next CITES meeting in Thailand in 2013, they should not forget the marine species that were turned down this time. Grass-roots pressure can do much to push governments toward a more responsible approach to marine life management. On Saturday, when people switch off the lights at 8:30 p.m. for Earth Hour, they should also consider switching off their appetites for bluefin tuna or pink and red coral jewelry. And for longer than just an hour."

Indeed! In the meantime, keep checking back; we'll keep posting interesting/unusual tidbits as SeaWeb continues to do its part to advance ocean conservation. Thanks again to Dr. Phaedra Doukakis for her invaluable contribution to this blog during CITES. How did everyone do on the quiz?

So long Doha, and thanks for all the delicious hummus

2010-03-25T10:18:00.000-04:00

So, since we may all be a little down based on the outcomes at CoP15 , we think it might be fun to play a little game.

A message from Dr. Phaedra Doukakis, as she flew out first thing Friday morning and has been an invaluable contributor to this compilation of stories from Doha:

"Thanks, Julia, for having me here - you're brilliant! But on to the quiz:"

If you answer all the below questions correctly, you just might win an all-expense paid trip to CoP 16…

1) A species get listed under CITES when it:

a. has no/little commercial value

b. is found on land

c. is not consumed in Japan

d. All of the above

2) A species allegedly qualifies for CITES listing when:

a. It shows a decline of over 90%

b. It shows a decline to 15% of its virgin biomass

c. Trade is an important driver in its harvest and individuals have declined by 80-90%

d. None of the above

3) A species is more likely to be protected by CITES countries if it’s:

a. Grey

b. Has a tusk

c. Endemic to Africa

d. All of the above

4) CITES should list a marine species when:

a. It is managed by a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) because CITES can work hand and hand with RFMO’s to make sure illegal trade does not threaten the species.

b. Trade is major driver of exploitation (like with shark fins or with red and pink coral)

c. There are tools to monitor the trade like visual identification and genetics tools.

d. All of the above

5) CITES applies to marine species because:

a. Marine and aquatic species are mentioned in the Convention text three times.

b. Marine species are in fact ENDANGERED SPECIES and occur in trade. (in fact they make up the bulk of the wildlife trade (along with timber).

c. We depend on marine species for food, livelihood and climate

d. All of the above.

6) Marine species are listed under CITES at CoP15 when:

a. The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) supports the species’ inclusion under CITES.

b. The CITES Secretariat recommends that protection is warranted.

c. A majority of the parties vote for listing the species in question under CITES.

d. None of the above.

7) What did the Libyan delegate say at CoP15:

a. "God fears only scholars."

b. "If you have 10 cars you only drive one."

c. "Excessive consumption of shark fins causes early Alzheimers"

d. all of the above.

8) Which country is most likely to request a secret ballot at CITES?

a. Iceland

b. St. Lucia

c. Japan

d. all of the above

9) Where are you most likely to find Atlantic bluefin tuna?

a. In abundance in the Mediterranean

b. In Appendix I

c. In Appendix II

d. On the menu at a Japanese reception at CITES

10) Which of the following species WERE listed under CITES at Cop15 (gotta end on a high note, folks!):

a. Kaiser's spotted newt

b. Leaf frogs

c. Iazambohitra (Liana plant)

d. all of the above

If you answered d to all of the above, go out and reward yourself by making smart, sustainable choices about the seafood you eat and the jewelry that you wear. Then go take a swim and marvel at all of the beautiful creatures in our ocean, and do you part to help preserve these creatures and their ecosystems.

Poor porbeagle - no marine species listed under CITES at CoP15

2010-03-25T08:37:00.000-04:00

In a shocking turn of events, the CITES parties reversed their earlier (GOOD, SOUND) decision to list porbeagle sharks, prized for their meat, under CITES Appendix II. No ban, just sound management measures in place for trade to be allowed. Obviously, this was clearly a crazy idea, once countries had a day or so to think about it, and so today in plenary, the vote was reversed. 84 were in favour of protection, 46 against and 10 abstentions. (You need 2/3rds majority for a vote to pass). The only other time this has happened was the red and pink coral vote at CoP14. Industry groups were thrilled that time, and now this time. The Japanese Fishing Association sitting in front of me broke into applause.

But let's look at it this way - many, many countries were in support of this proposal. More countries were in support of porbeagle protection, red and pink coral protection and hammerhead protection than they were against. That makes me proud of all those countries who considered the science and found it was sound, and pushed 'yes' for these species (on a related note, SeaWeb's Melanie Siggs pointed out to me that it's so odd to be voting on these species, as if we own them, and I agree). We now have to hold these industries and regulatory bodies responsible. ICCAT made a statement that said something along the lines of 'we base our decisions on sound science, we now have a clear mandate to conserve bluefin tuna." (Picture above.) When did you NOT, ICCAT? We'll be watching, and we'll be back at CoP16 if things don't start to turn around.

In the meantime, we must, as consumers, refuse to purchase red and pink coral, bluefin tuna, and none of you better be ordering any shark fin soup. There is simply no guarantee that the trade in these species is at all sustainable. Right now we need to take the precautionary approach. It's an interesting concept, countries-opposed-to-CITES-listings-for-marine species. You might want to consider it. And for the umpteenth time, these App II proposals for sharks and corals would not have been a ban on trade (the bluefin App I proposal, which DOES ban international trade, was much-deserved and needed). Perhaps if we had heeded Sweden's 19992 proposal to list Atlantic bluefin under Appendix I, we would not be where we are now. And trade in red and pink corals, for example, could have continued under Appendix II. Now it continues, regardless, unchecked and unregulated....and unsustainable - for these species and the people that depend on them.

Early Morning Doha Fish Market Visit

2010-03-25T02:23:00.001-04:00

At o'dark thirty this morning, Phaedra and I dragged ourselves to the Doha Fish Market. Very interesting indeed. Lots more tropical fish compared to what I normally see in the northern European fish markets.

Above are some gorgeous parrotfish which apparently are from "Doha." The traders, while lovely and nice, said that everything was "from Doha."

Rays, above.

A very cheery trader holding up one of his prized rays. Now, these might actually be from Doha. When I went to the Islamic museum last week, we saw a couple of cow-nosed rays in the bay.

More parrotfish...I love how they look like they're smiling. Did you know that some species of parrotfish secrete a mucous cocoon at night to mask its scent from predators? I didn't until I checked Wikipedia just now....

Groupers. According to the traders, groupers are what they call "hamour."
It's a menu item you see in almost every restaurant.

More parrotfish and a happy trader.

Needlefish. My trusty (or possibly not) Wikipedia page says that needlefish can jump out of the water at up to 38mph and tend to get excited by artificial light, so pose a threat to some fishermen, particularly in the Pacific Islands. They can get 'speared' when the fish try and jump over their boat.

A very wee shark that should still be in the water. We need Sonja Fordham from the IUCN Shark Specialist Group to tell us what kind it is.

Guitarfish! How cool are they....

Marine Species Welcome under CITES, Part Deux (heck, they're mentioned in the Convention text 3 times)

2010-03-24T09:11:00.000-04:00

Fisheries, along with timber, dominate the wildlife trade.

It's called the Convention on International TRADE in Endangered SPECIES. Not endangered land mammals, or plants, but SPECIES. (Although see this hilarious facebook page, courtesy of the End of the Line film, on new names for CITES. My nonsensical favourite is 'Couldn't Issue Tickets to an Elderly Salmon). The Convention text boasts no less than 3 specific mentions to marine species, so despite all we've heard/seen/rolled our eyes about over the past two weeks, marine species, especially those exploited for the international trade, can and should be listed under CITES. Let's not forget that there are already 100 or so marine species already on there. And yes, for those of you not living/breathing CITES, I know this is all quite nerdy, but to suggest marine species shouldn't be under CITES are fightin' words for those that have worked hard to bring these proposals here, and who believe in the effectiveness of this Convention for important conservation and socioeconomic gains.

For more on this subject, I'm turning it over to Dr. Doukakis:

Exploitation of fisheries is often driven by international demand. This is quite evident with bluefin tuna, as 80% of the Atlantic bluefin tuna caught is sent straight to Japan (think this has anything to do with their vociferous rebuttal of Monaco’s proposal to ban all international trade in this valuable fish?). Trade regulation therefore can have a positive effect on fisheries and marine conservation by controlling market availability, and DOES NOT always mean a trade ban. Instead, it allows an additional way for us to manage our marine environments. A CITES listing DOES NOT replace fisheries management.

Time and again at this meeting, we have heard that we need to “let ICCAT do its job” (bluefin) and “let GFCM (the General Fisheries Commission of the Mediterranean) manage precious coral in the Mediterranean.” Both of these bodies have failed to sustainably manage these resources. CITES can COMPLEMENT both bodies. And if the management is lacking, if trade is proven to be having an adverse impact on these species in question, a mechanism exists to limit or stop trade.

How would we otherwise detect illegal trade in fisheries products if we don’t have species listed under CITES? Say, hypothetically, only 20,000 fins from the Appendix II-listed porbeagle shark were permitted to be sustainably taken and traded (because any more than that would have hurt the population). But through CITES monitoring, it was found that 40,000 fins were being traded. We would know that the porbeagle's luck might be running out and that its fisheries should be more closely monitored and management revised to address a clear lack of compliance.

Marine species may be much more widespread and may have much higher population numbers as compared to some of the terrestrial species we usually hear about at CITES. Millions of fish may seem like a lot if the bigger picture of decline is not taken into account. And we may not have many examples of marine extinction. Are we really so thick as to think that just because marine species exist in the ocean rather on land that we will not see the same extinction as we have seen on land? Fossil record, anyone?

The sharks that are up for listing have all the right CITES bells and whistles – they meet the biological criteria, their exploitation is driven by trade, there is potential for overexploitation that would drive the populations to be listed under Appendix I, there are tools to manage the trade (see this excellent fact sheet by the Pew Environment Group for more on this). So far, the porbeagle shark has managed to sneak on (editor's note: I would argue that's because it's more often caught for its meat than for its fins, meaning that Asia has less of an interest and the lobbying against this species was less intense).

If this CITES CoP closes without listing any other marine species that clearly warrant listing, it will be a triumph of commercial interests over biological evidence. The international community must address the issues raised at this meeting so this does not happen at CoP16.

Photo: Shannon Crownover, Marine Photobank

Dozing in Doha

2010-03-24T07:57:00.001-04:00

My feeling exactly on the first day of plenary....we don't get to the species proposals until tomorrow. Right now we are going through the piles upon piles of documents that were tweaked/parsed/edited agreed in Committee II and various working groups.

Thursday's plenary should be pretty exciting. This is when all species proposals that have been considered over the past two weeks can be reopened (not that they all will). I bet (fervently hope) most shark proposals will be reopened (except for perhaps spiny dogfish). Keep your fingers crossed that a) porbeagle remains listed (I bet some crafty opposing countries will be trying to get this ONE LONE GOOD DECISION on marine species here at CoP15 reversed) and b) that hammerheads can get the necessary votes to reverse Tuesday's decision. Most hammerheads are caught (on purpose or as bycatch to supply the lucrative fin trade) so this would go a long way in addressing the unregulated shark fin trade. And the ever-brilliant Dr. Phaedra Doukakis (who as I type is doing an interview for ABC's Moscow bureau on her recently released sturgeon paper which shows that sturgeon are more endangered than any other group of animals) told me that DNA analysis on fins is increasingly easy to do (and I believe one of the country interventions yesterday said that DNA analysis was becoming more affordable and available).

Meet IndyAct

2010-03-24T07:21:00.001-04:00

Over the course of the past two years, sorry, I mean two weeks, that I've spent here in Doha, I have been thoroughly impressed with an NGO called IndyAct. They are based out of Lebanon, and are active in nine Arab and Gulf State countries. IndyAct's executive director and deputy director have worked around the clock these past couple of weeks on the marine proposals up for consideration at CITES. They even helped me translate our red and pink coral event invitation into Arabic, so I have to especially thank them for that (Arabic is such a pretty language).

They're all about the power of the individual, and work on climate, ocean, pollution and women's rights issues. So a big thank you to IndyAct, for all their help over the past couple of weeks, and good luck on your campaigns. I'm sure our paths with cross again, hopefully in the near future.

Even Doha hotels love elephants

2010-03-23T12:15:00.001-04:00

Yesterday the CITES parties voted to keep the African elephant on Appendix I and did not approve a one-off ivory sale (studies have shown that in recent years, poaching and illegal ivory sales in Africa are on the rise; a one-off ivory sale probably wouldn't have helped). So the CITES parties love elephants....and my hotel does, too. And this elephant really likes my glasses.

The FAO panel is providing political cover, nothing more (for the moment)

2010-03-23T09:24:00.000-04:00

The FAO ad-hoc advisory panel on commercially-exploited aquatic species for consideration under CITES. Still with me or did you fall asleep? Yes, it's a long title for what is essentially a panel. And this will be a heavy post. But holy endangered species, there is A LOT of emphasis (for better or for worse) on the panel's recommendations when you start talking CITES.

A quick refresher on FAO. It's the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. It has a dedicated fisheries and aquaculture department whose mission is to "facilitate and secure the long-term sustainable development and utilization of the world's fisheries and aquaculture." FAO attempts to promote solutions to advance this mission, and a great deal of its work is monitoring, collecting and analyzing data from the world's fisheries and fish farming productions (see its SOFIA report). Its relationship with CITES has been contentious at times, because of a Memorandum of Understanding that was adopted between FAO and CITES in July 2006. The MOU essentially said that FAO and CITES should coordinate their efforts better, since a lot more marine species were increasingly being put forward for CITES protection (the need for FAO input on marine issues was first raised in 1997 at CoP10).

So from this MOU it was agreed that FAO would convene a bunch of experts to weigh in on the marine species being proposed for a CITES listing that could help guide the parties' decisions. They released their first panel report before CoP13 and so far have weighed in on the following marine species: (I've noted after each one whether or not the FAO felt the proposal met the CITES criteria and thus warranted listing, and if they received protection under CITES).

CoP13:
- white shark, Appendix II (no FAO support, received CITES protection)
- humphead wrasse, Appendix II (FAO support, received CITES protection
- Mediterranean data mussel, Appendix II (no FAO support, received CITES protection)

CoP14:
- Porbeagle shark (no FAO support, did not receive CITES protection)
- Spiny dogfish (no FAO support, did not receive CITES protection)
- Sawfish (FAO support, received CITES protection)
- European Eel (FAO support, received CITES protection)
- Banggai Cardinalfish (no FAO support, did not receive CITES protection)
- Brazilian spiny lobster (no FAO support, proposal withdrawn at CoP14)
- Red and pink coral: (no FAO support, did not receive CITES protection)

CoP15: ( some of these could get brought back in plenary)
- Porbeagle shark (FAO support, received CITES protection)
- Spiny dogfish (no FAO support, did not receive CITES protection)
- Oceanic whitetip shark ( support, did not receive CITES protection)
- Hammerhead sharks (FAO support, did not receive CITES protection)
- Bluefin tuna (FAO support, did not receive CITES protection)
- Red and pink coral: (no FAO support, did not receive CITES protection)

What's interesting to me is that the opinion of the panel feels all but useless at this meeting. If the panel supported a species being listed (hammerhead, bluefin spring to mind), once upon a time at CoP14, the parties would go almost exclusively on that recommendation. Not so at CoP15. In fact, the hypocrisy of the parties is reaching new....highs? lows? China and Japan railed against all marine proposals - the only time they invoked the FAO panel was if the FAO panel felt they did not meet the criteria. Opposing countries conveniently forgot, when making their interventions on hammerheads, bluefin and whitetips, that the FAO concluded that the species in question did warrant listing. So at this meeting, the FAO panel recommendations have provided convenient political cover at best (corals, spiny dogfish), and have been completely ignored at worst (all others).

Wow, that was a heavy post - you deserve a medal if you stuck that one out. Don't worry, I'm going to be posting pictures of elephants made out of towels and Middle Eastern malls next.

Porbeagle sharks are poor no more (Stop the presses, CITES passes something)

2010-03-23T08:28:00.000-04:00

More on all this later, but just a quick update: hammerheads and oceanic whitetip sharks were denied international trade protection this morning at CITES (these proposals were supported by the US and the Pacific nation Palau). Just now, CITES parties voted IN FAVOR (wow, that is the first time I've typed those words on this blog) of trade protection for the porbeagle shark. 2nd time is a charm for porbeagle (they were proposed for protection in Appendix II in 2007 and were shot down).

The EU put forward the porbeagle proposal. I can only assume that the EU was more coordinated in its efforts to effectively lobby for this proposal, countering the lobbying efforts of Japan and China, compared to the efforts of the US on behalf of hammerheads and whitetips.

Hell, No-Ha: Hammerheads and whitetip sharks suffer at hands of CITES delegates

2010-03-23T04:16:00.000-04:00

Despite clear support from speakers on the floor here at CITES CoP15 in Doha, trade protection for hammerhead sharks was narrowly defeated (75 in favour, 45 against, 14 abstentions - just 5 votes shy of a 2/3rds majority!). Unbelievable. Let's remember that these amazingly distinctive and beautiful sharks are killed the world over to supply global - ie Chinese - demand for shark fin soup. They do not fall under the purview of any Regional Fishery Management Organization (RFMO). Hammerhead fins are some of the most valuable fins found on the global market - and according to the Pew Environment Group, comprise about 6% of the fins entering the HK market. Scientists have extrapolated from this data that 1.3 to 2.7 million hammerheads are killed for the fin trade. EVERY YEAR. No wonder Glenn Sant from TRAFFIC is calling this decision a "conservation catastrophe."

ICCAT, an RFMO that is supposed enforce measures for the conservation of sharks, while they target other species, said on the floor that "they have not adopted any specific conservation measures for hammerheads." Thanks for that clarification, ICCAT. We figured as much, given the poor state of these species. Time and again, opposing countries are playing the 'RFMO vs. CITES' card. CITES and other management bodies are not mutually exclusive. They are complementary.

Time and again, for red and pink corals and now for sharks (both proposed for Appendix II, meaning trade is ALLOWED but must be proven SUSTAINABLE. Sorry for the CAPS but I figure that if I keep writing it, people will actually start to understand it), countries are talking about the effect that a listing would have on local communities. By effects, I hope they mean ensuring livelihoods and sustainable management, like New Zealand pointed out in their absolutely cracking intervention. Sadly, they do not. Despite the fact that the majority of CITES listed species fall under Appendix II (meaning that every day, countries trade in App II species and address any implementation concerns), when it comes to marine species, opposing countries evoke the 'App II = a trade ban' card.

Finally, it wouldn't be a marine species proposal up for consideration without some input from the Libyan delegate. Today's offering: 'God only fears scholars.'

Japan - only one to blame?

2010-03-22T17:09:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling a lot of ire for Japan and their 50+ strong contingent at CITES this week and last. I've given the stink-eye to the Japanese Fishing Association sitting in front of me in Committee 1, and have glared at the Japanese Leather Traders Ass [ociation.] to my right. (Its placard really does stop after the 's'.) I even had a line in a blog post earlier today that said Sapporo used to be one of my favorite beers, but now it has a distinctive 'endangered species' aftertaste. (I deleted it because I don't want to be disappointed AND broke - because I've been sued). I still love you, Sapporo!

But Japan is not the only one to blame for the lack of protection for bluefin and corals and corals at this meeting. As a country, they are certainly very powerful when it comes to marine species and have a lobbying machine that has to be seen to be believed, but it's important to remember that they are just ONE vote among many - and a two/thirds majority vote is needed to get something passed at a CoP. Yes, yes, I know they lobby the other countries, increasing their vote count, but we cannot solely blame them for the lack of progress on marine species protection at this meeting. More on this tomorrow (what do Japanese consumers think about their country's hawkish stance?) and more thoughts from Dr. Doukakis on CITES and marine species - Part Deux (check out Part 1 below). P and I were talking this evening - are CITES countries biased against listing species that are consumed for food? Food (see what I did there?) for thought.....

Marine wildlife welcome - Part 1 (more wise words from Dr. Doukakis)

2010-03-22T16:58:00.000-04:00

Contrary to what some are saying at the 15th Conference of Parties, CITES SHOULD protect marine species. Unfortunately at this meeting, Doha has been given the tag “No-ha,” as no marine species proposals have been accepted (we do have 8 species of sharks that have yet to be considered, so there is some hope). The discussions so far at this meeting have revolved around the question, “is CITES irrelevant and/or too hard to implement for marine species?” The answer is a resounding NO.

Contrary to the detractors, conservation of fish is NOT only about production; it is in fact also about preservation of species and marine ecosystems, and, because we’re talking about CITES, it also has to do with TRADE. Fish are some of the most heavily traded wildlife commodities in the world. Marine environments and wildlife matter just as much as land-based places and animals. Just because we can’t always see the fish - or the corals, for that matter - they’re still there, providing services to ecosystems as well as to people and industries). Extraction and trade matter equally in both wet and dry environments

As folks like Carl Safina have noted, we often refer to taking fish out of the ocean as a “harvest.” This implies that fish populations are somehow like fields of crops that we can completely harvest and replant. There are multiple examples where this approach and mindset have miserably failed the species and the communities that depend on them, cod and sturgeon for a start.

These examples have ended in tragic consequences for fishermen, ecosystems and communities. History and science has shown that we cannot just “harvest” as much fish as we want. And what about other marine species?

Think of precious corals that support some of the slowest-growing “fisheries” known to man. A recent study of Mediterranean and Pacific coral scientists found that: "given the nature of the [precious coral] exploitation, the terms ‘harvesting’ and ‘fishery’ inaccurately imply a renewal of the resource, which in reality rarely occurs. In management terms, the majority of fisheries can more precisely be characterized as ‘coral mining’. "

We have to manage what we take out of the ocean, leaving some for other species and allowing the fish and other organisms to play their role in the ecosystem.

IUCN red list assessment for red and pink corals?

2010-03-22T09:08:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, during the US and EU's discussion of its red and pink coral proposal (which failed to receive the 2/3rds majority needed to pass, despite receiving a simple majority), many of the views expressed by the opposing countries mentioned the fact that red and pink corals "weren't even on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." As if the fact that red and pink corals weren't on the List meant that all is fine. Today, I attended an IUCN press briefing on marine issues at CITES and Agence France Presse's Marlowe Hood asked the burning question, "Why haven't Coralliidae (red and pink corals) been assessed and are there plans to do an IUCN assessment of these species?

The amazing and prolific Kent Carpenter of IUCN and Old Dominion University responded. The reason that red and pink corals aren't on the IUCN red list is because they HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO DO AN ASSESSMENT YET. It was a completely erroneous argument by Japan and other opponents, and by the IWMC World "Conservation" Trust.

Other points made by Kent:
- 5 years ago, only 1% of IUCN red list species were marine.
- IUCN is due to assess over 20,000 marine species over the next five years
- All stony corals have been assessed and 1/3 were found to be threatened with extinction

My guess is that if red and pink corals are assessed for the IUCN Red List, they would be found 'vulnerable' or 'threatened with extinction.'

So my question is, now that this has been raised, can IUCN commit to doing a Red List assessment of precious and/or deep-sea corals? I know you only have a few thousand other species to consider, but if you could bump red and pink corals to the top of the list, we'd all appreciate it.

Where's all the bluefin going?

2010-03-22T02:05:00.000-04:00

It's going to feed delegates at No-ha, apparently. A contact of mine in a delegation that shall remain nameless told me that last night at the official Japanese reception (which many delegates were required to attend), they were serving Atlantic bluefin tuna. Worst of all, the queue for the bluefin sushi was LONG. Truly disgusting and shameful. Remember that this fish is rated AVOID by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's seafood watch list, and countless others. I can only assume Japan was basking in the glow of their wins with bluefin and coral (their top two priorities at the CoP) being defeated. I wonder now if some of their 50+ strong delegation will be leaving?

So, Japan has held two receptions (that we know of) at CoP15 and they have served bluefin tuna at each event. (Remember the first reception was, as we understand it, impromptu, timed to clash directly with Pew/Oceana's sharks reception. All head of delegations were invited.)

A few examples of country interventions in No-ha, I mean Doha

2010-03-21T16:08:00.001-04:00

Anyone want to have a guess as to which country made these interventions in the name of bluefin?

“Ignorance should disappear once everything appears as it should appear... Maybe you can have 10 cars, but you can only drive one car. Maybe you can have many fleets, but they are not going to work at the same time. There are many things related to the species, one thing is fishing, the other thing is trading...Monaco is trying to tell lies, and this will have a bad impact on our interests... Tuna is not a stupid animal, it is an intelligent fish. That is why they have gone back to the poor nations... [insert translator laughing]... If you are not sure about something, don’t step forward until you get all the necessary evidence. If you are not capable of being with people or cannot be a referee, don’t do that. You are a liar and you are not telling the truth. This goes for the EU... There are 5-6 million species as Japan said [Japan had actually said there are 5-6 million bluefin tuna fish left], and we have to study those 5 million species for 5 million years until we can reach any conclusions. In conclusion, I want to go into voting because there is no harmony here. I call for voting to reject the [Monaco Appendix I] proposal immediately.... Let's go to vote now!"

I am still amazed by the support on the floor of the FAO panel advice for corals despite FAO being thoroughly dismissed in the bluefin discussion. The industry hijacked these discussions on species under threat and, for bluefin tuna and red and pink coral, the best thing you can do is BOYCOTT both. With the overruling of meaningful trade protection, consumers have the power. Jewelers and designers who care about the ocean environment and the future of coral should leave coral in the ocean where it belongs. Maybe one day (hopefully before it's too late), we'll see meaningful international trade protection for corals and bluefin passed, but right now none exists.

This CoP still has the opportunity to lose its No-Ha tagline (thanks again, member of a delegation which shall remain nameless, for that brilliant tag). Eight species of sharks are up for listing (elephants first on Monday, then sharks). Japan doesn't really have dedicated shark fisheries (meaning they're just opposed generally to something that swims in the ocean receiving more stringent protection) so these species may get a chance at protection.....watch this space. More guest blogging coming from Dr. Phaedra Doukakis soon.

Trade in red and pink coral to continue unchecked

2010-03-21T10:10:00.001-04:00

This CoP should be called No-ha, instead of Doha. Red and pink coral protection voted down after intensive lobbying efforts from the coral trade industry. We heard that after bluefin, this was the proposal that Japan was most keen to see defeated. Final vote count was 64 in favor, 59 against and 10 abstentions, with a total of 133 countries voting. That's no 2/3rds majority. So think twice before purchasing (actually, just don't purchase it, full stop) any red and pink coral - who knows where and how it was harvested? And those that are supplying it clearly don't care about meaningful protection.

The US and EU did a great job. Tom Strickland of the US introduced proposal 21 (see photo), and then the opposition were off and running. Libya, Singapore, Vanatu, Malaysia, Iceland, Japan, Morocco, Tunisia, Indonesia all spoke out against. Croatia, Iran, UAE, and EU all supported. Thank you Iran! SeaWeb's Kristian Teleki made the only NGO intervention and did a SMASHING JOB, pointing out that the EU and US proposal was not a ban on trade, that capacity building in the range states could have taken place if an Appendix II was put in place, and that if there is no RESOURCE, there is no INDUSTRY, LIVELIHOODS OR FUTURE for these coral artisans and workers. It's not rocket science.

The coral proposal got some attention (the wrong kind, I might add) from the Libyan representative as well. My favorite part of his intervention was him giving FULL CREDIT to the flawed FAO analysis, imploring all the countries to follow the FAO's advice on coral (they didn't support). Because just three days ago, he railed against the FAO analysis for bluefin, saying there was no basis to support the propsal.

Guest Post on Hammerheads by Dr. Phaedra Doukakis - Shark-infested waters at CoP15

2010-03-21T07:51:00.001-04:00

Dive underneath the waters here at CoP15 and you’ll find lots of voracious predators amongst the coral and tuna. But back to the proposals…sharks will take center stage in the coming days and it’s the first time in history that we have this many sharks on the line. And for good reason. The fin trade is a big reason why sharks are declining globally. One group of sharks on the agenda, the hammerheads significantly contribute to the global fin trade. Their fins are particularly yummy, I’m told, because they have lots of fibers (and who doesn’t need a little more fiber, right?). A recent report showed that the trade in scalloped hammerhead fins was globally-sourced and that many fins in Hong Kong markets trace back to depleted Western Atlantic stocks. So, international trade monitoring would this do a lot to manage these sharks. Hammerheads are particularly vulnerable given their gestation periods similar to humans (8-12 months) and slow population growth rates. And stocks have declined 90-98% in some regions.

Some years ago, I worked on shark fisheries in a tiny little bay in northeastern Madagascar. At that time I remember being shocked by the fact that the remote place supported a large shark fin fishery. Several rounds of DNA analysis later I came to find that the bulk of this fishery was hammerheads. Amazing how far-reaching our impact on our oceans can be! An Appendix II listing would give us the tools to control shark fisheries in Madagascar and elsewhere by monitoring the number of fins in trade. In turn, we can prevent the global collapse of fisheries and ecosystems that could occur through removal of top predators. We, like the hammerheads, can have 360 degree vision by providing more protection at CoP15 for these majestic creatures.

Thanks for reading!

2010-03-21T04:44:00.001-04:00

Thanks for reading! Glad you're a fan of the blog.

Don't Kill Us, We Are At Work

2010-03-21T03:00:00.000-04:00

Indeed. I think we all hope this when we're at work, no? This is my favourite Doha road sign. And it's a sentiment I'm thinking for tomorrow - don't kill us, CITES delegates....grant some protection for red and pink coral. Yes, I know it's a tenuous link, but it's 12:30am Doha time and it's all I've got at the moment.

Will be blogging/tweeting about the outcome as soon as I'm able. Corals should be having their moment in the Doha sun about 2pm local time.

LOBBYING OVER RED AND PINK CORAL REACHES FEVER PITCH IN DOHA

2010-03-20T18:00:00.000-04:00

Red and pink coral, prized for jewelry and home décor, are among the least known species being discussed at the 15th Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), taking place this week in Doha, Qatar. However, behind the scenes there is considerable lobbying by those who want to see this unique and valuable marine resource protected from unregulated trade, and coral industry representatives who fear any trade controls may force them out of business.

The Doha conference meeting has focused primarily on bluefin tuna and sharks, which are being proposed for Appendix I and Appendix II trade protection. While the bluefin tuna proposal was overwhelmingly defeated on Thursday, sharks and corals still have a chance at trade protection. Meanwhile intensive lobbying, side events, and distribution of materials by the coral industry with inaccurate information have occurred; all this activity is over 32 little-known, but extremely valuable deep-sea red and pink coral species, known as the Family Coralliidae.

Red and pink corals are long-lived, slow growing deep-sea coral species that are drastically different from their tropical water coral reef cousins. Over 30-50 metric tons of Coralliidae are harvested annually from the Mediterranean and the Pacific to meet consumer demand, yet there are no international trade protections to ensure these species can sustain such intense trade. All stony tropical reef corals have been protected under the Convention since the 1980s. Increased fishing pressure on Coralliidae species has resulted in serial depletion of populations around the world, prompting some coral scientists to say that: "given the nature of [red and pink coral] exploitation, the terms ‘harvesting’ and ‘fishery’ inaccurately imply a renewal of the resource, which in reality rarely occurs.” The United States and European Union have submitted a proposal at the 15th Conference of Parties to CITES to protect red and pink coral. Trade would still be allowed, but would have to be proven sustainable.

Kristian Teleki, vice president of science initiatives with SeaWeb said Coralliidae populations are under pressure from unregulated trade: “Red and pink corals are the most valuable and widely traded of all deep-sea corals. They’ve been intensively fished for centuries and populations are struggling as a result. An Appendix II CITES listing will ensure greater monitoring and protection of these species, to ensure their populations remain strong and continue to play an essential role in the marine ecosystem.”

In a recent piece by broadcast news network Al Jazeera, the Italian artisans and businesses who support a USD$230 million-a-year industry expressed concern that a CITES Appendix II listing for red and pink coral will force them to give up a livelihood that has deep historical and cultural roots. But Italian conservationists note that continued overharvesting of red and pink coral could be the real industry killer. Italy, once the world’s capital of the luxury red coral trade, is now sourcing 70% of its coral from the Pacific, where destructive fishing practices such as dredging are regularly used.

“During this meeting we have heard a great deal about bluefin tuna, sharks and the lobbying involving these species,” added Teleki. “What we haven’t heard is that similar industry interests are also attempting to thwart any protection for red and pink coral. In reality, this monitoring of the trade can help protect these species, as well as the people and livelihoods that depend on them. SeaWeb urges countries to ignore the propaganda and listen to the science and vote in support of the Coralliidae proposal. This may be these species’ last chance to receive any sort of meaningful protection.”

CITES parties will vote on the United States and European Union’s proposal on Sunday, March 21 in Doha, Qatar.

But what about the button lights?

2010-03-19T04:17:00.000-04:00

So, just to clarify what happened yesterday - was it only yesterday? The two votes on the bluefin proposal (1 - the EU proposal which weakened the original Monaco proposal, and the only proposal that the EU member states actually had approval from their governments to vote on, and 2 - the original Monaco proposal which called for an immediate Appendix I listing) were both secret ballots. Iceland had originally requested the secret ballot on one of the votes, but it wasn't clear that it would have applied to BOTH votes. I was hoping that one of the vote counts would have been published, but I just heard from a source within the NZ delegation that the CITES bureau (group that rules on procedural issues at CoPs) have ruled that both votes were indeed secret.

The BBC is also reporting that the UK and possibly other EU member states voted in support of the Monaco proposal - which they didn't have approval to do as the EU only supported their watered-down version of the Monaco proposal. Officially the EU abstained from the 2nd vote. But since it was a secret ballot, we'll never really know.

What I forgot to mention yesterday was that when Iceland made a motion for a secret ballot, Jordan jumped in (Jordan sits near Japan) and said that some technical adjustments were needed, because when a country makes their vote, the button of their choice (yes, no, abstain) blinks for 30 seconds. So it would have been pretty obvious, at least in their immediate area, how Jordan had voted (worried about what Japan would have seen, Jordan?) The chair of Committee 1, however, put Jordan's worries to rest, saying that the technicians had already thought of that - when a secret ballot is called, ALL the buttons will blink for 30 seconds, no matter which button is pushed. Well, thank goodness for that. We're sentencing an iconic species to extinction but WHAT ABOUT THE BUTTON LIGHTS?

Probably the worst part of the whole vote was the CLAPPING after both proposals were defeated. To to be fair, I think the whole NGO contingent - sorry, I mean the conservationist NGOs, as there are plenty of "sustainable use" NGOs that lobbied hard against both proposals and were clapping right along with the fishing nations - would have stood up and cheered if either one of these proposals had passed and/or if it had been sent to a working group. The press is reporting that it could still be brought back in plenary next Thursday, but I really don't see how. The proposals were so soundly defeated; normally any proposal brought back has to be very, very close. We shall see.

WHAT THE HECK EU? (and Japan definitely served bluefin last night at their reception)

2010-03-18T18:02:00.000-04:00

The Japanese media scrum was happening RIGHT where our coral reception was supposed to take place. I didn't think they would leave. Pictures above. But we rallied and had a great turnout. Dr. Andy Bruckner of NOAA, Ernie Cooper of TRAFFIC and Kristian Teleki of SeaWeb did a great job of convincing the crowd that despite industry concerns, red and pink coral need and warrant international trade protection. But what about sharks? Do those 8 species have a fighting chance on Sunday? John Cigliano from the US delegation seems to think so. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Bluefin tuna trade protection defeated overwhelmingly. A sad day in Doha.

2010-03-18T09:48:00.000-04:00

The final vote count for the Monaco proposal to list bluefin tuna under CITES Appendix I.

20 in favour, 68 against, 30 abstentions. Trade protection for #bluefin tuna defeated. What a sad day. The head of the Libyan delegation went on an absolute rampage. Iceland requested a secret ballot. There were actually 3 votes: 1st vote on whether or not to continue the debate - rejected. 2nd vote: the EU proposal, which had requested a listing to go into effect in May 2011 and wanted the Animals Committee of CITES to play a role and 3rd vote: the Monaco proposal to list under Appendix I.

Got to go get ready for our event tonight but more later. See above the crazy pic of Libya protesting against every word of the Monaco proposal.

Polar bear frozen in place

2010-03-18T04:55:00.000-04:00

Polar bear did not receive the two-thirds majority vote needed to get an uplisting from Appendix II to Appendix I (headline of this blog courtesy of Dr. Phaedra Doukakis). Bluefin still going this afternoon....

Red Coral in the News; Polar Bears on Deck

2010-03-17T17:28:00.000-04:00

SeaWeb's very own Kristian Teleki was interviewed by Al Jazeera today for a fantastic red and pink coral story. Kristian did the live satellite feed after the news package was broadcast. Great piece on the fear within the industry over the potential CITES listing, but as WWF points out in the piece, coral is disappearing in the Mediterranean and things have to change. A CITES listing is the best hope for the industry. But they don't see it that way. In fact, they've distributed no less than 3 documents that are borderline slanderous, claiming the proposal is a "cut and paste job gone wrong," that populations all over the world are probably fine, and that local management of red and pink coral is just dandy! Oh, if only it were true.

The Pew/Oceana/Save Our Seas event was tonight at the Sheraton. Unfortunately, we got word that Japan bussed off all the head of the delegations over to the Japanese embassy where they ALLEGEDLY served bluefin tuna. Nice! No matter, there was still great representation at the event. Sylvia Earle spoke and also a minister from the Maldives, who was excellent. Oh and I met Nick Clark from Al Jazeera, who is quite the charmer. Next up is SeaWeb's Coralliidae reception (Al Dafna Foyer, just outside Committee 1) with guests Dr. Andy Bruckner from NOAA and Ernie Cooper from TRAFFIC. Be there or be square.

Sharks on Al Jazeera today; Coral on Wednesday

2010-03-16T16:32:00.001-04:00

Absolutely fantastic piece here by Al Jazeera on shark finning (who knew UAE supplies the world with 10% of its shark fins?) I could only find the text version but just watched the broadcast piece and it's fantastic. Here's another great shark fin piece (video), by the same journalist, Nick Clark. Al Jazeera will be running a story on red coral and CITES tomorrow, and will be interviewing SeaWeb at 12pm Doha time, from the CITES CoP. Watch this space!

Nothing to do with CITES but the strangest thing I've seen in Doha so far

2010-03-16T13:17:00.001-04:00

Saw these strange creatures at an open air market last night. If you can't tell, these are dyed baby bunnies and chickens. As I took this picture, a dad was buying a yellow and green chick for his daughter.

Bluefin Thursday, Red and Pink Coral Sunday

2010-03-16T07:24:00.000-04:00

So we now know, if the chairman of the CITES Committee I is to be believed (and he is doing a very good job so no reason not to), bluefin tuna will come up for initial discussion on Thursday, and red and pink coral will be discussed on Sunday (Friday and Saturday is the weekend here, folks). This is good, because yours truly was thinking that coral might come up today and I would like more time to have some good chats with delegates about why trade protection for red and pink coral is necessary (someone in the CITES Secretariat told a member of the U.S. delegation that the Coralliidae proposal was the best one he'd ever seen).

In other news, a very uncontroversial sharks resolution (more monitoring, review of taxonomy, encouragement of national plans of action for shark fisheries - all good, sensible stuff, RIGHT?) did not pass - and only around 98 countries were actually in the room to vote. There are a 175 countries party to CITES. This means that there is a ways to go before any marine species proposal is actually in the clear....

Turning Japanese

2010-03-15T09:47:00.000-04:00

Check out this AFP story about the Japanese lobbying taking place. Monaco's ambassador (Monaco has proposed the bluefin listing) is not happy. Today has been a long day of discussions about the implementation of the Convention officially, and unofficially lots of hallway chatter about who will/won't support species proposals. We won't get to marine species until Thursday at the earliest. Coralliidae may come up Thursday as it has a supporting resolution attached to its proposal (as does bluefin) and those proposals generally go to working groups meaning......probably no days off for those who are lucky enough to care about bluefin and/or coral.

I had lunch with a representative from Bahrain who was very supportive of red and pink coral! He's a diver and has seen the declines with his own eyes....unfortunately....Bahrain is not a signatory to the Convention. Next time, Bahrain. In the meantime, see if you can get some of your neighboring countries on board, OK?

Final bit of news...the TRAFFIC ID guide to red and pink coral has arrived and looks gorgeous. Even better, it clearly addresses the concerns around implementation of red and pink coral under CITES.

Votes in Qatar

2010-03-15T02:51:00.000-04:00

Interesting first voting result in Qatar. A test vote of the question "is the CITES conference in Qatar" resulted that out of 92 countries in the room, only 54 voted yes. To be fair, it IS a tough question. I don't really know where I am, having spent most of the past three days in a windowless conference room. Does this bode well for actual species proposals? Plus, only 92 COUNTRIES? 175 countries are party to CITES. I understand there are only 120 or so parties actually registered (and Japan seems to have just about that many of their own delegates).

I also think there's going to be a bit of a Florida-type debacle when it comes to voting. On the voting panels (see picture) 2 = yes, 3 = no, 4 = abstain. Slightly confusing, as indicated by the vote above.

Best giveaways at CoP15 so far

2010-03-13T13:57:00.000-05:00

IFAW had some stuffed tigers that were going quick and fast - I think every delegate with a child under 10 had those snapped up before anyone else even had a chance. The CITES/Doha baseball hat moved less quickly. Hats off (see what I did there?) to WWF's Gemma Parkes who organised the International Herald Tribune's 'Tuna Edition' (above left).

But CLEARLY the best giveaway/prize/tschoke, the one that everyone is talking about, is the 'SIZE DOES MATTER' bag for Coralliidae (above) by yours truly. It's in reference to the fact that last time, at CoP14, the red and pink coral proposal was narrowly (and nastily) defeated because, among other reasons, the FAO analysis decided that there were plenty of red and pink corals in the sea and that population numbers were fine! When actually, the science shows that colony size has declined to the point that 80-90% of individuals (ie polyps, the reproductive elements of the coral) have been lost.

The official CITES delegate bags hold, among other things, a box of dates, a bunch of Doha postcards, a converter (score), a pen by Pew Environment Group (wonder how they managed that?), all the CITES CoP15 documents (amounting to a few saplings) and a partridge in a pear tree...

Where it will all shake down over the next 2 weeks

2010-03-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

CITES Kicks Off with a Bang (literally, with rifles)

2010-03-13T07:41:00.000-05:00

So far, the opening ceremony is much better than CoP14. Sorry for the poor photo quality. There is some sort of traditional dance going on - and it looks like the dancers are using rifles and/or some sort of sabre to make their points. Actually it’s definitely rifles. AND SABRES.

I am absolutely struck by all the Japanese delegates and associations here. I’m sitting right behind the Japanese Fisheries Association. There also seems to be a large Japanese contingent behind me. I hear that 80% of REGISTERED PRESS are Japanese outlets. The bluefin discussion is going to be an almighty fight. A country representative told me today that the “lobbying is already starting. Free lunches, the whole works.” It's going to be an interesting two weeks. We hear that Costa Rica, Cameroon, Australia are all supporting red and pink coral!

In Doha and ready to talk CITES!

2010-03-12T13:59:00.001-05:00

So we now know that the EU is supporting trade protection for bluefin tuna, albeit with a great many conditions that may make it hard for other countries to join in supporting the listing. Bad news is that Australia is opting to NOT support (interesting given that southern bluefin is in arguably worse shape than atlantic bluefin). But what does this all mean for sharks and corals? One member of the U.S. delegation told me in the visa line at the Doha airport tonight that all species are getting shoved to the backburner because of all the focus on bluefin. That means that when these delegates are gathering round to hammer out the details of what they will/won't support, they'll be much less informed on some of the sharks and coral issues compared to bluefin. But LUCKILY, SeaWeb will be here to MAKE SURE that countries recognize the importance of listing 32 red and pink coral species that just happen to be the most valuable and widely traded of all 5,000 + coral species. And we'll be plying you with juicy tidbits from the meeting as well....it's amazing what can happen when a bunch of environmental groups, country representatives, and trade organisations get thrown together for two weeks. I for one can't wait for the opening ceremony on Saturday. Although not sure how it will top the 'Circle of Life' montage from the Dutch government at CoP14 in 2007. Watch this space to find out.

What will the EU do on bluefin?

2010-03-05T11:27:00.001-05:00

The EU should shortly announce their position on the Appendix I listing under CITES proposed by Monaco for bluefin tuna. Actually, they should have announced it a few weeks ago but things just keep getting delayed. We're hearing that Italy (big opponent of the proposal, despite what they said a few weeks ago) is trying to rope in red coral to the bluefin tuna consideration. The EU is actually a co-sponsor of the proposal to list 32 species of red and pink coral under Appendix II and the vast majority of EU countries are in support of trade regulation for these species, bar Italy. It's a clear indication of the politics that come into play when considering protection measures for wildlife when there are commercial interests at stake. I honestly can't wait for Doha. It's could be a game changer for marine species under CITES and that gets people like me (ie, wildlife trade nerds) VERY excited. For too long they've been relegated to the back benches. CITES, when properly implemented, can be a valuable instrument to help conserve wildlife (as this excellent paper by Dr. Phaedra Doukakis shows) and trade. The science is clear for sharks, coral and bluefin. What remains to be seen is if countries remember that once these issues once the voting begins.....

A few good reasons to protect red and pink coral

2010-03-04T06:50:00.001-05:00

Here are just a few reasons why red and pink coral need international trade protection, straight from the mouths of some people who ought to know: Jewelry designer Temple St. Clair, ocean conservationist Céline Cousteau, coral scientist Andrew Baker, and Fernanda Kellogg, president of the Tiffany & Co. Foundation.

US supports bluefin ban!

2010-03-03T13:44:00.000-05:00

There is some very exciting news to report today! The United States is supporting an international ban on bluefin tuna, which could be a 'game changer for the species', as Sue Lieberman of Pew Environment Group said. Bluefin is going to be a MAJOR focus in Doha....it will be interesting to see how countries' vote on bluefin - and how they vote on other marine species up for consideration, including red and pink coral.

So what is CITES, anyway?

2010-03-03T09:26:00.000-05:00

CITES (those in the know pronounce it 'sigh-tees') is an international agreement (kind of like the Kyoto Protocol) between most countries in the world to manage/oversee/enforce regulations relating to the significant trade in wildlife products. The global wildlife trade is lucrative (worth billions of dollars annually; check out TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, for some stats) and LARGE - it includes fur, food (seafood, bushmeat, caviar, etc) herbs, timber, jewelry, curios, medicine (tiger bone wine, anyone?). As you can imagine, sometimes this has negative consequences for certain animals and plants that the global community just can't get enough of. CITES was created to ensure that this trade, useful and important to help sustain economies, particularly developing ones, does not threaten the very resource on which the trade depends. Something that you've probably all heard of that was a direct result of CITES was the 1989 international trade ban on ivory.

There are over 30,000 species of plants and around 5,000 animals listed under CITES. CITES has 3 appendixes and each one offers varying levels of trade protection from Appendix I (most restrictive, international trade is not allowed) to Appendix III (least restrictive, trade is allowed and species in question has to be identified to its country of origin). Most plants and animals are listed under Appendix II, which simply requires proof from a country that trade is not detrimental to the species in question. Species are proposed for listing under the Appendixes every 2-3 years at something called the Conference of Parties (this year it's CoP15, in Doha, Qatar). Confusingly, the Copenhagen meeting that happened in December was also the 15th CoP for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

CoPs are generally quite controversial, with clear lines being drawn amongst groups and countries, and everyone falling into roughly 3 categories: pro-trade (any trade, doesn't matter how endangered the species is!) against trade (no matter what) and somewhere in between. CoP15 will be equally exciting, without a doubt. Controversial marine (we're SeaWeb, after all) proposals up for consideration include bluefin tuna, eight species of sharks, and 32 species of red and pink coral (scientific name Coralliidae). We're in favor of all of these, but are ESPECIALLY interested in red and pink coral - we've been working on it for years, after all! After the fiasco of CoP14 in 2007 (more on that later; have to keep you coming back for more), it is high time red and pink coral receive some help from the international community.

SeaWeb blogging live from Doha

2010-03-02T12:08:00.001-05:00

SeaWeb's very own Julia Roberson and Kristian Teleki will be blogging live from Doha, Qatar, at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting. The meeting kicks off in T-minus 10 days. This is a major meeting for marine species up for international trade protection - sharks, bluefin tuna, and red and pink coral, oh my. For more information, check out SeaWeb's dedicated CITES page.