Comments on: Bycatch Claims Sea Turtles By the Millions

By: Scott A.

Scott A. — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:58:58 +0000

Well said John. Unfortunately a proper approach for reform is not quite clear. But operating under the status quo means that industry/fishermen are potentially ignoring the even greater problem when we ultimately discover one day that a species has been fully overfished…and harvesting is put on hold indefinitely. The ecosystem has a lot to lose in this situation as well as livelihoods of many. And that should be a driving factor for instituting sustainable practices and in essence should spark self regulation for the fear of maintaining jobs in the long-term. But yet again we find ourselves dominated by a culture focused on short-term and immediate gains.

Thanks for making us think a little more about it.

By: Scott A.

Scott A. — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:44:30 +0000

Thanks Cindy! It might just sound like political pandering, but comprehensive reform is what is needed as well consumer responsibility. It is so easy to ignore or overlook a situation as most of us have no idea what it took (in terms of bycatch) to get that tuna steak on our plate. We see the end result as opposed to understanding the big picture. Consumers control the marketplace and we have to speak up with our wallets and demand sustainably caught foods.

By: Scott A.

Scott A. — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:40:23 +0000

Thanks Shawn and you are in deed correct that it will not be an overnight process to rectify a situation that has been allowed to continue for so long. That’s exactly why it is important for everyone to get involved…no matter if the effort is large or small. And your conservation program is a great opportunity for making a much needed difference.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:58:48 +0000

Unfortunately it is going to take a lot of work to counter the effect that humans have on the sea turtle population. If anyone in interested in having a POSITIVE impact on sea turtles, Friends of the Osa runs a volunteer sea turtle conservation program on the beaches of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. We need all the help we can get for the upcoming nesting season (June – December)! See our website for details: http://www.osaconservation.org/Volunteer.html

Thanks!

By: ResearchBlogging.org News » Blog Archive » Editor’s Selections: Family Values & Conservation Concerns

Fri, 21 May 2010 21:03:30 +0000

[...] Turtle-exclusion-devices are one of the success stories of marine conservation. But that doesn’t mean huge numbers of turtles aren’t being accidentally killed by other fishing practices. [...]

By: Cindy BeMent

Cindy BeMent — Fri, 21 May 2010 00:16:11 +0000

Great post. I agree with John – the industry is means for many, and reporting needs to be better, but how to make it so is the challenge. And there’s no doubt that the sea turtle is a huge draw – and it’s hugely popular among KIDS, which is a great thing for its potential longevity (once we get to the point where we can even say “longevity”).
Cindy BeMent´s last blog ..Pick/Protect 21: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

By: John Carroll

John Carroll — Wed, 19 May 2010 05:19:43 +0000

It’s a sad story, and the unfortunate side effect of it is the under-reporting of by-catch. The sad part is much of these things go unreported out of fear. Fishermen work hard to try to make a decent living, and they fear regulations that will shut them down. This creates then a major problem for fisheries managers, because they aren’t getting accurate data, and especially not accurate data on non-target bycatch species. Why report a turtle caught in a trawl if the regulation is 1 turtle caught shuts down vessel operations for a certain length of time? It is quite a problem that needs to be addressed, but who knows the best way to approach it?