Greenrock On Illegal Fishing Study & Marine EEZ
“Bermuda’s EEZ should be protected” with a “no-take EEZ marine conservation area in the shape of a donut from at least 50 miles from the island to the outer reaches of our EEZ, an area in which all fishing and/or other environmental exploitation is banned,” Greenrock said.
A spokesperson said, “The world recoiled in horror as the images of Cecil the lion’s lifeless body depicted as a hunting trophy circled the world’s media and social networks.
“As global fish stocks near collapse, taking Bluefin tuna, Blue Marlin, shark or other large predators, will be no different from killing Cecil or a white rhino, only much less obvious.
“According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, 90% of the world’s fish stocks are overfished. Spotter planes, fish aggregating devices, factory ships, side and thermal-scanning undersea imaging and other developments in the commercial fishing realm are helping industrial-scale fishing operations to decimate fish stocks worldwide. The time to act is now.
“Recent Study of Illegal Fishing
“Greenrock welcomes the results of a three-year study carried out by Satellite Applications Catapult in relation to (a three year study of) potential illegal fishing in Bermuda’s EEZ that were recently shared by then Minister of the Environment Cole Simons (and echoes the thanks to Mr Cottingham and Aurum Fund Management for footing the bill).
“As relayed by Minister Simons, this second specific review, which indicated heightened fishing activity in and around Bermuda’s EEZ between November and May, is indicative of a slightly higher risk of illegal fishing. As noted, this does not include vessels which are not transmitting an AIS signal – and if international trends are anything to go by, most illegal fishing takes place by vessels that are not transmitting.
“Greenrock takes the view that, regardless of whether illegal fishing is rampant or minimal in our EEZ, Bermuda’s EEZ should be protected as part of a large-scale, forward-looking marine conservation initiative. This should take the form of a no-take EEZ marine conservation area in the shape of a donut from at least 50 miles from the island to the outer reaches of our EEZ, an area in which all fishing and/or other environmental exploitation is banned.
“The Bermuda government has now received (i) the results from the marine conservation public consultation in 2013 (in which a resounding 86% of respondents were in favour of a ‘no-take’ zone in the outer part of our EEZ); (ii) indications of support from an array of marine biologists, scientists and philanthropists, for example, the renowned Dr Sylvia Earle and Philippe Cousteau; and (iii) findings from the Catapult study. Now it is time for action.
“Greenrock looks forward to receiving more information on the new Marine Resources Enforcement Strategy mentioned by Minister Simons and hopes that it will focus on an end goal of sustainable use in the near term – something Greenrock routinely champions.
“Conservation Examples
“There are now a multitude of conservation examples which can direct us to sustainable use. There is, for example, the Blue Halo Barbuda initiative which has been so successful that Montserrat and Curacao have now followed suit.
“During his tenure as US president, President Barrack Obama increased a national marine monument in Hawaii to protect/encompass more than half a million square miles – quadrupling the initial size.
“A third example occurred in late 2016, when delegates from 24 countries and the European Union agreed that the Ross Sea in Antarctica will become the world’s largest marine protected area.
“According to the BBC’s report, approximately 1.57m sq km (600,000 sq miles) of the Southern Ocean will be spared from commercial fishing for 35 years. Environmentalists have welcomed this move to protect what’s said to be the Earth’s most pristine marine ecosystem. More needs to be done.
“Enforcement
“Detractors of greater marine conservation around Bermuda cite difficulties in enforcement as one reason not to move ahead with a no-take zone in our EEZ. This cannot be an excuse to avoid our responsible stewardship of our precious resources. Arguably the above difficulty can be addressed quite simply.
“Companies like Catapult offer real-time alerts for illegal fishing. While it may be hard for Bermuda to respond to each instance of potential illegal fishing, with help from the US Coast Guard, US Navy, Royal Navy, and non-profits like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace, local air traffic and by harnessing drone technology, Bermuda can, over time, develop a robust enforcement regime.
“Importantly, it is not crucial that the enforcement regime be in place prior to the designation of the marine conservation area. It can develop over time, becoming more effective each year.
“Conclusion
“The development of a new Marine Resources Enforcement Strategy must be combined with a Government decision to create a marine conservation area encompassing a large part of our EEZ.
“Now more than ever, we must follow the path or our forbearers, astute conservationists who began/initiated protection of sea turtles in 1620. The preservation of a vital and beautiful part of our natural environment depends on it.”
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While I understand we want all species to have sustainable populations, I don’t understand the strong protection of large predators. For example, sharks, blue marlin and harp seals all eat a lot of fish and we don’t eat them and often just discard. Yes, we do eat bluefin tuna, but I question the efficiency compared to eating their prey. Whales eat huge amounts of krill, which could be consumed by edible fish. I am confused by this.
You obviously haven’t done all your research my friend. Each specie plays a key role in every other species development no matter if it’s a shark or small fish. Shark, Blue Marline and Bluefin tuna and count less other animal specie stocks have severely declined in recent years due to human activity so why not give them a break and releases whats really going on in our environment.
Sharks eat big fish that would eat all the little fish. It’s a very delicate balance. If predators did’nt keep herbivores in check, they would overbreed and destroy their food source resulting in lower numbers in the end.
Bill: if the large predator population gets too large, then food supplies dwindle and it naturally decreases. But if it gets too small too quickly because of human overfishing and pollution, then inbreeding becomes a problem and the population can go extinct quickly.
And ‘Blue Halo’ returns.
Same response as before.
We have the laws, we need enforcement.
Greenrock should put it’s expertise and energy into coming up with an enforcement plan and doing what they can to lay the groundwork to getting it into place.
The findings were opposite: no fishing.
There is no evidence illegal fishing in the proposed area. Also, if there was fishing going on by overseas boats it’s already illegal under current laws making the proposed changes unnecessary.
It would be nice if Greenrock did something useful instead of hyping nonexistent problems.
Ann eye kahn eewen drop a line horf dee hoil ducks………………..
Morons.
” this does not include vessels which are not transmitting an AIS signal – and if international trends are anything to go by, most illegal fishing takes place by vessels that are not transmitting.”.
So the first question is, is it possible to fine and/or seize a vessel that is not transmitting an AIS signal in Bermuda waters? Second is how would you identify and apprehend a vessel illegally fishing in Bermuda waters?
If it’s possible to fine and/or seize such a vessel then maybe it would be worth the enforcement cost and maybe spare lots of fish in the bargain. I wonder what the auction price might be for a not likely new fish factory ship and the cost to repatriate its crew?
The next question is how this ban could be enforced. I suspect several millions to set up a drone program as advocated by Marc Bean. Another real option would cost millions for a truly offshore patrol vessel and crew with probably a million or more per year to keep it on station. Oh and the station is roughly 40,000 square miles in scope so probably there would be the need for several of these patrol vessels.
Gulp!
How many of these illegal vessels are in our neighborhood anyway?
What ever happened to radar?
Radar lets you know that an object is in a certain place.
It doesn’t tell you who it is and what it’s doing.
Radar is only straight line “line-of-sight”. It cannot see over the horizon. The horizon from the high-up radar tower is about 20 miles out. Our EEZ is 200 miles away.
Yes, in return for the Uighurs, the USA could at least afford to support us in protection of our environment!