U.N. Tackles Longlines
Costa Rica proposes moratorium on industrial longline fishing.
Where else to tackle a global fisheries problem than at the United Nations?
The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea is currently considering a proposal by Costa Rica and three other nations to halt industrial high-seas longline fishing. The miles-long gear has directly caused declines in Pacific billfish and shark populations by nearly 90 percent, as well as major reductions in endangered sea turtles and albatrosses, which frequently ingest baits on longlines.
Thousands of persons have signed a petition asking the U.N. to accept the proposal; among the supporters are 850 scientists from 83 countries and 300 conservation groups from 54 countries.
A group of school children will deliver the petitions to the U.N. on June 8, World Ocean Day.
To sign the petition and learn more about the proposal, visit www.seaturtles.org/actionalertdetails.cfm?actionAlertID=43
FS
|
OUR NETWORK: IMOUTDOORS WEBSITES
