Diaries

A new Shark Fishing Regulation (NOM-029) for The Sea of Cortez went into effect on May 16, 2007.

This regulation opens Baja's 50 mile restricted zone to commercial longline fishing,
and permits the longline fleet to keep sport and reef fish as "by-
catch".  There are real problems with this regulation, starting with a
complete lack of a comprehensive environmental impact study.

The new NOM-029 Shark Fishing Regulation could have a devastating
effect on The Sea of Cortez.  This new regulation could
adversely affect our fish populations, the influx of tourism and the
overall quality of life in our community.  Please take the time to
read the information below.

The following is reprinted from http://www.seawatch.org/:

"NOM-029-PESCA-2006 Took Effect May 16. This new regulation was
promoted as a way to protect Shark and Ray populations from
overfishing. Instead, it permits thousands of longline fishing boats
inside parts of the Sea of Cortez that are now supposed to be
protected from commercial take.

NOM-029 was originally touted as a way to reduce the overfishing of
sharks and rays in Mexican waters. This deeply flawed regulation was
rejected by the last 2 Mexican Presidencies, but strongly supported by
commercial fishing interests.

NOM-029 will change current fishery law in ways that will have
profound effects on sharks, rays and other fish populations. Several
sections of the regulation will act as "Trojan Horses" to reverse the
intended effects of this new regulation."

The following is reprinted from a press release found on the Sea Watch
website:

"NOM-029 does not restrict by-catch, allowing all "incidental" by-
catch to be kept. By-catch runs about 60 to 80%. According to the INP
National Report in 1999 two longliners out of Magdalena Bay killed
11,743 striped marlin in 9 months. This comprised 77.5% of the total
catch. Panga longliners with shark permits from Manzanillo kill 80%
sailfish, according to INP senate testimony, and sell 150 to 200 tons
every month, according to Profepa."

The entire press release can be found in PDF format here:
http://www.seawatch.org/mail_campaign/norma_press_release.pdf

There is a movement to have NOM-029 suspended.  Please do what you can
to stop the implementation of NOM-029 until biologists can properly
assess the effects of these dramatic changes.  Take a moment to send
an e-mail note to your Mexican representatives to request a moratorium
on this profoundly destructive action.

Sea Watch has provided a simple form to send an email to many of these
representatives:
http://www.seawatch.org/mail_campaign/norma_letter.php

If you know of any additional organizations that are working to
suspend NOM-029 please share this information with our group.  Thank
you for your time.

Take care,
Clint