[Coral-List] tuna caging in RMI
Silvia Pinca
milviapin at yahoo.com
Tue Aug 17 05:45:22 EDT 2004
Dear all,
once again we have a serious and sad attempt to
start a new enterprise in RMI that is not at all
attentive to the waters and corals around this
still semi-pristine country. Shark fishing picked up
2 years ago and is still running, but now they
want to start tuna caging in one of the most
pristine atolls in the country. As researchers attached
to the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) we
visited the place twice during our researches for
resource assessments and conservation. Three
years ago the government approached CMI and the
related biologists asking help for analyzing the coral
reefs of the un-inhabited atoll of Rongelap in
order to find good areas to protect and to use as
spots for what was to be developed as an
eco-tourism activity. Now, after two years of research
and reports suggesting the ideal location for MPAs
and sanctuaries, the atoll government just signed
a contract to start growing yellofin tuna in
cages, feeding it with African sardines, and
fattening it
for the sashimi market. No information on the
location for these cages, but even the passes could
be a dangerous spot, since the incoming current
would transport the feed and excreta around the
lagoon and on its corals - as a model from E.
Peterson recently presented at Okinawa suggests.
Any ideas or strong tools we can receive to try
to convince these people they are playing with a
dangerous weapon? On the side, the local
government will receive 25% of the income produced by the
US tuna caging enterprise.
Thank you all, feel free to forward this message
to appropriate lists and people,
Silvia
Silvia Pinca, Ph.D.
Marine Science Program Coordinator
College of the Marshall Islands
P.O. Box 1258, Majuro, MH 96960
ph. (692)-625-5903
ph. in Italy until March 12th: 333 597 8963
spinca at nras-conservation.org
milviapin at yahoo.com
www.nras-conservation.org
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