University of Miami Rosenstiel School Launches Center for Sustainable Fisheries

http://news.excite.com/news/pr/000216/fl-u-of-miami-launch

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Updated 4:02 PM ET February 16, 2000

MIAMI, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- They're not warm, furry or cuddly. In fact, they're cold-blooded and covered with scales. Nonetheless they are varied in species, mysterious, beautiful and, unfortunately, increasingly threatened creatures. Most people don't even think of them as "animals." However, they are one of the most important links to man's survival -- fish.

The sustainability of the world's fisheries is linked to jobs, recreation and the health of world economies. The proponents of the planned Center for Sustainable Fisheries at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science want everyone to become "hooked" on finding solutions to sustain the numbers of many magnificent animals including sailfish, marlin, swordfish, sharks and tuna for future generations. Statistics show that at the current rate, factoring in overfishing, pollution and destruction of habitat, many species about which so little is known will be gone within 10 years.

The proposed Center's research and education efforts will mainly focus on marine animal husbandry, fisheries oceanography, stock assessment and essential fishery habitat. Several ground-breaking research activities are already underway capitalizing on the Center's location just one mile from the Gulf Stream and its close proximity to the only coral reef system in the continental U.S.

But for the sustainability of fish stocks to become one of the most critical 21st Century causes for scientists, environmentalists, activists, governments, foundations and corporations the world over to champion, the bricks and mortar development of the proposed Center is vital. Only then can all of the Center's facets work in union to find answers to the questions of sustainability.

The Center for Sustainable Fisheries stands on the threshold of providing the research needed to answer many questions concerning the severe state of the world's fisheries; however, securing funding for the Center's facilities and research efforts is critical.

Center representatives are available to discuss where their efforts are headed and welcome the opportunity for interviews. Along with their Board of Advisors, invited activists, politicians, captains of industry and donors, the Center will celebrate the start of new research missions now capable because of the Rosenstiel School's acquisition of a $4.7 million, state-of-the-art catamaran at the "Commissioning of the Advanced Research Catamaran F.G. Walton Smith and Launch of the Center for Sustainable Fisheries."

This one-of-a-kind vessel, named after the first dean and founder of the Rosenstiel School, will be commissioned on Friday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m. at the Rosenstiel School, located on Virginia Key near downtown Miami.

To attend this event or schedule interviews with key scientists, please contact Amy Federman, (305) 347-4343; Richard Gibbs, (305) 347-4374; Dawn Alexander, (202) 530-4501 or Betsy Turenne, (202) 530-4626.

Contact: Amy Federman, 305-347-4343, Richard Gibbs, 305-347-4374, Dawn Alexander, 202-530-4501, or Betsy Turenne, 202-530-4626, all of Burson-Marstellar for University of Miami

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2000

Answers

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s357.htm

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COMMERCE SECRETARY DALEY ANNOUNCES WEST COAST GROUNDFISH FISHERY FAILURE

January 19, 2000  West Coast groundfish fishermen, who face a steep drop in their harvest this year, are a step closer to getting federal relief with Commerce Secretary William M. Daley's etermination today of a commercial fishery failure for their industry.

The official determination comes after a sharp decline in catches of groundfishprincipally a wide variety of rockfishesfrom California to Washington.

"Our challenge now is to minimize economic and social impacts on fishing communities while protecting and rebuilding groundfish stocks," Secretary Daley said. "This determination is the first step in the process of securing funds from Congress to assist fishermen who have been hit hard in the past several years."

West Coast fishermen have seen catches for the entire industry go from a 20-year average of about 74,000 tons to less than 36,000 tons last year. Landings this year are projected to be about 27,000 tons.

Scientists with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, the Commerce Department agency charged with managing marine fish stocks, state the disaster is the result of undetermined, but probably natural, causes. The agency's goal has been to manage the fishery conservatively in the face of scientific uncertainty, which has resulted in reduced quotas and revenues. Factors that may have contributed to the declines include changes in ocean conditions, low productivity, and five El Niqo events since 1982.

The declines are particularly unfortunate, according to NOAA Fisheries researchers, because many of the species take a long time to mature and reproduce, making population recovery a very lengthy process.

The dock-side value of the affected groundfish fell from around $72 million in 1994 to $52 million in 1998. It is estimated that as a result of this fishery disaster determination, West Coast fishermen have suffered an $11 million loss of revenue.

"A major underlying cause for the current situation is the lack of basic scientific data about these fish," said Penny Dalton, NOAA Fisheries director. "If money is made available, we would like to work with fishermen to gather more data and improve our understanding of this valuable fishery."

There are presently no funds appropriated to assist fishermen in adjusting to the effects of the groundfish stock declines. If Congress does appropriate funds, they will likely be used by federal agencies and the states to assess the economic and social effects of the commercial fishery failure, assist individuals and communities, and support activities that would restore the fishery or prevent a similar failure in the future. Federal disaster assistance funds can fund up to 75 percent of a relief program, while the other 25 percent must come from a non-federal source, typically the affected state.

In other fishery disaster determinations, notably those for New England groundfish and for Northwest salmon fisheries, funds have been used for activities such as vessel and permit buyouts, job retraining, economic diversification, grants for cooperative research, and paying fishermen for habitat restoration work and data collection.

"West Coast fishermen have expressed interest in developing a program to buy out vessels or permits to reduce pressure on the fish stocks as they begin their recovery," said Dalton.

Under Section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NOAA Fisheries can declare a commercial fisheries disaster if requested to do so by a governor, or at the Secretary's discretion. The Secretary must determine that a fishery resource disaster resulted from either natural causes, man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers, or undetermined causes. Further, if a commercial fishery failure occurred, then it must have resulted from the fishery resource disaster.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2000

Thanks marsh.

Between the two articles, paints a sad picture doesn't it?

*Sigh*

Diane

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2000