Monthly Archives

January 2016

Costa Rica Still Hasn’t Defined National Position with Respect to Shark Conservation

By Cocos Island Research Expedition, Sharks

Confusion! That was the result of a meeting yesterday by the Costa Rican authorities to present the position the country will adopt during the upcoming 2nd Meeting of Signatories (MoSII) of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Migratory Sharks of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), to be held in Costa Rica next February 15th to 19th. Instead of presenting the official country position, the positions of the Vice Ministry of Oceans and of the Institute of Fisheries (INCOPESCA) were presented.

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Report: Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches at Risk due to Climate Change

By Resources for the Media, Sea Turtles

Turtle Island’s new report, ‘Deadly Water: The Threat of Climate Change and Rising Sea Levels to Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches’ examines the impacts of sea level rise on major sea turtle nesting beaches for the seven species of sea turtles. The report identifies major nesting beaches that are at risk from climate change such as French Frigate Shoals in Hawaii where green sea turtles nest, and Padre Island National Seashore in Texas where Kemp’s ridley sea turtles nest.

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California’s Driftnet Fishery One of Worst in the Nation for Marine Mammals

By Got Mercury?, Marine Mammals & Seabirds, Sea Turtles, Sharks

Turtle Island Restoration Network’s new report ‘Driftnet Overview’ outlines how the California driftnet fishery for swordfish is among the most wasteful fisheries in the world in terms of bycatch (unwanted animals caught and discarded). The just-released-report examines new data that shows the driftnet fishery is a threat to marine mammals, sea turtles and sharks; targets toxic high-in-mercury fish; is a drag on California’s economy; and hampers efforts to clean up international fishing practices.

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