Canada Votes AGAINST Bluefin Ban?

If it wasn’t bad enough that Japan said it would refuse to comply with the ban, “forward thinking countries” such as Canada have VOTED AGAINST the ban! What the hell is wrong this planet? Rather than saving an entire species from being fished to extinction we’d rather save a few jobs? I know this is a touchy subject, and many people who visit this blog work in the fishing industry both recreationally and commercially, but clearly you need to have the foresight to realize that if there are no more bluefin tuna left in this world you’re still out of a job. Sure the PEI fishermen talk about conservation, but the bluefin that exist off our coasts are the same bluefin off other countries coasts. I sincerely hope that some kind of resolution is found before it’s too late.

Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea is applauding Thursday’s United Nations wildlife meeting vote rejecting a U.S.-backed proposal to ban bluefin tuna exports.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species made the right decision, said Shea. She added that responsible management practices of Canada’s bluefin fishery helped swing the vote.

Japan and scores of developing nations opposed the ban, which was proposed Feb. 5 by the panel that oversees the convention. It believed the export of Atlantic bluefin tuna — popular in sushi restaurants — has resulted in a drop of more than 80 per cent in stocks since the 19th century.

“We’re very encouraged by the preliminary results because Canada’s position all along has been that that this species should be managed through a regional fish management program, which we have in ICCAT [International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas],” said Shea. “The challenge will be to strengthen ICCAT to ensure that conservation measures are adhered to.”

Canada’s management plan is one of the best in the world, said Shea.

If Canada truly has the best management plan in the world, perhaps it’s time we helped other countries achieve the same level of natural resource management, then everyone would win. The following quote really shows that despite this “best in the world” management system we need more education and information on the actual state of these fisheries, not just the “idea” that they will be here forever. Because they won’t be.

“We’re ecstatic here. We never thought there should have been a ban and the way we fish our tuna here and our conservation measures and the way the fishermen themselves look after the stock, there really was no indication that there should be a ban whatsoever,” said Neil LeClair, P.E.I.’s fisheries minister on Thursday.

via CBC

Fishing In Taiwan

It’s hard to tell right now how much the worlds current economic state has effected the sport fishing industry. In Taiwan it certainly has. Thanks in part to the high number of unemployed, people are looking for inexpensive ways to spend they’re time, and fishing fits the bill. Its relatively cheap to buy a decent rod and reel, and bait can be found for free with a little creativity. Not only is fishing a great way to spend your day, but if you cant afford to buy food, you can hopefully catch it!

The growing number of anglers in Taiwan has helped fishing tackle business’ boom, while other retailers are failing. Maybe we’ll be seeing that little Made In Taiwan sticker on our fishing gear soon…

I don’t think North America has seen the same results from our economic downturn, but we still may. Have you noticed an increase in fishermen near you?

via Taipei Times

More Reasons Why I Hate PETA

So you’re not mislead I do believe in the ethical treatment of animals, no doubt about it. What Im not behind is a group that uses gore, immoral treatment of human beings, religion, and targets large portions of their campaigns at children. (more, more) PETA lacks any kind of common sense, taste, or cultural conscious when it comes to advertising. For instance, previous campaigns have compaired canablist and serial killer Jeffery Dahmer with pig slaughtering, or equating the butchering of chickens to the Jewish Holocaust, and parading nude at the zoo in protest of animals kept in captivity.

We go out of our way to find everyone that had anything to do with the famous “Wardrobe Malfunction”, but PETA gets away with far more disgusting things on almost a daily basis. Whats worse yet is that PETA is constantly calling for the heads of those who kill or torture animals. But, where’s that blood thirst for human life when we find out that members of PETA have been charged with 22 counts of animal abuse and have recently euthanasied over 80 dogs in Ahoskie, North Carolina alone.

Salt Lake City has recently denied PETA the ability to post an anti-fishing bilboard. Kudoz to you SLC on telling the immoral minions of “animal rights” to get lost.

“If you wouldn’t do this to a dog, why do it to a fish?”

This certainly isn’t the first time PETA has attacked the sport fishing industry (more), and probably not the most vulgar either. How about a campaign of comic books that obviously target children, Daddy Kills Animals. Of course PETA is always quick to defend itself. “We would never use shock tactics with children; it wouldn’t be right.” However the truth is that not only are they targeting your children, they’re using them too.

Just so you remember, September 24th is “Fish Amnesty Day”, which also happens to be the day before my birthday. So please, take the kids fishing.

Update: Make that 25 charges of animal cruelty which includes 3 felony charges for obtaining animals under false pretenses. Apparently the cats that were given to PETA were to be adopted, but were instead killed immediately. PETA has only suspended one of the employees charged.