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Marty Offline OP
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Belize Govt bans trawling!

//ambergriscaye.com/art/pdfs/fisheriesamendment0001trawling.pdf for the legislation

Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - 04/07/11) - As part of the Christie's Green Auction on Tuesday, long-time Oceana supporter Sir Thomas Moore made a donation of $100,000 to help Oceana's effort to completely end all forms of trawling in Belize. The ban will protect the Mesoamerican coral reef, a UNESCO world Heritage Site and the largest reef system in the western hemisphere, from the damaging effects of bottom trawling.

"If the oceans die, the economies and people of nations that depend on them will suffer terrible consequences," said Sir Thomas R. Moore, a long-time New York litigator and author. "I wanted to help Oceana with this issue because it is an organization that is uniquely qualified to save our oceans."

The generous donation by Moore was part of a "Paddle Raise" lot where guests at the Green Auction raised a total of $350,000 for Oceana's work on trawling in Belize.

In December, Oceana recently persuaded the Belizean legislature to outlaw all forms of trawling, but two bottom trawling ships remain sitting idle in Belize. Oceana will now be able to purchase and repurpose the bottom trawling ships before their owners can lobby the government for a repeal of the ban.

"Ensuring that this ban on trawling remains permanent is a tremendous victory for the oceans and the largest reef system in the Western Hemisphere," said Andrew Sharpless, Chief Executive Officer of Oceana. "Bottom trawling is the most destructive form of commercial fishing in use and eliminating it in Belize will lead to more abundant and healthier waters."

Bottom trawling is one of the most destructive forces on earth. The nets destroy entire ocean habitats, scooping up every living thing and then discarding in death most of these living creatures, on which a healthy fish population feeds, retaining in their catch only certain fish.

The money raised will also go to establish a lending program for Belizean fisherman to enable them to purchase sustainable fishing gear and to set up a hurricane relief grant program.

"Sir Thomas Moore has been a tremendous supporter of Oceana and a steward of the oceans for a long time -- he is a visionary," said Bettina Alonso, the Global Vice President of Development for Oceana. "We are incredibly grateful for this generous contribution to help Oceana eliminate trawling in Belize.

The Mesoamerican Reef protected by this legislative ban has incalculable value for Belize's economy and culture provides jobs and food for many Belizeans, to say nothing of protecting the world, and our own well-being. To learn more about Oceana and its work to protect reefs around the world, go to: oceana.org/belize <http://oceana.org/belize>.

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Marty Offline OP
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OCEANA BELIZE TO CLOSE SALE OF VESSELS, FINALIZE TRAWLING BAN

Oceana Belize is pleased to invite all members of the media to witness the closing of the sale of two trawling vessels, pursuant to the Vessel Purchase and Sale Agreement of December 8th, 2010, involving the Northern Fishermen's Cooperative Society Ltd. This sale was a key condition of our successful campaign, making Belize the only country in the world to institute a complete ban on all forms of trawling in its entire waters. There are only two other countries that have instituted some form of trawling ban.

This formal closing will take place at 9:00 a.m, on April 13, 2011, at the conference room of Young's Law Firm, situated at #28 Regent Street in Belize City. Present for the signing will be officials of the Northern Fishermen's Cooperative Society Ltd.

On December 8th, 2010, Minister of Fisheries Hon. Rene Montero signed a draft statutory instrument indicating his Government's commitment to the ban. Since then, with the assistance of the Attorney General's Ministry, the final SI was signed February 4, 2010 and gazetted February 12, 2011, now making the ban effective the date of the official signing February 4, 2011.

Belize's trawling ban was a historic decision by Prime Minister Dean Barrow's administration, but the government was then faced with the reality of what to do with the existing trawlers owned and operated by the Northern Fishermen Cooperative Association (NFC). Oceana in Belize collaborated with the government in resolving this concern by negotiating the buyout of NFC's two shrimp trawlers. In addition Oceana will assist NFC with a grant for small eco-friendly loans and disaster relief fund.

Oceana in its continued work of marine conservation is now left with deciding what to do with the two trawlers. Thus, Oceana's VP, Audrey Matura Shepherd, is calling on organizations, departments, NGO's or any non-profit entity to submit ideas of what to do with the vessels or to make proposal requests for their use. These proposals can be sent to Oceana's office and a decision will be made concerning them within the next six months.


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