New proposals by CONAPESCA (Mexican Fisheries) and backed by US "Defenders of Wildlife" will devastate the already overfished stocks of dorado, billfish, sharks and turtles in the Sea of Cortez.

Juan Carlos Cantu the Mexican representative of the United States based NGO, "Defenders of Wildlife" has worked out an agreement with the commercial fishermen of Canainpesca that would allow longliners into the Sea Of Cortez. Up to 243 longliners, 8000 miles of longline and over 200,000 hooks could be in the Sea of Cortez on any given day, according to the latest Carta Nacional de Pesca.

Conapesca (Mexican Fisheries) presented this proposal on 3/2/04 in their new proposals to be included in the upcoming Shark Norma 029-version 6. It was going to be implemented in July, but due in part to your sending 13,000+ emails there has been a temporary (90) moratorium on implementing the longline provisions that:

1. Decrease the 50 mile "conservation zones" set by congress to protect billfish and dorado, as well as birds, turtles, whales and other mammals that live along the 1000 fathom curve and in the Sea of Cortez.
2. Have the "Trojan Horse" provision that permits a whole new fleet of destructive medium sized longliners (converted shrimpers towing panga longliners) into the Sea of Cortez.
3. Permit drift gillnets in Sea of Cortez.

These provisions must be stopped immediately! Please forward this information to all concerned and have them follow up with letters and emails to Mexican officials [One Click E-mail] Modify as you want! You can also send letters and emails to "Defenders of Wildlife" letting them know how much U.S. support they stand to lose if they continue to back this indefensible and very destructive position [One Click E-mail]

Shark Norma (Regulation) 029 Proposal:

• Summary of Longline Fishing Changes in Gulf of California
• Effects of these proposals on already depleted stocks of dorado, shark, billfish, and turtles (PDF)
• A Short Review of Existing Scientific Justfication of the Fisheries Benefits of Mexico's Fifty Mile and Core Area Conservation Zones Russell Nelson, PhD (PDF, 290k)
• Make a difference! One-click e-mail letter to express your opinions to Mexican Government officials.

"Defenders of Wildlife" position supporting additional longliners:

• Gene Kira's 3/29/2004 article from Western Outdoor News: The 30 Mile Problem.
• Defenders of Wildlife's justification for their position with comments by Dr. Russ Nelson. (PDF)
• Gene Kira's article from Western Outdoor News: Defenders... Of What?.
• Dr. Russell Nelson, Chief Fishery Scientist, The Billfish Foundation, letter to Ramon Corral regarding proposed regulations and "Defenders" indefensible position.
• Make a difference! One-click e-mail letter to express your opinion to "Defenders".