www.illegal-fishing.info - NGO warns of over-fishing of sea cucumbers, sharks and spondylus molluscs

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18th Apr 13

Managed by Chatham House

Financed by DEFRA

NGO warns of over-fishing of sea cucumbers, sharks and spondylus molluscs

28/01/2011
© Analia, Murias Fish Information and Services

The environmental organization Equilibrio Azul, has alleged that there is overfishing of three resources in Ecuadorian waters: sea cucumbers, sharks and spondylus molluscs.

According to Felipe Vallejo, a spokesman for the NGO, "The problem is that sharks reproduce very slowly, the sea cucumber has fallen wildly in the coast of Ecuador and the Galapagos, and stocks of the spondylus have also dropped sharply, as it only exists in a specific area of Latin America."

According to the environmentalist, it is very difficult to control illegal fishing in the Galapagos National Park, among other protected areas.

He also said that neither the Park nor the State "have sufficient resources" to accomplish this task.

With regards to sharks, they are not only affected by overfishing but also by the fact that they are a migrant species.

It is therefore necessary to implement actions to protect these species and prevent their extinction.

Meanwhile, according to a documentary by Fundacin MarViva, which operates in Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, it is speculated that in 40 years all species used for commercial purposes and human consumption will disappear.

Vallejo called on international organizations and governments to address joint policies in order to prevent overfishing and urged for "management of fisheries resources and conservation, reports the EFE news agency.

For catching shrimp, bottom trawling is used, an activity which is seen as "very harmful" and with respect to the cultivation of this resource in mangroves, it is "impacting the life" of this ecosystem.

Finally, Vallejo criticized the industrial fishing sector because it catches more fish "than they really need to."

He lamented the fact that countries like the U.S., some European nations and Ecuador "give subsidies to industrial fisheries."

Source: click to view source website