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 Editorials | Opinions | May 2007 
Help Save Mexico's Offshore Fisheries
 Sport Fishing Magazine
The following was sent to Mexican officals by Sport Fishing's Doug Olander. He is asking everyone to send similar letters to lawmakers and make sure our voices are heard...
A Plea to Mexico: Reconsider the Destruction of Your Country's Marine Fish Resources
For Mexico's future, it is imperative that you work actively to oppose the Shark Norma 029 and prevent it from continuing as law. Otherwise, there can be very little doubt that your waters will soon become a desert for most large fish.
And I know all too well, as editor in chief of one of the world's leading magazines for sport-fishing enthusiasts, that along with those fish, you can say goodbye to millions of dollars every year, lost to Mexico's economy from an easily sustainable, long-term, relatively non-consumptive recreational fishery.
Please reconsider for the sake of your great oceans as well as the sake of your children and theirs. Do not let short-term commercial fishing destroy your marine fish populations. Your failure to stop this short-sighted, greed-driven Shark Norma virtually guarantees that end. You have the power to keep that from happening and do what is right for Mexico's future. I'll be watching - as will a few hundred thousand readers of Sport Fishing and most of the world on this one.
DOUG OLANDER
Editor in Chief
Sport Fishing Magazine
The following information is provided by The Billfish Foundation...
Despite strong opposition from The Billfish Foundation and scores of partners in Mexico, Mexican officials approved Regulation NOM-029 (Shark Norma). This regulation, promoted as a way to stop the over-exploitation of sharks and rays, was rejected by Mexico's last two Presidents, but was strongly supported by commercial fishing interests in Ensenada, Sinaloa, Sonora, Mexican Fisheries (CONAPESCA) and some Mexican and United States Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
There are elements of these new regulations that contain hidden potential to further reduce marine resources in and around Baja California Sur:
Three "Trojan Horses"
By-catch -- NOM-029 does not restrict by-catch, allowing all "incidental" by-catch to be kept. By-catch runs about 60 to 80%. According to the INP National Report in 1999 two longliners out of Magdalena Bay killed 11,743 striped marlin in 9 months. This comprised 77.5% of the total catch. Panga longliners with shark permits from Manzanillo kill 80% sailfish and sell 150 to 200 tons every month.
Reduction in Protected Zones -- Under current regulations no commercial fishing vessels are allowed to fish for or possess marlin, sailfish, dorado and other protected species within the 50 mile conservation zones. The only allowed fishing was under sportfishing bag limits. This law provided strong protection to a wide variety of marine life. Under NOM-029 these species can be targeted and retained. Commercial boats less than 30' can come within 10 miles of shore with longlines (section 4.2.1). Commercial longline boats between 30' and 89' can fish as near as 15 miles from the shore in the Sea of Cortes, and within 20 miles of the west coast of the Baja (4.7.3).
Current Permits -- Section 4.3.1 of the new regulation restricts the issuance of new shark permits. However, according to reliable sources in the fishing industry, there are approximately 4,200 boats that will be fishing from existing shark permits. 308 permits have been issued to fishing boats over 89 feet, and 225 permits to boats 89 feet or less. More than 600 permits have been issued to pangas (22' to 30'), with 6 pangas able to work from one permit. Based on current fishing practices, this means there are can be more than 1.5 million hooks in the Sea of Cortes on any one day, fishing for sharks, rays and other species.
The rationale for those promoting this regulation has been "something is better than nothing, and this is only a start". Opponents point out, however, that the regulation will likely increase the overall fishing pressure on the fisheries it aims to protect. This is particularly true for fisheries inside the current 50 mile protected zone, which will become new targets for commercial fishing. Shark populations will face more depletion. Longline boats will continue to rely on high levels of by-catch (billfish and dorado) that will deplete sport fisheries and impact tourism.
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