Longlining in Bermuda

[Squidnation]

From the Bermuda Sun Times



1/9/2009 11:40:00 AM
New threat to our wildlife?
Fierce opposition to longline fishing plan
Plans to introduce offshore longline fishing in Bermuda's waters could threaten the revival of the Cahow and help drive other species to the brink of extinction.

A host of international and local experts have condemned moves to allow the deeply controversial fishing method in the island's 200-mile economic exclusion zone.

Dolphins, marlin, sharks, turtles and seabirds, like the Cahow, are among the species most at risk from being incidentally caught in the miles of baited hooks that would be deployed by commercial fishing fleets to mine a bounty of swordfish and tuna in the deep ocean.

Though Government has so far maintained the proposal is still in the discussion stages it has pressed ahead with a planning application for a processing and storage facility in Ship's Wharf, Southside, that would provide the logistical infrastructure for an offshore longline fishery. The move has led opponents to suggest it is already a 'done deal'.

And campaigners, including the Bermuda National Trust and the Audubon Society, called for the findings of a 2007 study into the feasibility of longline fishing to be made public and openly debated before any further action was taken.

Professor Callum Roberts, author of 'The Unnatural History of the Sea' and a world renowned expert on marine conservation, urged the Bermuda government not to allow longlining in it's waters.

He said the type of fishing being proposed in Bermuda - for swordfish and tuna - typically had a very high 'bycatch' of other animals, especially sharks.

Dr. Roberts, who gave a sold-out lecture on the consequences of overfishing at the Bermuda Underwater Institute last year, said there was also a real risk to seabirds, like the Cahow, as well as globally endangered species of leatherback and loggerhead turtles, which migrate through Bermuda's waters.

He believes the proposal, which is backed by a Government White Paper, would only have a short-term benefit to the fishing industry and would actually have negative long-term consequences for other types of fishing.

"Within 20 years of the onset of longlining, catch rates generally fall by greater than 80 per cent. In Bermuda, longlining by other nations under Bermudian licence has already depleted populations of large open ocean fish species.

"Far from there being a 'goldmine' of fish to capture, fish stocks have already been depleted. Intensive longline fisheries cause large-scale losses of ocean megafauna and are currently causing the slide towards extinction of several species of turtle, the blue fin tuna, and many species of seabird.

"Based on the above problems, I would strongly urge the Bermudian government not to reintroduce longline fisheries into its waters.

"It will lead to serious impacts on wildlife populations and a significant likelihood of economic hardship and possibly collapse of the nearshore sport fishery."

Dr. Fred Ming, the director of environmental protection, outlined his support for longline fishing in a letter accompanying his department's application for a commercial fishing headquarters in Southside.

Make report public

Dr. Ming was not available for comment this week and the department could not provide anybody else to speak on the subject.

Jennifer Gray, executive director of the National Trust called for the results of four trial expeditions conducted in early 2007 with U.S. longline vessel Eagle Eye II to be made public.

"We've asked for the report and we're disappointed we've not seen it yet. This is an industry that is not globally supported and this proposal raises a lot of questions that can't properly be commented on till we have seen the report.

"I'd also like to know if the fishermen have been surveyed. Are there any fishermen actually interested in this?"

Andrew Dobson, president of the Bermuda Audubon Society, said the threat to the Cahow, the Bermuda national bird - which has already been saved once from extinction - was very real.

He added that the society had written to then-Environment Minister Neleatha Butterfield expressing its concerns as early as February 2007 but had yet to receive a response.

"We were not convinced that the ministry was aware of the passage of thousands of seabirds through Bermuda waters each year.

"We were particularly concerned about the likely drowning of seabirds, dolphins, turtles and 'unwanted' fish species. This is a real problem. More than 300,000 seabirds are killed in this way each year. A staggering 100,000 albatrosses die each year on fishing hooks, about one every five minutes. Worldwide, 26 species of seabird, including 17 species of albatrosses, are in danger of extinction because of the deaths caused by longlining.

"There are many mitigation measures that can be employed to reduce the by-catch and we outlined these to the Ministry. However, when most countries in the world are realizing the terrible impact that longlining has on wildlife, and are taking steps to ban it, we find it unfortunate that our government is embarking on the longlining venture."

De Anne Meylan, a Florida-based turtle conservation expert who is a scientific director for the Bermuda Turtle Project, said there was no way to fully mitigate the effects of longline fishing - one of the major causes of mortality among marine turtles.

She said the turtles were often caught on the hooks for days before they were discovered, by which time they were near death from their injuries. Others ingested the hooks and died a 'long, slow, death'.

She said volunteers for the Bermuda turtle project had previously found dead or injured turtles washed up on the beach - the victims of international longline fishing fleets.

"Anybody who cares about Bermuda turtles should care about this proposal. It will primarily affect turtles in deep waters away from the shoreline, but they are eventually the ones that do show up inshore.

"There's no way to fully stop the mortality of turtles from this type of fishing. You can't mind hundreds of miles of hooks. It's an indiscriminate method of fishing."

[Wound Up James]

Say no to longlining

January 8, 2009

Dear Sir,

We do not continue taking medicines if they have been found to be unduly harmful; neither do we buy cars that have been recalled for safety concerns. I wonder, then, why we would want to pursue longline fishing when past evidence suggests that it is not socially, economically or environmentally viable? International agreements that allow Bermuda control over 200 miles of sea around the Island may mandate a certain level of resource use, assuming that we have signed such agreements (i.e. UNCLOS). But we must also remember that these agreements specify responsibilities for conserving fish stocks and ecosystems for future generations. Longlining is at odds with these responsibilities and presents no long-term benefits to Bermudians.

Longlining has truly been the method of choice behind a staggering decimation of global marine life. To its name can be attributed the disappearance of more than 90 percent of large predatory fish in the past century, including sharks, marlin, tuna and swordfish. The expected extinction of the majestic Pacific leatherback turtle in the next few decades may also be placed squarely at the feet of this industry. Add to this list the litany of other bird and fish species depleted by endless miles of dangling hooks and we begin to see the risks this venture poses to Bermuda's only remaining wilderness.

Economically, longlining is an equally unwise gamble. Areas opened up to fishing on this scale typically become exhausted within fifteen years. Although catches are governed by international quotas, the body responsible for this regulation (ICCAT) has been labelled 'an international disgrace' for its failure to restrict bluefin tuna fishing, even after its own self-commissioned report recommended a ban on this fishery. The modest, short-term profits of longline fisheries are negated by hidden costs, both economic and social. These fisheries are heavily subsidised by governments (e.g. gear, fuel), carry a high risk of collapse, damage smaller-scale fisheries, threaten local food security and can even harm tourism. Marlin, for example, are vital to the charter fishing industry, yet are frequent incidental casualties of longlining.

The poor profitability of longlining from hidden costs is highlighted when we consider that operators studied in the Atlantic, on average, incurred losses. Longline fishing is thus a risky venture that threatens our economy, as well as its social and environmental underpinnings. We need only look to the dramatic events unfolding in the international financial community to see what havoc can be wrought when hidden risks and social costs are ignored, when short-term thinking trumps prudence. If Bermuda believes it can overcome the risks posed by longlining, release the data (from the pilot project or elsewhere) that demonstrates it. Otherwise, taking on this disgraced fishing model, without a novel and precautionary focus on conservation, will surely rob our grandchildren of their most precious inheritance.

MATT HAMMOND

Hamilton Parish

P.s. Readers wishing to learn more might read the latest issue of "The Economist".

[triniswordfish]

James and Matt (the author) I feel your pain on this matter I hope Bermuda closes it's waters to longlining

[Sterling]

Here's the message I sent to the Bermuda Dept. of Tourism. It really would be disappointing if this happened.
======================

I recently read that Bermuda is considering allowing Longline fishing in its waters. I feel this is a major mistake for tourism and poor policy in general.

My wife and I recently visited Cambridge Beaches and enjoyed the island as well as the recreational fishing there. I suspect we spent in the range of $10,000 on the trip and we have been there other times in the past. It is very likely that if you move forward with longlining, you will severely damage the pelagic recreational fishery. Speaking for myself, and likely 10's of thousands of sportfishermen, Bermuda will not be a destination of choice if that happens. The lost revenue would be far greater than anything you might hope to gain by longline fishing.

I would like to add that at the time we were there, the locals that were catching wahoo and could barely give them away.

Longlining is known to be a very harmful method of fishing that is not generally profitable. Between lost tourism and government costs to support that fishery, this could be a very expense mistake.

Please do not allow longline fishing in your waters.

[Otoro]

Very well said. You can voice your opposition to this proposal by sending in similar letters to the Department of Tourism or the local papers "The Bermuda Sun" or "The Royal Gazette".

The link for submitting letters to the editor can be found at the following address:
http://www.royalgazette.com click on "contact us" and the link is found on that page.

This proposal stinks so voice your thoughts.

[Squidnation]

thanks for the information. I will also send a letter. I wish you guys luck

[Wound Up James]

Sterling and Sqiud -Thank you your letters, they are much appriciated. The Pemier is also the tourism minister... lets hope these letters do not get ignored ( like all of the other good advice they recieve). Unfortunately like so many other governments, they take the advice of very few, for imidiate financial gain, instead of listening to the educated masses. I hope they prove me wrong..

[Sterling]

I also dropped a note to the organizer of the Triple Crown billfish tournaments there. I'm certain the participants in those tournaments will be interested in helping if they are not already.