Marine Scientists
Call for Tighter Controls on Reef Trade
Citing destructive harvesting methods and overharvesting of
large, predatory reef fish, 20 renowned marine scientists are
calling for more countries to regulate the trade in live fish,
according to the University of Cambridge (England).
The scientists wrote letters to the journal Science saying
that the health of the reefs is being compromised by exploitation
of reef resources that are particularly important to developing
tropical nations.
“Due to the high international demand for live fish,
these roving bandits deplete coral reef stocks before local
institutions have time to implement laws to regulate the poaching,”
wrote Dr. Helen Scales, of the university’s Department
of Zoology. “The bandits take advantage of porous world
trade policy and ineffective fisheries management to sell
their plunder.”
According to the scientists, there is now sufficient evidence
to conclude that reforming markets is an important strategy
in protecting reefs. The scientists argue that governmental
action, from local to international, is needed to respond
quickly to shifts in demand from global markets. [October
2006 PET AGE]
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