Fish Council Votes Against Ocean Protection Measure
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Council was one聽of only two U.S. organizations to oppose a broad new conservation measure.
Trophy hunting and tuna fishing made for interesting bedfellows at the 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature鈥檚 World Conservation Congress last week.
Delegates from more than 160 countries gathered in Honolulu to vote on how best to address some of the world鈥檚 most pressing environmental issues, from wildlife trafficking and deforestation to ocean acidification and climate change.
On the table was 聽to protect 30 percent of Earth鈥檚 oceans from extractive activities, such as fishing and oil drilling, by 2030.
Backers of the idea believe that if the IUCN 鈥 the in the world 鈥 would support such an initiative that governments and nonprofits from across the globe would work in concert to make it a reality.
(Here鈥檚 why scientists believe protecting 30 percent of the oceans is .)
The proposal passed with an overwhelming majority, with 653 member organizations voting 鈥測es,鈥 and only 43 opposed.
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Among the naysayers was the Honolulu-based 鈥 otherwise known as Wespac 鈥 a quasi-governmental agency that oversees commercial fisheries and is charged with maintaining a sustainable fishery. But Wespac often comes under fire for what’s seen as its support of Hawaii鈥檚 longline fishing industry over conservation.
So it’s perhaps not surprising that Wespac was one of only two U.S. organizations to vote against the measure. The other was the Safari Club International Foundation, a pro-hunting organization based in Tucson, Arizona, that advocates for wildlife conservation and hunters鈥 rights.
Wespac and Safari Club were joined by a number of聽others,聽mostly from China, as well as a handful of government agencies from Japan, China, Korea, Norway, South Africa and Vietnam. The and other groups also voted against the motion.
It’s not the first time Wespac has opposed ocean protection measures.
Recently, the council聽actively opposed President Barack Obama鈥檚 expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument, arguing that it served no conservation purpose and would only cut into fishermen profits.
The council聽pushed back against former President George W. Bush鈥檚 initial designation of Papahanaumokuakea as a marine monument.
Wespac did support a separate , however, that called on the international community to push for more conservation on the high seas.
