[Vision2020] Will Algore's inconsistency's ever cease?

[heirdoug at netscape.net]

To Keely and any others who don't have a sense of humor.



THIS IS N O T SATIRE!



Gore's message loses bite

Article from: The Daily Telegraph

By Rebecca Keeble

July 18, 2007 12:00am

ONLY one week after Live Earth, Al Gore's green credentials slipped 
while hosting his daughter's wedding in Beverly Hills.

Gore and his guests at the weekend ceremony dined on Chilean sea bass - 
arguably one of the world's most threatened fish species.

Also known as Patagonian toothfish, the species is under pressure from 
illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities in the Southern 
Ocean, jeopardising the sustainability of remaining stocks.

The species is currently managed by the Commission for the Conservation 
of Antarctic Living Marine Resources, the body which introduced a catch 
and trade documentation scheme as an attempt to tackle illegal poaching 
of this species.

Working with non-government organisations, the Humane Society 
International's focus is now on pursuit of illegal fishing operators 
who, in the rush to cash in on the highly valued species, plunder 
stocks with no regard for sustainability.

It has been estimated that more than 50 per cent of toothfish traded is 
illegally caught, and includes juveniles vital to the ongoing toothfish 
population.

For many years HSI has expressed concern over the huge numbers of 
seabirds that die each year on the hooks of illegally set demersal 
longlines, threatening the long-term viability of those populations.

Yet, while legal operators in the Southern Ocean are obliged to follow 
strict environmental rules, illegal operators undermine the 
sustainability of their fishing operations.

Recently, HSI petitioned the US Government asking that they certify and 
sanction Spain for allowing Spanish nationals known to engage in pirate 
fishing operations to continue to harvest toothfish in a declared 
conservation area.

Success would allow the US Government to embargo Spanish toothfish 
imports until such time as Spain demonstrates compliance of its 
nationals with international law and agreements.

As we await a response from the US, thousands of endangered seabirds 
die, while the sustainability of the Patagonian toothfish and the legal 
fishing industry inches closer to the brink of extinction.

A strong and concerted effort by Governments, the fishing industry, the 
conservation community and by the public which drives consumer demand, 
is required to put an end to pirate fishing operations in the Southern 
Ocean - otherwise the ecological sustainability of the toothfish is at 
risk.

And Al Gore could choose something else to eat.
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