A different perspective on the CITES disaster

Posted on By David Shiffman 2 Comments on A different perspective on the CITES disaster
Conservation

Lots has been written about the recent failure of CITES to protect marine species. Most of it focuses on blaming countries like Japan and China for putting commerce ahead of science and conservation. However, SCUBA operator and blogger Mike Da Shark has a different perspective- he criticizes the NGOs who advocated for conservation.

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Ecosystem Based Management: Managing for Everything or Nothing At All

Posted on By Bluegrass Blue Crab 10 Comments on Ecosystem Based Management: Managing for Everything or Nothing At All
Uncategorized

www.californiafires.com

Managing for stability just doesn’t work.

This epiphany has helped forge the development of ecosystem based management (EBM), theoretically a more holistic approach to natural resource management that is more in tune with natural processes.  However, we still haven’t worked out the kinks so something good in theory often falls flat.  A couple of recent papers in Conservation Biology discuss the need for measureable endpoints in EBM in order for the plan to be successful.  But first, a little background.

There is a slow awakening among management agencies that stability policies aren’t effective – in fact, they often produce the opposite of the desired effect.  Need examples as proof?  

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Scientia Pro Publica

Posted on By Andrew Thaler 2 Comments on Scientia Pro Publica
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Welcome to the April 5 Edition of Scientia Pro Publica – Science for the People!

An inordinate fondness for Sea Horses

I got my start in Marine Biology working at the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Syngnathid Breeding Program, so the abundance of sea horse and pipefish related submissions get the prime real estate. Maniraptora: Tastes Like Chicken reveals that bigger is better, even for pipefish. Save Your Breath For Running Ponies covers the same research.

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Reader mail: Sustainable shark finning?

Posted on By David Shiffman 5 Comments on Reader mail: Sustainable shark finning?
Conservation, Science

Our latest reader mail comes from my friend Mike, who writes for the conservative political blog SaveTheGop. Though we don’t agree on much, he’s usually a reasonable guy. His question concerns a post I recently wrote about Hawaii’s proposed bill to ban the sale of shark fins within their state.

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