Media Briefing on Wasteful Fishing Practices - Oceana USA

Media Briefing on Wasteful Fishing Practices

New Ocean Protection Organization to File Petition with U.S. Government Against Inaction on Wasteful Fishing Practices

Press Release Date: February 26, 2002

Location: Washington

Contact:

Dustin Cranor, APR | email: dcranor@oceana.org | tel: 954.348.1314

 

New Ocean Protection Organization to File Petition with U.S. Government Against Inaction on Wasteful Fishing Practices

New Report Identifies Risks to Oceans from Failure to Enforce Laws

On Thursday, February 28 at 11:30 AM EST, Oceana, a new non-profit conservation organization, and the American Oceans Campaign (AOC) will hold a media briefing and live, two-way teleconference to announce their submission of a formal legal petition with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).  Based on findings from a new Oceana report, the petition seeks to compel the agency to stop massive waste of ocean life.

The report, “Oceans at Risk: Wasted Catch and the Destruction of Ocean Life,” also to be released on February 28, details the devastating effects of wasted catch in U.S. fisheries and how NMFS has repeatedly ignored the law.  The petition and report are the first steps in a new national campaign by Oceana to end destructive fishing practices that put the oceans at risk. Oceana and AOC will also announce their new partnership to protect the world’s oceans.

Around the world each year an estimated 44 billion pounds of fish are wasted – 25 percent of the entire world catch.  And, in U.S. fisheries, many thousands of marine mammals, birds, sea turtles, coral, and other forms of ocean life are also killed and discarded.  Oceana will report that, despite four federal laws requiring the agency to act to reduce this waste of ocean life, little has been done.

WHAT:  A media briefing discussing Oceana’s legal petition and supporting report that exposes NMFS’ clear failure to protect ocean wildlife (B-Roll Available).  You can also participate in the briefing via a live, two-way teleconference that includes a Q&A Session.

WHO:  Steve Roady, President, Oceana;

Mike Hirshfield, Vice President for Science, Oceana;

Barbara Jeanne Polo, Executive Director,

American Oceans Campaign;

Phil Kline, Fisheries Policy Director,

American Oceans Campaign.

WHEN:  Thursday, February 28, 2002.  11:30 AM.

WHERE:  Oceana

2501 M Street NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20037

OR access the briefing via live teleconference by calling

1-(800) 247-5110,

Participant Code is OCEANA NATIONAL.

 
For more information, please contact:

Robert Kaplan, 202-478-6130, rkaplan@mrss.com