The Ocean Conservancy is asking U.S. freedivers and scuba divers alike, to step up and take action as ambassadors to our wonderous oceans.
"We need your voices because you have a connection to the marine environment and understand the importance," said Bill Blome, manager of Gulf Region Outreach & Constituency for the Ocean Conservancy.
"Overfishing is a serious threat to the long-term health of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s bad for fish, for fishermen, and the coastal economies that depend on sustainable fishing."
DeeperBlue readers can learn more and take action at:
www.oceanconservancy.org
Through research, education and science based advocacy the Ocean Conservancy informs, inspires and empowers people to speak and act on behalf of the oceans.
David Dickson, Director of Consituency Development cites "ecological extinction caused by overfishing precedes all other pervasive human disturbance to coastal ecosystems, including pollution, degradation to water conditions and anthropogenic climate change." What exactly does all of this mean? Simply, that there is no worse offense to our oceans, and their precious ecosystems, than overfishing.
Please respond to this alert and urge the Secretary of Commerce, and other officials in the Dept. of Commerce, to act now to end the chronic overfishing of severely depleted red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Overfishing has reduced red snapper populations to less than 3 percent of their historic levels. The Secretary of Commerce, through the National Marine Fisheries Service, must act now to have conservation measures in place in time for the next fishing season, which begins in January.
