/PRNewswire/ -- Today a U.S. House Subcommittee will consider H.R. 2811 a bill that could determine the fate of much of the reptile trade in the United States. Introduced by U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek (D-FL), who recently announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, the bill could add the entire genus python to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act; a designation reserved for only the most dangerous alien invaders to our natural eco-system. Such a move would prevent all import, export, and interstate transport of pythons in the U.S. The scientific justification for such a move hinges on a recently published report of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) entitled 'Risk Assessment of Nine Large Constricting Snakes', which paints a picture of large constrictor snakes on the verge of taking over much of the U.S.
Proponents of H.R. 2811 including the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are quick to suggest potential environmental harm from trade in large constrictor snakes, and have hailed the 300-page USGS report as "erasing any doubt."
However, critics of a python ban maintain the science is simply not there to justify such a move. "H.R. 2811 aims to legislate science," responded Andrew Wyatt, president of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK), a national trade association advocating responsible private ownership of, and trade in reptiles. "There exists a scientific process at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make these types of determinations. For sake of expediency, or political gain, Congress appears intent on destroying a viable industry and forcing reptiles out of the homes of responsible owners," added Wyatt. "The scientific basis for such an action is simply not there."
Over the past 60 years, the practice of keeping reptiles has changed from an obscure hobby to an incredibly widespread and mainstream part of the American experience. With over 5 million Americans involved, and thousands of small businesses, the reptile trade in the U.S. is reported to represent 3 billion dollars annually.
Dr. Elliott Jacobson, Professor of Zoological Medicine at University of Florida, and a highly respected expert in reptile biology also remains unconvinced on the science. "Although the USGS Report is an attempt to assess the ability of large constrictor snakes to invade substantial areas of the US, it is an oversimplification of a very complicated topic," said Dr. Jacobson. "The fact that the boa constrictor can be found in Mexico near the Arizona border, but has never entered the U.S. means there are factors operating that cannot be explained by this report."
H.R. 2811 will receive a hearing in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism & Homeland Security, 2141 Rayburn House Office Building at 10:00AM.
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Showing posts with label ban. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ban. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Despite 20-Year-Old Ivory Ban, Situation for Elephants More Desperate Than Ever
/PRNewswire/ -- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) today called upon the United States and the world community to renew its commitment to the global ivory ban, which has been systematically undermined to the point where elephants could soon disappear from the face of the earth.
Established by the U.S. and the other signatories to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 20 years ago today, the ivory trade ban gave elephants the highest possible level of legal protection and effectively banned international trade in ivory. The ban was put in place in response to the alarming slaughter of elephants in Africa during the 1980s, when elephant poaching had slashed the continent's population from more than 1.2 million to about 450,000 in just 10 years.
Elephant poaching and global demand for ivory plummeted while the ban was fully enforced, but the peace was short-lived. Beginning in 1997, pro-ivory trade forces pushed through decision after decision that methodically undermined the ivory ban, culminating in massive, "legal" ivory stockpile sales to China and Japan as recently as 2008. The aftermath of these sales, according to Kenyan and other African wildlife authorities, has been an undeniable surge in poaching and elephant slaughter in countless African elephant range states.
Scientists now believe that more than 100 elephants die every day to fuel the ivory trade, and that number is increasing. At the rate they're being slaughtered, African elephants could become extinct across most of their range by 2024, less than 15 years from now.
"The lesson is crystal clear," said Jeff Flocken, IFAW Washington, D.C. Office Director. "Any legal ivory trade leads to illegal slaughter because the legal market gives poachers an easy way to sell their illegal stocks."
Ironically, the 20-year anniversary of the global ivory ban comes just a day after the 1-year anniversary of the ivory ban on eBay, Inc., the world's leading Internet marketplace. The company made the historic decision to ban sales of ivory from elephants and all other animals on Oct. 19, 2008, and ivory has effectively disappeared from the companies' web marketplaces.
"The courageous action that eBay took one year ago proves that the only solution is to reinstate a total and permanent ban on ivory sales," said Flocken. "The U.S. was a leader on this issue back in the 1980's when the global ban was put in place, and we need that leadership again if we are to save this iconic species."
"Many Americans don't realize that the U.S. is still one of the world's largest consumers of ivory, so it's on our shoulders to help save this species while we still can," Flocken said.
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Established by the U.S. and the other signatories to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 20 years ago today, the ivory trade ban gave elephants the highest possible level of legal protection and effectively banned international trade in ivory. The ban was put in place in response to the alarming slaughter of elephants in Africa during the 1980s, when elephant poaching had slashed the continent's population from more than 1.2 million to about 450,000 in just 10 years.
Elephant poaching and global demand for ivory plummeted while the ban was fully enforced, but the peace was short-lived. Beginning in 1997, pro-ivory trade forces pushed through decision after decision that methodically undermined the ivory ban, culminating in massive, "legal" ivory stockpile sales to China and Japan as recently as 2008. The aftermath of these sales, according to Kenyan and other African wildlife authorities, has been an undeniable surge in poaching and elephant slaughter in countless African elephant range states.
Scientists now believe that more than 100 elephants die every day to fuel the ivory trade, and that number is increasing. At the rate they're being slaughtered, African elephants could become extinct across most of their range by 2024, less than 15 years from now.
"The lesson is crystal clear," said Jeff Flocken, IFAW Washington, D.C. Office Director. "Any legal ivory trade leads to illegal slaughter because the legal market gives poachers an easy way to sell their illegal stocks."
Ironically, the 20-year anniversary of the global ivory ban comes just a day after the 1-year anniversary of the ivory ban on eBay, Inc., the world's leading Internet marketplace. The company made the historic decision to ban sales of ivory from elephants and all other animals on Oct. 19, 2008, and ivory has effectively disappeared from the companies' web marketplaces.
"The courageous action that eBay took one year ago proves that the only solution is to reinstate a total and permanent ban on ivory sales," said Flocken. "The U.S. was a leader on this issue back in the 1980's when the global ban was put in place, and we need that leadership again if we are to save this iconic species."
"Many Americans don't realize that the U.S. is still one of the world's largest consumers of ivory, so it's on our shoulders to help save this species while we still can," Flocken said.
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
NOAA Proposes Rule Prohibiting Spearfishing Gear in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off Coast of Georgia
Public meeting March 19, 6-8:00 p.m., Wetlands Center, Richmond Hill, GA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing a rule to prohibit all spearfishing gear in Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA is soliciting public comment until May 4, 2009. A public meeting will be held on March 19, to receive comments on the proposed rule and the draft environmental assessment that accompanies the proposed rule. The meeting will be held at the John W. Stevens Wetlands Education Center, J.F. Gregory Park, Richmond Hill, Georgia, from 6-8:00 p.m.
Comments may also be submitted electronically to www.regulations.gov
(search for docket # NOAA–NOS–2009–0002), or by mail to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411, Attn: Dr. George Sedberry, Superintendent.
For copies of the proposed rule, draft environmental assessment and the Federal Register notice, go to http://graysreef.noaa.gov, or contact Resource Protection Coordinator Becky Shortland (912-598-2381; becky.shortland@noaa.gov).
Spearfishing is often used to selectively target larger fish, and can significantly reduce abundance and alter the relative size structure of target species toward smaller fish. The proposed prohibition would provide protection to the fishes and natural live-bottom community for which the sanctuary was designated. The proposal also would facilitate enforcement of an existing prohibition against the use of powerheads within the sanctuary.
Designated in 1981, the sanctuary is one of the largest near shore live-bottom reefs off the southeastern United States, encompassing approximately 23 square miles. The Gray’s Reef sanctuary consists of a series of sandstone outcroppings and ledges up to ten feet in height, in a predominantly sandy, flat-bottomed sea floor. The live bottom and ledge habitat support an abundant reef fish and invertebrate community. Loggerhead sea turtles, a threatened species,
also use Gray’s Reef year-round for foraging and resting, and highly endangered Northern right whales are occasionally seen in the sanctuary.
The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, which manages the Gray’s Reef sanctuary, seeks to increase the public awareness of America’s marine resources and maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, the sanctuary program manages 13 national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument that together encompass more than 150,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing a rule to prohibit all spearfishing gear in Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA is soliciting public comment until May 4, 2009. A public meeting will be held on March 19, to receive comments on the proposed rule and the draft environmental assessment that accompanies the proposed rule. The meeting will be held at the John W. Stevens Wetlands Education Center, J.F. Gregory Park, Richmond Hill, Georgia, from 6-8:00 p.m.
Comments may also be submitted electronically to www.regulations.gov
(search for docket # NOAA–NOS–2009–0002), or by mail to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411, Attn: Dr. George Sedberry, Superintendent.
For copies of the proposed rule, draft environmental assessment and the Federal Register notice, go to http://graysreef.noaa.gov, or contact Resource Protection Coordinator Becky Shortland (912-598-2381; becky.shortland@noaa.gov).
Spearfishing is often used to selectively target larger fish, and can significantly reduce abundance and alter the relative size structure of target species toward smaller fish. The proposed prohibition would provide protection to the fishes and natural live-bottom community for which the sanctuary was designated. The proposal also would facilitate enforcement of an existing prohibition against the use of powerheads within the sanctuary.
Designated in 1981, the sanctuary is one of the largest near shore live-bottom reefs off the southeastern United States, encompassing approximately 23 square miles. The Gray’s Reef sanctuary consists of a series of sandstone outcroppings and ledges up to ten feet in height, in a predominantly sandy, flat-bottomed sea floor. The live bottom and ledge habitat support an abundant reef fish and invertebrate community. Loggerhead sea turtles, a threatened species,
also use Gray’s Reef year-round for foraging and resting, and highly endangered Northern right whales are occasionally seen in the sanctuary.
The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, which manages the Gray’s Reef sanctuary, seeks to increase the public awareness of America’s marine resources and maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, the sanctuary program manages 13 national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument that together encompass more than 150,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources.
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