MAP News 307, Feb. 2, 2013

Partnering with mangrove forest communities, grassroots NGOs, researchers and local governments to conserve and restore mangrove forests and related coastal ecosystems, while promoting community-based, sustainable management of coastal resources.
The MAP News 307th Edition                                 Feb 2, 2013 Dedicated to the memory of MAP's Executive Director's father, Pasquale Alfred Quarto 1912-2013
Action Alerts: URGENT ALERT! Mangrove International Action Needed for Reversing Brazil's Forest Code READ MORE AND VIEW SAMPLE LETTER Sign the Petition: Stop European salmon viruses from killing Pacific salmon runs CLICK HERE   Please write more letters of protest to the government of Ecuador concerning this illicit forced eviction of the Bilsa community residents: CLICK HERE for sample letter   Phulbari Update – NEW Watch Short Video   Mangrove Restoration in Asia – Watch Short Video Action Alert – Gifting Deadline Extended - Although we have raised a little over $6000 in donations, it’s still less than our matching donor’s offer. But because so many of you have supported us, they will extend their commitment – and match our $10,000 in member support. If you haven’t already donated please do so now so we can double your gift through this generous offer. Donate HERE   READ A MOSAIC OF LIFE” Peek into the underwater world of mangroves, "womb of the sea." By Liz Cunningham Photos By Wes Matweyew and Liz Cunningham NEW Short Video on Mangroves - One Prawn Left CALLING FOR MANGROVE ART SUBMISSIONS! We invite all primary school children from tropical and sub-tropical nations, and whose schools are located near mangroves, to create art telling us "why mangroves are important to me and my community". Selected winners will be published in a 2014 calendar to be distributed internationally to raise awareness of mangrove forest ecology. Email monicagquarto@olympus.net or mangroveap@olympus.net Phulbari Coal Mine Blog – View Blog   MAP's 2013 Children's Mangrove Art Calendars are now available! Calendar offer $12 plus $2 shipping in US and $12 plus $4 shipping for intl. purchases. ORDER HERE MAP's 2014 Children's Mangrove Art Calendar sponsors needed. View PDF Support MAP Through Art Support MAP through Art! Enma Saiz has released only 50 signed reproductions. Read More Donate to MAP via Paypal Giving could never be easier Green Planet Fundraising Assists MAP – LEARN MORE URGENT - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! MAP is looking for volunteer interns for its Thailand Headquarters – READ MORE MAP’s VOLUNTEER INTERNS HELP MAP MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE READ MORE   MANGROVE ISSUES  MANGROVE BOOK – J. Primavera The book Beach Forests and Mangrove Associates in the Philippines by J.H. Pimavera and R.B. Sadaba (ISBN 978-971-9931-01-0; National Library  CIP QK938.C6  581.75109599  2012  P220120602) is now available. aves, flowers, fruits, utilization and silviculture. SEE POSTER and order instructions View MAP’s uploaded Videos at MAPmangrover’sChannel “Education In The Mangroves" can now be seen on the  PhotoPhilanthropy website here! Marvellous Mangroves – A Curriculum-Based Teachers Guide. By Martin A. Keeley, Education Director, Mangrove Action Project Read this 10 page history of the development of MAP’s educational curriculum VIEW DOCUMENT FOR MORE ON MAPs AWARD WINNING CHINA MANGROVE CURRICULUM VISIT THESE SIGHTS SLIDE SHOW     VIMEO SHOW Education In The Mangroves Six minute video features discussion of Mangrove Action Project’s Mangrove Curriculum VIEW THE VIDEO   Article in Canada's Green Teacher Magazine - Read More   "Question Your Shrimp" Campaign Learn more about the affects of the shrimp industry on mangroves by visiting our blog Editor’s Note: Mangrove Action Project’s Executive Director, Alfredo Quarto was interviewed about shrimp by Green Acre Radio’s Martha Baskin LISTEN TO INTERVIEW Join MAP on Facebook Sign the Consumer's Pledge to avoid imported shrimp Not yet a MAP News subscriber? Click here to subscribe. Note to Our Readers: We strive to keep active links in our newsletter. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, occasionally links to stories may become broken. If you find a link to a story is not functioning, please cut and paste the headline into your browser search bar. In most cases you should be able to locate the original story.   Help Mangrove Action Project through your recycled E-Waste.  List of Accepted E-waste Items: Injet Cartidges, Cell Phones, Pagers, GPS, Radar Detectors, Mobile Hot Spots, Calculators, eBook Readers, iPods/MP3 players, Digital/Video Cameras/Camcorders, PDAs, iPads/Tablets/Laptops, Video Game Consoles, Handheld Video Games Visit the Mangrove Action Project recycle website Click on the recycle button then click on the Download Shipping Label, and follow the instructions.	FEATURED STORY MAP staff joins the Livelihoods Camp in India INDIA - Jaruwan (Ning) Enright, as a MAP-Thailand’s Field Project Manager was selected to attend a three days event called the “Livelihood Network Camp 2012 (2nd Edition) 8-10th October 2012: “learning by doing” at Araku, Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.  There were 140 participants which came from from 21 countries and 65 organizations, including private companies and NGOs. She was the only participant from Thailand. The objective of the Livelihood Network Camp was to share experience and knowledge and explore innovative solutions and know-how in order to support efficiency and sustainability for the implementing projects in the Araku valley of Naandi Foundation and in other parts of the world. READ MORE   AFRICA Using prawns to battle a killer disease in Senegal SENEGAL - Prawn farming in Senegal may hold the key to eradicating a common and deadly parasitic disease. Researchers believe if the shell fish are reintroduced into the West African nation's rivers, they will eat the snails that host the parasite that causes schistosomiasis. Spread through contaminated water, the disease, also known as bilharzia, kills more than 200,000 people a year, according to UN figures. More than two million more are infected each year by the parasitic worms which impair child growth and damage internal organs. READ MORE   ASIA   MAP efforts help restore hydrology of abandoned prawn pond THAILAND – On January 22 & 23rd, Mangrove Action Project managed to gather a group of 36 highly motivated people from Bang Kang Khao, Trang Province to get out in the field and put some physical energy into the ground in order to improve the topography and therefore the hydrology of the EMR (Ecological Mangrove Restoration) site. Main objectives were cleaning up waste and debris and creating various canals so that the tidal water does not get blocked while flooding and draining the area. A lot of soil and debris was moved during these two days and the villagers were ambitious and cheerful at the same time. They impressively demonstrated that hard physical work and "Sanuk" (Thai word for Joy, if I understood correctly) can easily go together. VIEW PHOTOS on Facebook Group Remembers Death of Activist THAILAND – Jan 30th marked the 12th anniversary of Jurin Ratchapol´s death, a leading member of the “Pa Khlok Mangrove Forest Conservation Group” in Phuket. Jurin was shot down by a gunman in 2001 who was a worker from the neighboring Watchara shrimp farm which Jurin had complained was releasing polluting water and destroying mangrove. Jurin was part of local group actively campaigning for a community forest and against the use of pushnets and other destructive fishing gear. His death cemented the community's resolve to protect their mangrove forests. VIEW PHOTO on Facebook   Shrinking Sunderbans push Royal Bengal Tiger to the edge BANGLADESH - Fast-disappearing mangrove forests of the Sundarbans pose a question mark over the future of the Royal Bengal Tiger, an endangered species, say scientists. Rapid deterioration in mangrove health is causing as much as 200 metres of the vegetation-rich coast to disappear annually in the Sunderbans, according to zoologists. Nathalie Pettorelli, from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and senior study author, said: "Our results indicate a rapidly retreating coastline that cannot be accounted for by the regular dynamics of the Sundarbans. Degradation is happening fast, weakening this natural shield for India and Bangladesh." READ MORE   Vietnam opposes US shrimp petition VIETNAM – Vietnam has made official opposition to the US over an anti-subsidy lawsuit against Vietnamese frozen warm-water shrimp. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the Vietnam Trade Office in the US expressed dissatisfaction and made the protest during a consultation on January 19 with the Import Administration (IT) under the US Department of Commerce (DOC)’s International Trade Administration (ITA). The antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) lawsuit targeting Vietnam ’s frozen warm-water shrimp products may have negative impacts on the strongly developing economic-trade relations between the two countries. The Vietnamese Government will consider carefully arguments in the US petition as well as necessary legal options to protect the legitimate interests of Vietnamese shrimp breeders and businesses involving in export shrimp production and processing. READ MORE RELATED STORY Shrimp farmers to cooperate in US probe INDONESIA - In response to the US’ investigation into the alleged government subsidy for Indonesia’s shrimp exports to the country, an association of local shrimp producers has said it will cooperate with American investigators. Indonesian Fisheries Product Processing and Marketing Association chairman Thomas Darmawan said on Sunday the group would provide the necessary information and comply with any formal procedures. “We are ready to prove that the allegation is not true and we are preparing evidence to support our argument,” Thomas told The Jakarta Post. Currently, the value of Indonesia’s shrimp exports to the North American country is worth over US$500 million. READ MORE    EUROPE Apply Now for The Rolex Awards SWITZERLAND - The Rolex Awards for Enterprise are now accepting applications for the 2014 Awards, which will be dedicated to young candidates aged between 18 and 30 years. Since 1976, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise have supported individuals whose courage and creativity advance human knowledge and well-being. Rolex Awards are given every two years. Applications have opened for the 2014 Awards, which will be exclusively devoted to young candidates. This means only those aged between 18 and 30 years are eligible to apply. The first set of Awards for Young Laureates took place in 2009 with the idea of supporting visionary young men and women at a critical juncture in their careers. Applicants are asked to submit projects that tackle the world’s most pressing issues in five areas: science and health, applied technology, exploration and discovery, the environment, and cultural heritage. READ MORE   AMERICAS   Thai farmed shrimp firm opens US office USA – Thailand-based Seafresh Industry established a North American sales office for its frozen farmed shrimp late last week. Sea Farms Inc. dba Smart Seafood, based in Seattle, Wash., with a Midwest regional sale office in Wichita, Ks., will sell to North American retailers and, in the near future, foodservice and national restaurant chains. Seafresh, which has approximately USD 200 million (EUR 150 million) in annual group sales, set up the North American operation to provide a direct contact for its North American customers and expand its market share, said Michael Girton, president of Smart Seafood. READ MORE Mangrove International Action Needed for Reversing Brazil's Forest Code BRAZIL - Recent amendments to Brazilian Forest Code (BFC) threatens the country’s status as the second largest mangrove area in the world. Contrary to major scientific advisory and public opinion, government made it legal for shrimp farmers and salt producers to convert tidal wetland ecosystems into ponds. Changes are being encouraged throughout the country, considering BFC is a Federal regulation and applies nationally. Considering Brazil’s mangrove coverage, which makes it a critical player on the mitigation of the CO2 effects and climate change stabilization, we ask for international support to help in reversing this horrible political decision. Join us by exerting any type of pressure, either by divulgating this absurd decision or by writing straight to our government representatives. READ MORE AND VIEW SAMPLE LETTER   Mangrove Destruction Affecting Fisheries MEXICO – The fish catch decline with the increase in the destruction of mangroves estimated annual loss of about 800 pounds of shrimp and commercial fish per hectare of these ecosystems destroyed, because the correlation between the extent of the tidal zone (mangrove the tropics) and the amount of catch in the waters adjacent said Francisco Javier Flores Verdugo, specialist in biological oceanography and fisheries. These areas are of great importance not only for its socio-economic value, but by the ability to maintain high productivity and balance in the lagoon estuarine environments. Three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water, but 90 percent have fertility similar to that of a desert scrub. Sea fertile regions cover only 10 percent and are located within coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves. READ MORE   US to probe Thai shrimp subsidy USA - The US International Trade Administration has formally initiated an investigation into export subsidies on shrimp from seven countries including Thailand, after complaints of government assistance to dump the product on the US market. The US launched an investigation into the alleged subsidies worth more than US$4 billion by seven top global producers that could lead to new import duties. The other six countries are China, Indonesia, India, Ecuador, Malaysia and Vietnam. It is the third investigation in eight years by the United States of shrimp from Thailand, the country's largest import of seafood. Thailand was cleared or faced token fines in 2004 and 2008, and the dwindling US shrimp industry's charges have not changed. READ MORE   RELATED STORY U.S. to probe shrimp disputes with China, six other countries USA - The U.S. Commerce Department announced that it was launching countervailing duty investigations on frozen warmwater shrimp from China and other six countries. The investigations are in response to the petition filed by the U.S. Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industries, who alleged producers and exporters of China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have received financial assistance from governments. In 2011, the United States imported frozen warm water shrimp from China at an estimated 153.7 million U.S. dollars, 8.4 percent less than 2010, according to the U.S. government's data. READ MORE   Salmon farmers go for veggie option Salmon are going vegetarian. The favourite fish of the European and US consumer has long been known as a committed carnivore, fed by farmers on processed fish. But a confluence of economics, markets, and environmental factors is transforming the $11bn-a-year farmed salmon industry - and forcing a radical change of diet. The price of fishmeal has surged to a record high because of a dramatic decline in the number of anchovies harvested off the coast of Latin America, their main feeding ground, partly due to rising sea temperatures. READ MORE (Free Sign-in Required)   LAST WORD   To all our Bimini friends,   The Bimini Blue Coalition is being developed to promote and protect the things that people love most about Bimini.  We want to use this group to educate guests and locals about the value and fragility of Bimini's ecosystems, and also offer promotion and praise to the businesses and individuals who are doing their part to sustain this amazing little island.   With the long-term goal of establishing the group as an educational and conservation based Non-Profit organization in the Bahamas, our initial goal is to reach out to as many people as possible to let them know that a new effort is being made to advocate for the island they love.   If you could please share our page with your Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and email contacts, we'd appreciate it.  We're also going to be looking for things to promote on our page, whether it be fishing, diving, dolphins, turtles, sharks, paddling, boating, or whatever else people enjoy around little Bimini, so feel free to send us your photos and stories at Bimini.Blue.Coalition@gmail.com Thanks, and here's to a brighter, bluer future for Bimini. ~ If you’d like to have the last word on this or any other mangrove related topic, please send us your submission for upcoming newsletters. We’ll choose one per issue to have “the last word”. While we can’t promise to publish everyone’s letter, we do encourage anyone to post comments on our Blog at www. mangroveactionproject.blogspot.com BACK TO TOP Not yet a subscriber? Click here to subscribe. Please cut and paste these news alerts/ action alerts on to your own lists and contacts. Help us spread the word and further generate letters of concern, as this can make a big difference in helping to halt a wrongdoing or encourage correct action.
Mangrove Action Project