U.S. Embargoes Costa Rican Shrimp for Failure to Use Turtle Excluder Devices
The US State Department will announce today that Costa Rican shrimp exports to the US will be banned until further notice because of Costa Rica's failure to enforce a US law that requires shrimp fishers to use Turtle Excluder Devices.
Apparently, Costa Rica failed an announced inspection by the US departments of State and National Fisheries this summer. The US turtle-shrimp law (P.L. 101 162, section 609) requires nations who export shrimp to the US to use "comparable" sea turtle protection measures US shrimpers are required to use, namely a device called a turtle excluder device (TED).
In May, sea turtle biologist Randall Arauz released the results of his study funded by the Costa Rican Ministry of Science Technology (MICIT), testing a modified turtle excluder device (TED), known as the "Tico TED, " on Costa Rican vessels.
In spite of the full support of the local Puntarenas Chamber of Fishermen, general non-compliance by vessel captains did not allow for proper testing and scientific analysis.
Arauz, Central American director of the environmental organization Turtle Island Restoration Network, based in California, Texas and Costa Rica, and President of the Costa Rican environmental organization, PRETOMA said, "I have conducted investigations in every country in Central America, and none of these nation's shrimpers are using TEDs either. The US should be even-handed, and embargo the shrimp of every Central American nation. To do otherwise, is simply unfair to Costa Rica."
Todd Steiner, executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network, who had previously sued the State Department for its failure to implement the law properly said, "Costa Rica shrimp fishers' non-compliance with TED laws is a chronic problem occurring throughout the world that is well known by US government officials, who conduct announced-in-advance inspections only to find shiny new TEDs that show no wear, and are sometimes sewn in upside down. While we applaud the US for finally enforcing the provision of the turtle-shrimp law, we seriously question the timing of dropping this embargo bomb in the middle of the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC)-- with Costa Rica serving as host and Secretariat of the treaty organization, and playing a progressive role in its in administration."
Steiner called the embargo timing "the result of some bureaucratic comedy of errors, or worse." Steiner also noted that the heavy-handed action comes on the heels of US shrimpers' pleas for economic relief made to their representatives in Congress, including calls for tariffs on imported shrimp to help ease the low price shrimpers are being paid for their catch as they try to compete with cheap imports (see US shrimpers, below).
Arauz said, "The way to help sea turtles from drowning in shrimp nets is to work effectively with the fishermen." In addition to working with the Puntarenas Chamber of Fishermen to create a TED that works well in Costa Rican waters, the conservation organizations arranged to bring down US shrimper and inventor of the TED, Sinkey Boone, of Darien, GA, to help Costa Rican shrimpers learn how to properly use TEDs. Boone is in Costa Rica right now and is planning to meet with the Costa Rican shrimpers this Friday (8/22).
Boone said, "Once they (Costa Rican fishers) know how to make them (TEDs) work right, they will see with their own eyes that TEDs not only save turtles, they improve shrimp catch by reducing unwanted 'bycatch' and allowing you to trawl longer. You can get a better price for the shrimp because it's not squished or broken by the trash, and it reduces wear and tear on the nets by expelling the unwanted debris."
Texan
gets 24 years for fraud
A key player in a scam that catered
to tax protesters and members of the so-called
"patriot movement" was sentenced to 24
years in federal prison.
Steven C. Moreland, 35, of Tyler, Texas, had
defended himself throughout the two-year
prosecution, alleging conspiracies by the
government and defense lawyers to silence him
and his partners from telling the world about
investments that circumvent taxes and routinely
pay returns of 120 percent a year.
The government showed at trial, however, that
Moreland and the mastermind of the scam, John
Wayne Zidar, were operating a Ponzi scheme that
bilked some 3,200 investors in the United States
and Canada out of more than $74 million in one
of the largest frauds in Washington
history.
Federal prosecutors have recovered about $20
million from bank accounts controlled by the
defendants in Samoa and elsewhere.
The scheme preyed on the fears of people on the
far right, outlining conspiracies that
threatened the imminent collapse of the world
financial market. They offered haven in a
nonexistent "private financial arena"
through a series of investment clubs.
The scheme was discovered after an employee at a
small branch bank in Enumclaw told federal
regulators that more than $40 million had run
through an account belonging to one of the
principals in the company.
Much of that money went to banks in Costa Rica
and Samoa. Some of the investment officers,
including Moreland, bought new houses, boats and
race cars.
U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein — with
whom Moreland had tangled throughout the
prosecution — urged him to cooperate with the
government in helping recover what was left of
the funds. When he refused, she sentenced him to
24 years, four months in federal prison.
Zidar was recently sentenced to 30 years in
federal prison.
Five others in the scheme have pleaded guilty or
been convicted at trial, including Zidar.
Charges ranged from conspiracy to commit mail
fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
Summit
Concludes with Coffee Fiesta
-Thousands of revelers treated to a night of Latin American music, delectable cuisine
Taiwan News
Who could say "no" to such an invitation, especially if it means sipping a cup of this fragrant brew with presidents from seven countries?
Energized by the sweet aroma of coffee, thousands of people reveled in an evening of cultural entertainment, delectable cuisine, and other exotic charms from the Central American and Caribbean regions last Thursday night.
It was the perfect evening on a hot summer night in the heart of Taipei's trendy Hsinyi shopping district for the "Latin American Coffee Festival." The coffee event capped a successful international summit between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies.
"We are honored by your visit to Taiwan. This summit has made important progress on strengthening the ties between our people," said President Chen Shui-bian, joining the massive crowd that welcome the foreign leaders.
"Tonight, we are enjoying the gifts of our Latin American friends. This is a good way for the Taiwanese to know more about our diplomatic partners."
At the Coffee Festival, the Montunos Big Band, Social Salsa Club, and Barrio Latino groups provided the music that had people dancing all night long. Following the fireworks that welcome the presidents, Taiwan's hottest teen sensation, May Day, went on stage to provide the night's entertainment.
Sponsored by the Central American Trade Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event featured a wide variety of coffee drinks, snacks made from coffee beans, and other products from Latin America. Booths housing those countries' tourism offices were also set up.
During the summit, a few questions concerning the impact of Taiwan's financial contributions to foreign nations were raised by the local media. This was answered by Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize in his keynote speech at the summit.
"Today we celebrate more than a decade of accomplishments. The ROC has made concrete, positive contributions to people's lives in our region. (This) generated tangible results," Musa said.
"Thanks to the generous contributions of the ROC, Central America has been able to strengthen its regional institutions - building capacities to face the challenges that threaten our democratic way of life (including) poverty alleviation programs, environmental degradation, natural disasters, and the promotion of economic activities."
President Alfonso Antonio Portillo of Guatemala added: "Taiwan's efforts in transforming itself into a democracy and an economic power are well-known. You are a good model for us Central American countries, and we can learn a lot from you."
Along with the leaders of Guatemala and Belize, President Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica, President Francisco Flores of El Salvador, Vice President Jose Alberto Diaz of Honduras, President Enrique Bolanos of Nicaragua, and President Mireya Moscoso of Panama attended the Taipei summit.
Also taking part at the high-level talks were secretary to the President of the Dominican Republic, Sergio Grullon and
Secretary - General Oscar Alfredo Santamaria of SICA, an organization for regional cooperation and integration of Central American nations.
It was Taiwan's biggest foreign affairs undertaking this year.
The summit concluded with the signing of a free trade agreement between Taiwan and Panama - a historic first for Taiwan - and a joint
communiqué that called for stronger partnership between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies, support of international recognition for Taiwan, the boosting of bilateral trade and investment promotion, and the push to reach the goals of Central America's regional integration.
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