Hey guys-
Steve is still in Mexico, but he asked me to forward this letter that he sent to the AMDA members to you
Hello folks,
I hope to be home tomorrow nite and as such will be more responsible.
I sent a message the other day that I just found out did not go thru. The
internet cafe service here is really good in the tourist areas but not where I'm
at.
This collecting trip has been the most interesting of the year as the
politics of collecting tropicals in Mexico has heated up and I'm more on the hot
seat than usual trying to defend an industry that needs to change a great deal.
The crimes of which the industry is accused of down here are largely true. As an
honest consultant I find I can't knee jerk lie about my industrys terrible track
record in a number of countries but can vigorously defend clean fish collecting
as both sustainable and very beneficial for poor fisherfolk.
Defending the potential to behave better and be our better selves is
the best I can say about the trade as a whole. I mean really...how on earth can
one defend a trade knowingly based on killing off its own resourse base with
cyanide in its very epicenter of diversity? Only a liar could do that. The
Mexico example must lead the way and show the Gringos how to do it clean, proper
and sustainable as we have been in the same village for over 20 years now.
Sustainability,quotas, research and surveys, social benefit, better
pay for poor fisherman and government involvement are all catch words this last
week down here. Its like theres no break from the subject matter
anymore...either here or up there. So I'll be home tomorrow nite still on topic
and ready to get back to business.
I think AMDA can offer much to breakthru some impasses and look forward
to the challenge of doing so.
Sincerely, Steve Robinson
Steve is still in Mexico, but he asked me to forward this letter that he sent to the AMDA members to you
Hello folks,
I hope to be home tomorrow nite and as such will be more responsible.
I sent a message the other day that I just found out did not go thru. The
internet cafe service here is really good in the tourist areas but not where I'm
at.
This collecting trip has been the most interesting of the year as the
politics of collecting tropicals in Mexico has heated up and I'm more on the hot
seat than usual trying to defend an industry that needs to change a great deal.
The crimes of which the industry is accused of down here are largely true. As an
honest consultant I find I can't knee jerk lie about my industrys terrible track
record in a number of countries but can vigorously defend clean fish collecting
as both sustainable and very beneficial for poor fisherfolk.
Defending the potential to behave better and be our better selves is
the best I can say about the trade as a whole. I mean really...how on earth can
one defend a trade knowingly based on killing off its own resourse base with
cyanide in its very epicenter of diversity? Only a liar could do that. The
Mexico example must lead the way and show the Gringos how to do it clean, proper
and sustainable as we have been in the same village for over 20 years now.
Sustainability,quotas, research and surveys, social benefit, better
pay for poor fisherman and government involvement are all catch words this last
week down here. Its like theres no break from the subject matter
anymore...either here or up there. So I'll be home tomorrow nite still on topic
and ready to get back to business.
I think AMDA can offer much to breakthru some impasses and look forward
to the challenge of doing so.
Sincerely, Steve Robinson
If you have information that is contrary to the information presented here by Steve or anyone by all means post it. I welcome differing opinions for to make an educated decision you must know both sides.
