Keith Woolford Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Chiriqui and Veraguas Unite to Conserve Ecosystems The regional directors of the Ministry of the Environment of the provinces of Chiriqui and Veraguas formalized inter-agency coordination platform along with other governmental entities, in order to coordinate technical, scientific and administrative actions for the sustainable use of resources and conservation of ecosystems, and facilitating the management of human activities. During the activity, the regional directors Yilka Aguirre and Rogelio Rodriguez of Chiriqui and Veraguas respectively pointed to the need for audit of the marine protected areas of the provinces among which are the Marine National Park Gulf of Chiriqui, Wildlife Refuge of the Barqueta, the Mangroves of David, The Coiba National Park and the Wetland of International Importance Gulf of Montijo. Both stressed the importance of institutions such as the National Service (SENAN Naval Air), the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and the authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP) every time that for the audit of the MiAmbiente protected areas is a difficult task due to its extension and the little staff with that account, however the support of the institutions will have a better response capacity and presence in them. Through the platform the institutions coordinate and undertake actions to ensure compliance with the joint actions for the sustainable use of resources and conservation of ecosystems. In addition allows the optimization of resources and limited staff with whom have, thus increasing its capacity to respond to the illegalities and generating with its presence a reduction in the number of violations. The structure has its own www.plataformadecoordinacion.com web site as well as an application for mobile devices, called "vigilant of the Sea", which allows all the users in the provinces of Chiriqui and Veraguas make complaints about illegalities that affect the navigation, the environment and coastal and marine resources. http://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/Instituciones-esfuerzos-ecosistemas-recursos-sostenibles_0_944005953.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 Much of the waters around Isla Coiba in the Gulf of Chiriqui are in a Marine Preserve and as such are off limits to commercial fishing, but there's little enforcement and a lot of cheating. The Sea Shepherd Society had a boat in the area, the M/V John Paul DeJoria, which was apparently was cutting the long lines of some Panamanian fisherman. One of the fishing boats then rammed the DeJoria, a larger vessel which is registered in Barbados. They're all at the dock now as authorities sort it out. The Sea Shepherd Society had also been providing classroom education on marine conservation at public schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundageba Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Lots of dark deeds going on in that area. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bakke Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) Don't believe everything you read in the news or online. A friend of mine, whose boat was right there, and is intimately familiar with fishing regulations, told me that NONE of the boats pictured above was fishing illegally. Imagine, then, that your fishing nets are purposely severed by a third party. BTW, neither the "Sea Shepherd" or "Dejoria" was ever rammed as stated. Edited July 6, 2017 by Gordon Bakke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BD Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 27 minutes ago, Gordon Bakke said: Don't believe everything you read in the news or online. A friend of mine, whose boat was right there, and is intimately familiar with fishing regulations, told me that NONE of the boats pictured above was fishing illegally. Imagine, then, that your fishing nets are purposely severed by a third party. BTW, neither the "Sea Shepherd" or "Dejoria" was ever rammed as stated. I guess you are saying that fake news has finally made its way to Panama. How sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bakke Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Groups that are represented by the "Sea Shepard" and such have their own agenda(s). It really doesn't make much sense to me to faithfully believe what ever they have to say without at least listening to the other side. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) Well, I heard you and I'm not defending anyone, but did you at least watch the video, Gordon? I see a fishing boat altering course and booting the engine hard while directly aiming for the port bow of the larger vessel. There are photos and video attached to the report I put up. You're offering some third party observations. As was stated, the boats are in port while it gets sorted out. 1 hour ago, Gordon Bakke said: It really doesn't make much sense to me to faithfully believe what ever they have to say without at least listening to the other side. Edited July 6, 2017 by Keith Woolford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bakke Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Yes, I watched it, and as I said, it appears to me that this was an angry response by fishermen whose line was illegally cut. Any sign, in the video of a ship being rammed? Nope. BTW, Bruce's smaller white charter boat can also be clearly seen in the video. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 AMP has withdrawn the permit previously issued for the vessel M/V john Paul DeJoria to navigate in Panamanian waters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 16, 2018 Moderators Share Posted June 16, 2018 Quote An impact study of sports diving in Coiba Park will be performed Fri, 06/15/2018 - 10:24 The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) will carry out a study on sports diving sites, identified in the Management Plan of the Coiba National Park Protected Area (PNC), to establish the loading capabilities of the site. A statement, released Thursday by the scientific organization, indicated that own funds will be used to finance the lifting of the baseline of information on sports diving sites in the protected area of Coiba and the regulations for the Special Zone of Marine Protection. This monitoring program, which will begin in July 2018, will have data collected by researchers, which will establish the load capacities and limits of acceptable changes for an adequate management of the marine environments of the aforementioned National Park subject to visitation. According to the agency, the scientific information that STRI will generate could correct the deficiencies of the Public Use Plan (PUP) identified by UNESCO. In addition, it aims to improve communication with tour operators for the responsible management of each site and visitors who arrive at the site. We cannot allow the PNC to enter UNESCO's world heritage in danger list, which is not an option for us," said Héctor Guzmán, STRI researcher, who will be in charge of the new monitoring program. According to STRI, the 1,700 hectares of coral reefs and communities of the PNC are considered to be the most extensive in the eastern Pacific. Last January, the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) of Panama stated that the Board of Directors of the Coiba Park adopted the PUP proposal and then the Regulation of the productive activities that take place in the Special Zone of Marine Protection of the Coiba National Park. Both documents were sent to UNESCO, which expressed some concern, recommending its revision and adaptation with scientific information. After the adoption of the PUP, local organizations that demonstrated in opposition, assured that the haste to approve the PUP was due to MiAmbiente's need to access a loan of 62 million dollars granted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to support of a preservation. The protected territory consists of the island of Coiba, the largest of the Central American Pacific, eight smaller islands and 30 islets, which make it one of the most extensive and diverse marine parks in the world. The Coiba National Park forms part of the Marine Corridor of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, which also includes the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve (Ecuador), the Isla del Coco National Park (Costa Rica), the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (Colombia) and the Gorgona National Natural Park (Colombia). http://www.panamatoday.com/life-style/impact-study-sports-diving-coiba-park-will-be-performed-7084 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted September 12, 2018 Moderators Share Posted September 12, 2018 Quote A new coral species is discovered on the Panamanian island of Coiba Tue, 09/11/2018 - 19:13 A new blood-red octocorals species was discovered recently in an underground mountain near the island paradise of Coiba, located in the Panamanian Pacific, reported today the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama (STRI) The new species belongs to the "Thesea" family and was named "Thesea dalioli" in honor of biologist Ray Dalio, whose "valuable" work has been fundamental in the field of marine exploration, said the scientific organization. The characteristics that makes the new species different from others are "the thickness of the branch, the size of sclerites or the bright red color of the colonies," the institute explained. It was discovered in an underwater mountain known as Hannibal Bank, located 60 kilometers from the Panamanian Pacific coast and integrated into the Coiba National Park, considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2005. "After only two expeditions with submersibles up to 300 meters deep, we have identified 17 octocorals species in Banco Hannibal, including the discovery and description of three new species," said Smithsonian marine ecologist Héctor M. Guzmán. The soft and hard corals, the expert said, "have therapeutic, neurological, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and help bone repair." "Our ability to contribute to the understanding of soft corals and their habitats, depends not only on the constant funding for the use of submersibles, but also on our continuing ability to obtain research permits to continue working in the Coiba National Park," he added. The park is made up of the island of Coiba, the largest in the Central American Pacific, eight smaller islands and 30 islets and is considered one of the most extensive and diverse in the world. It is part of the Marine Corridor of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, which also includes the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve (Ecuador), the Isla del Coco National Park (Costa Rica), the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (Colombia) and the National Natural Park Gorgona (Colombia). The Smithsonian is a recognized research center that depends on the US Government and whose headquarters for Latin America is located in Panama. https://www.panamatoday.com/life-style/new-coral-species-discovered-panamanian-island-coiba-7819 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 16, 2019 Moderators Share Posted June 16, 2019 Quote OPINION: Panama’s endangered heritage Posted 15/06/2019 The design of the governance of the Coiba National Park represented a model of public and private collaboration that aspired to ward off the dangers of the politicking of the management of this protected area. Instead of the institutional strengthening of this scheme, the Ministry of Environment of the outgoing government undertook tactics to silence civil society and to distribute funds of the National Park among the mayors of the neighboring municipalities. The diligent action on the part of environmental groups that went to the Supreme Court obtained a favorable decision that orders MiAmbiente (Environment Ministry to leave these funds intact. However, in another ruling, the Court authorizes it to continue with the nefarious project of the airport for tourist purposes, and supposedly security. This judicial decision requires a convincing reaction from the public: Coiba does not have the capacity to receive mass tourism. The risk that this entails for the exceptional flora and the unique fauna in the world that are present on the island should shame us. Unesco already announced that next year Coiba could enter the list of assets in danger, which would amount to a jarring note in the image and in the country brand that Panama is trying to promote. The only possible development is that in harmony with nature: we defend the island of Coiba, the island Boná and all our natural heritage. -LA PRENSA, June 15. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-panamas-endangered-heritage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 16, 2019 Moderators Share Posted June 16, 2019 For those interested in learning more about Coiba, please see: http://www.coibanationalpark.com/ https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1138 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coiba among other sites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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