COARE: news | archives | newsletter: January 2011

Already a BANner year for shark and bags . . .
Tuesday, 08 February 2011

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Contents:
  - More Bag Bans
  - CNMI Fin Ban
  - Shark Days
  - Our World Underwater
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Hello, fellow ocean lovers!

The new year is proving to be a busy and productive one
already.  We have a number of great things to report,
and a couple of upcoming events of interest to share.

 ---
  - More bag bans
 ---

The last few months, we've happily been able to report
on the success of various legislative efforts to ban
plastic bags.

In Texas, the South Padre Island City Council voted
unanimously to ban plastic bags.  Compliance is
voluntary until January 2012, when it will become
mandatory.

In California, we have had two more big wins; both Marin
County and the City of Santa Monica voted (4-0 and 7-0,
respectively) to ban the bag.

In Italy, a ban that was passed in late December went
into effect quickly, and as of the first of this year,
retailers may exhaust their current stocks of plastic
bags, but thereafter are prohibited from distributing
new ones.

Many places around the world are considering bans, so
stay tuned!

 ---
  - CNMI Fin Ban
 ---

Speaking of bans, modeled after the landmark legislation
in Hawai'i, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI), passed legislation to ban the sale, 
possession, and distribution of shark fins.

CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial signed the bill into law
on 26 January, making the Commonwealth Islands of Saipan, 
Tinian, and Rota the first U.S. territory to ban shark fins.

Restaurants have 90 days to use any existing stock, but
thereafter face steep fines and possible imprisonment
for non-compliance.

Guam introduced similar legislation (Guam Bill #44-31)
this month, signaling a wonderful trend in protecting
resources in the Pacific.

 ---
  - Shark Days
 ---

Since we're on the topic of sharks, this coming weekend
(12-13 February), the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium
(Monterey, California) will be holding a special
weekend-long celebration of shark awareness and
conservation called "Shark Days", and they've invited 
us to participate.

Come learn about sharks, witness special shark and 
bat ray feedings, hear behind-the-scenes shark stories 
from Aquarium experts, and meet Jim Toomey - the artist 
behind the popular syndicated cartoon "Sherman's
Lagoon."

To learn more about the Aquarium and the Shark Days
event, visit: 
     http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_events/vi_events_shark_days.aspx

 ---
  - Our World Underwater
 ---

We were invited back to Chicago to take part in the Our
World Underwater show, one of the premier consumer dive
shows in the US.  The show runs from 18-20 February, at
the Donald Stephens Convention Center.  If you're
planning to attend the show, come visit us at booth #724. 

For more information, visit www.ourworldunderwater.com. 


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Wishing you healthy oceans, 
 - Your friends at COARE

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