Pete Thomas Outdoors

Hawaii bans shark fins in move hailed by conservation groups

Shark conservation groups are celebrating a small but important triumph after Hawaii on Friday became the first state in the nation to ban the sale, possession and distribution of shark fins.

Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law a bill that will halt the import of shark fins, which are valued as the primary ingredient in soup sold mostly in Asian communities and markets.

It's hoped this will inspire other states and nations to also stop the practice of shark-finning, which entails slicing fins from live sharks and dumping their bodies overboard.

"People from around the world have been following this Hawaii bill every step of the way," said Mary O'Malley of the New York-based conservation group Shark Savers. "The success of the bill has motivated people in Hong Kong, Malaysia, other states in the U.S., Canada and even Ireland to seek shark-fin-ban legislation modeled after the Hawaii bill."

Under provisions of Senate Bill 2169, sponsored by Sen. Clayton Lee, Hawaii restaurants have until July 2011 to stop serving shark-fin soup. Thereafter, those in violation will face fines ranging to $15,000 for a first offense; to $35,000 for a second offense, and to $50,000, plus a year in jail, for a third offense.

Up to 70 million sharks are killed annually for their fins, according to some estimates, leaving scientists and conservation groups to become concerned about the long-term survival of many shark species. The practice of shark-finning has fallen under increasing criticism but efforts to ban the practice globally have failed.

Therefore, regional efforts such as Hawaii's are perceived as highly significant.

"The passing of the bill sends a strong message to the rest of the country and the world that shark finning must end if sharks are to survive long-term, and that we can put a stop to the barbaric annihilation of one of the most important animals in the ocean," said Laleh Mohajerani, president of the Southern California-based conservation group Iemanya Oceanica. "Iemanya will be meeting with California lawmakers during the next few months to make sure that our state follows Hawaii in instituting similar protections for sharks."

Opposition to the bill was limited to commercial fishermen, who had been part of a small mako and thresher shark meat fishery, and some Chinese on the islands. Shark-fin soup sells for up to $45 a bowl in some of Hawaii's restaurants.

-- Photo courtesy of SharkDiver.com

Boaters on Falcon Lake in Texas-Mexico warned about pirates

Falcon Lake in Texas is known for its voracious largemouth bass and other game fish, but this holiday weekend anglers might be too concerned about human predators to enjoy a carefree day on the water.

At least two robberies have occurred since April 30 on the sprawling reservoir, which is on the Rio Grande River and straddles the U.S.-Mexico border. Both incidents involved U.S. citizens who had ventured to the Mexican side of the lake.

This prompted the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Zapata County Sheriff's Office to urge boaters to remain on the U.S. side of the 25-mile-long waterway.

Further, the warning stated, "Fishermen are advised to stay as far away as possible from any of the Argos-type fishing boats typically used as fishing vessels by Mexican fishermen."

The robbers, which also have been referred to as pirates, are believed to be affiliated with a drug-trafficking gang, and armed with AK-47 or AR-15 weapons. They've employed Mexican commercial fishermen to deliver them to their American victims.

In both known incidents boats were boarded by two or more men and the anglers were robbed of cash at gunpoint. There have been reports of a third incident but authorities were unable to contact the boaters to determine if a theft occurred.

The lake will be heavily patrolled during the busy three-day weekend.

-- Pete Thomas

Novice angler spends birthday catching 43-pound halibut

The Memorial Day holiday weekend, for many in Southern California, signals the start of the summer fishing season.

For saltwater anglers this means playing coastal waters for barracuda and sand bass; island waters for white seabass and yellowtail, or even offshore waters for albacore.

But don't overlook halibut. A derby in Long Beach last weekend produced several nice fish, despite tossing seas, topped by a 21-pounder.

But far more impressive was the 43-pound halibut caught early this week by Bill Kampf, 34, while fishing on the Dana Pride, a half-day boat out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing.

The trip was a birthday present courtesy of Kampf's girlfriend, Nina Won. "We have enough halibut to feed the whole block," Kampf said afterward.

Both were novices using rental rods. The catch was made off San Clemente.

-- PTO

Photo: Bill Kampf displays 43-pound halibut he caught on a rental rod out of Dana Wharf. Credit: Dana Pride crew

Yosemite expects holiday crowd but still no Half Dome cables

An odd sight this bustling holiday weekend at Yosemite National Park will be Half Dome with no people following the cable route to the top of the iconic granite monolith.

That's because the cables, which typically are in place by now, have not yet been installed and will not be installed for about two weeks because snow has not yet melted along the trail to Half Dome and on a portion of trail just below where the cables generally begin, creating unsafe conditions.

If it seems as though Yosemite is being overly cautious, it's clear that the park is being exceedingly cautious as it strives--after four deaths in four years on Half Dome--to make conditions safer for the thousands who make the pilgrimage to Yosemite each year specifically to attempt the challenging 16-mile round-trip hike.

For the first time, permits will be required to hike to the top of Half Dome on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays. This interim measure--the park is developing a long-term plan to manage use on the Half Dome Trail--is to alleviate overcrowding, which can lead to falls.

Permits can only be acquired, for a service fee of $1.50, via the National Recreation Reservation Service. No more than 400 permits per day (slightly above the average weekday usage rate) will be issued. Backpackers obtaining wilderness permits can receive a Half Dome permit with no additional reservation required. Rock climbers who reach the top of Half Dome without entering the subdome area can descend using the cables without a permit.

Half Dome news aside, Yosemite is expecting a very large crowd this weekend and the park urges visitors to arrive before 10 a.m. or late in the afternoon to avoid long lines at entrance points. They can also utilize the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation system. Glacier Point Road opens for the first time this season today at noon. Tioga Road, however, remains closed because of snow.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Half Dome courtesy of Kenny Karst

Gulf spill making a mess of Atlantic bluefin spawning grounds

Giant Atlantic bluefin tuna, highly prized and seriously overfished, are being dealt another powerful blow as prime spawning habit in the Gulf of Mexico is being overwhelmed by oil and toxic dispersant chemicals. 

Though there are several populations of Atlantic bluefin, which spend much of the year in the North Atlantic and can weigh up to 1,400 pounds, the largest fish are produced from the stock that spawns in the Gulf of Mexico. Those tuna spawn on the frontal edge of the Loop Current, where a shelf break occurs, not far from the spill site.

"Unfortunately, where the oil spill is occurring is essential bluefin spawning habitat," Barbara Block, a scientist and tuna expert at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, said in a blog post. "These are places that are the most important in our waters to protect."

Block continued: "Imagine a fish with a reproductive strategy where it has to grow from a tiny egg to a 225-pound fish, and then once mature, it goes to spawn in the Gulf of Mexico for 4-6 weeks. If that's your strategy for reproduction, you'd better hope that your spawning ground is just like you left it the year before--warm and clean."

The Hopkins TAG team spent five years working in the Gulf of Mexico trying to establish critical spawning habitat. Research was often carried out as oil-exploration boats blasted with equipment trying to detect the presence of oil, and Block wondered what affect that was having on the many species of fish that utilize Gulf waters.

Now those trying to conserve beleaguered fisheries have more important concerns.

-- PTO

Graphic shows the track from an 8-1/2-foot Atlantic bluefin tuna that was tagged off Nova Scotia. It swam into the Gulf of Mexico, spent several weeks in the spawning area, then departed (yellow track). The dark blob  off Louisiana is the estimated coverage area of the oil spill as of May 3. Credit: Hopkins Marine Station

Hurricane season and Gulf of Mexico oil spill not a good mix

Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins Tuesday and that's significant from an environmental standpoint because if a hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico before the gigantic mess is contained it could hamper cleanup and containment efforts and significantly widen the scope of an already devastating disaster.

A strong storm could actually lift droplets of oil and rain them down upon the land. Meteorologist Jim Rouiller, in a recent Bloomberg News story,  said that if a storm churned into the spill area it'd represent "an unthinkable bio-environmental disaster."

UC San Diego scientist Peter Niiler, in a Discovery News story, said oil "will be everywhere in the Gulf and East Coast of the U.S." if a hurricane enters the Gulf with a large slick still present.

Some are referring the Deepwater Horizon spill, now five weeks old, as Obama's Katrina, in reference to a Category 3 hurricane that killed nearly 2,000 people and caused widespread destruction in New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast region in 2005, and to the slow response by the Bush administration.

So what if another Katrina-like storm, with its ferocious winds, slams the Gulf shore with a giant slick still present? It could not only breach levees but shove oil into the the Mississippi River, stifling commercial navigation.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has used this scenario in drills, so at least there will be some preparedness. The Corps also supports a project to erect sand barriers along the Gulf Coast in places that currently do not seem to be in jeopardy of becoming oiled.

It's wise to plan ahead. Last year only nine tropical storms developed during the Atlantic hurricane season. Experts at Colorado State University are predicting a significantly more active 2010 season, with 15 named storms and eight hurricanes.

The probability of a major hurricane (Category 3-5) making landfall along the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to Brownsville, Texas, is 44%. That's well above the 30% average over past seasons.

There are no storms brewing yet, however, except for that which centers over how the cleanup of this latest spill has been handled.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Hurricane Katrina spins along the Gulf Coast in 2005

Oil spill has national parks, reserves bracing for the worst

Five weeks after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill began, mucky crude is making landfall on Louisiana beaches, placing pelicans and other wildlife in peril.

Gov. Bobby Jindal declared to reporters, "We're under attack here. We've got to protect our coast."

But the entire Gulf Coast and all of its critters are in jeopardy, and to provide an idea of how special this region is from a wildlife standpoint, and as a haven for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, there are 32 national wildlife refuges and eight national parks that could be impacted by the British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon spill.

"Although so far oiled wildlife recovered has been minimal, we expect the number to increase," the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service states on its website.

Seventeen wildlife refuges are in Louisiana and a few, such as the 49,000-acre Delta National Wildlife Refuge at the mouth of the Mississippi, are on the coast.

The Delta refuge, which took a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina and has been affected by past oil spills, will be impacted by this spill, too. The embattled reserve is home to many endangered or threatened species. They include the American alligator, brown pelican, Arctic peregrine falcon and piping plover.

Rosarito Beach unveils $150,000 skate park

Following a pattern that has spread across the United States and cities throughout the world, Rosarito Beach has built a skate park to provide young people in the Baja California city with more opportunities to use their spare time doing something fun and athletic.

"This park is part of our overall efforts to provide positive activities, sports and recreation for city youth," Mayor Hugo Torres said during the unveiling of the $150,000 park on Saturday.

Skate parks everywhere, it's hoped, keep more children out of trouble and skateboarding allows them to become physically fit.

The Rosarito Beach facility, which includes ramps, rails and platforms, was funded by the city and Federal Ministry of Social Development.

It figures to be immensely popular and perhaps someday it'll even produce an X Games-caliber athlete. Rosarito Beach is to be commended.

-- Pete Thomas

Cabo San Lucas-area fishing is finally on the upswing

Fishing is finally picking up off Cabo San Lucas and especially to the north in Baja California's East Cape region.

It's good because landing operators and resort owners are running out of ways to spin news that action was not up to normal springtime standards.

There's still lots of room room for improvement but during the past week marlin became more cooperative, primarily in the Sea of Cortez; dorado and small tuna showed up offshore, and roosterfish finally arrived off beaches, adding to the variety this region is famous for."I think we finally are out of our fishing slump,

said John Ireland, owner of Rancho Leonero Resort at the East Cape.

A side note to East Cape action: Small roosterfish have become prevalent along the shore. Fly anglers using clover-rat patterns  have been catching lots of 3-pound roosters and ladyfish from the beach, according to guide Jeff deBrown of The Reel Baja.

The wahoo bite is surprisingly good for this time of year, with fish from 40-80 pounds breezing from Cabo San Lucas to the San Luis Bank, reports Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas.

Brictson also reports slightly improved striped marlin activity off Chileno and at the Gordo Banks, with caballitos accounting for most. Capt. George Landrum, of Fly Hooker Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas, reports only fair fishing for marlin on the Pacific side of the peninsula, where larger blue and black marlin are sporadically being hooked.

Catch of the week honors belong to East Cape resident Jim Moyer, who bagged a 28-pound snook in one of the lagoons. (Thanks for Gary Graham of Baja on the Fly for this report and the accompanying image.)

Snook, especially large snook, represent an unusual catch in the region. But this has been a highly unusual spring.

-- PTO

Photo: Jim Moyer displays 28-pound snook caught in an East Cape-area lagoon. Credit: Baja on the Fly

Jordan Romero, 13, reaches top of Mt. Everest

Jordan Romero, 13, has reached the top of Mt. Everest, his team announced. He becomes the youngest person to have scaled the world's tallest peak.

Rob Bailey, a spokesman for Romero's climbing party, confirmed that Romero achieved the 29,035-foot summit Saturday morning local time (Himalayan range).

Bailey had few other details. Romero, an eighth-grader from Big Bear Lake, Calif., was climbing with his father Paul and Paul's girlfriend, Karen Lundgren. The trio  now needs to bag Mount Vinson in Antarctica to complete the Seven Summits, or the tallest peak on each continent.

Romeo breaks a record held by Nepalese Mingkipa Sherpani, a female climber who in 2003 summited Everest via the Northeast Ridge Route at 15.

Romero and his two partners, along with three Sherpa porters, also used the more remote and less-traveled north-side route, via Tibet, because he was too young to obtain a permit in Nepal, the starting point for the more popular south route.

His trip was controversial because of his age and the mental and physical prowess required to reach the top of Everest, and because of the dangers associated with a mountain on which a handful of climbers perish each season.

It's too early for the Romero group to celebrate, as it still has to negotiate a descent on the highest of Himalayan giants. But if reports are accurate the kid has indeed stood atop the world, and that is cause for celebration.

-- Pete Thomas