Posting on behalf of the critically endangered Nassau groupers. See below Please consider:1) signing the petition and sharing through your network2) participating in the NOAA-NMFS comment period
[Initial message provided by Dr. Yvonne Sadovy from Hong Kong University] > > NASSAU GROUPER NEED ATTENTION > > There are two ways in which you could support attempts to better > protect the Nassau grouper - Bahamas petition for aggregation closure > and US government consultation under Endangered Species Act. > > In both cases please act very soon. > > ONE: Add your name to a petition in the Bahamas to call for > aggregation protection this season calling for the Nassau grouper > closed season to take place between December 1st and February 28th. > Since 2004 The Bahamas has been implementing country-wide closed > seasons during the winter spawning months on a year to year basis. > This has enabled this species of fish that is so important to > fishermen, the public and our ocean to reproduce in peace. Protection > during this critical spawning period will help ensure that we will > have fish for the future for the benefit of current and future > generations of Bahamians. Please voice your support for confirming > this as an annual closed season. > http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=hqxo4dcab&v=001OwqOR7yhbtV9odCRyUE40qRG9jzxL1iltY_ery1Viith6wTsM3JypVcBV7g0luD_myEp_0GXbWThWFl3_61LQhSvaIDib36FIKwhT2NF_W8%3D > > TWO: The US government is in the middle of a comment period after > making a 90-day finding on a petition to list Nassau grouper > (Epinephelus striatus) as threatened or endangered under the > Endangered Species Act (ESA)? There is sufficient information to be > concerned and to do a review of the status of this species to > determine if the petitioned action is warranted. There is a > consultation period ending December 10, 2012. > http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/nassaugrouper.htm. Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D. Independent ScientistTwitter: @GrouperDocBlog: http://grouperluna.wordpress.comhttp://independent.academia.edu/SarahFriasTorres