Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Photographic identification guide of south atlantic seabirds

June/ 2007. Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) published the first Photographic Identification Guide of South Atlantic Seabirds, a complete visual guide for scientific observers embarked on fishing ships, developed by Mark Royo Celano (scientific observer and professional photographer). FVSA, with the support of American Bird Conservancy, printed 500 guides that will be delivered among scientific observers of Argentina. FVSA also believes that the knowledge and the awareness about these birds situation are crucial steps for taking better care of them and pushing stronger measures to avoid their extinction. For this reason, FVSA/WWF printed 500 additional books that are available for sale, also in English (to buy a book contact: Guillermo Cañete, gcmarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar).

For further information, contact Florencia Lemoine, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Communications Officer: flmarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5620777.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Strategic plan for Puerto Pirámides development

June/ 2007. FVSA/WWF, with the support of the Swiss and UK embassies, launched the development of a strategic plan for Puerto Pirámides, the whale watching town of the World Natural Heritage Site, Península Valdés. The objective of this participatory process is to organize and regulate the urban, touristy, economic, social and environmental development of this key area of Valdés, visited by more of 250.000 tourists every year.

For further information, contact Alejandro Arias, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Species Coordinator: aamarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5020817.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Research on interaction between seagulls and whales

June/ 2007. The third and last stage of the research project that studies the interactions between seagulls and whales at the Peninsula Valdés have started. It is carried on by the Patagonic National Centre (CENPAT) with the support of the Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina. The data gathering will conclude on December 2007, and the information will allow a reliable situation analysis. This work will be the base for a future management plan to minimise the negative effects of this interaction that is going to be designed and applied by the provincial authorities.

For further information, contact Alejandro Arias, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Species Coordinator: aamarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5020817.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
New web site for artisanal fishermen

July/ 2007. With the support of Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA), the Argentine Union of Artisanal Fishermen developed its own web site, www.uapapesca.org, on-line since July 2007. This site was developed as a tool that gathers information about fisheries, legislation, suppliers, photographs and links of interest, mainly for associated artisanal fishermen.

For further information, contact Guillermo Cañete, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Coordinator: gcmarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5205742.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Agreement between the Seamen's Guild and FVSA

July/2007. The Fundación Azul -institution that belongs to the Seamen’s Guild- and FVSA signed an agreement to promote communication and education actions about issues related to the Sea and its resources. This agreement reflects the strength of the collaborative work of different sectors that work in Argentine waters, and the need to complement and to create synergy between different institutions to reach their own goals. Now, these organizations are already working together developing an educational book, addressed for sailors, about seabirds and its interaction with fishing in the South Atlantic

For further information, contact Guillermo Cañete, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Coordinator: gcmarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5205742.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
A web portal for the San Matías Gulf

August/2007. An important number of public and private institutions from the neighbouring communities to the San Matías Gulf (Province of Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina) have developed, with the support of FVSA, the Web Portal www.golfosanmatias.net. It is a tool for disseminating information about the ecosystem and its people, looking for putting in value the area and promoting the sustainable use of its resources. The portal will be available in English from October 2007.

For further information, contact Florencia Lemoine, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Communications Officer: flmarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5620777.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Marine-coastal protected areas effective management assessment

August/2007. A technical report called “Argentine Marine-coastal Protected Areas Effective Management Assessment” was already finished. It was developed by FVSA, Fundación Patagonia Natural and the Project PNUD ARG 02/018 – Conservation of Biological Diversity and Prevention of Marine Pollution in the Patagonia. This document will be printed and distributed among the authorities of the coastal provinces of Argentina to be used as a base line for future management.

For further information, contact Germán Palé, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Marine Protected Areas Coordinator: geosistemas@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 11 4331-3631 / 4343-4086.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Second year of lectures about sharks and rays

September/2007. The Training and Communication Program on Identification of Sharks and Rays that in May 2007 was included in a National Action Plan for Shark Conservation have started its second year of lectures addressed to students of the National School of Fishing. This program, created by FVSA, have the goal to communicate and to sensitize direct and indirect players about the situation of condricts in Argentine waters, the requirements of information for its evaluation and management and the alternatives for sustainable fishing practices. To achieve this, FVSA coordinates spaces for dialogue to promote experiences exchanging, to obtain feedback about the usefulness of the identification tools (charts ellaborated by the National fishing Research Institute, the National university of Mar del Plata, the Federal Fishing Council, the Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development, Fundación Patagonia Natural and others Patagonian organizations) and to adjust methodologies for the data gathering.

For further information, contact Guillermo Cañete, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Coordinator: gcmarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5205742.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Course about sea turtles

October/2007. Under the frame of the Argentina’s Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Regional Programme (PRICTMA by its words in Spanish), and with the support of FVSA and the National Fish and Wildlife Service (NFWS), an introductory course about biology and medicine of Sea Turtles will be conducted in the National Fishing School. The objective is to communicate basic information about these species and to give tools for monitoring and research. On other hand, these spaces help to make and strengthen bonds with potential partners for researching and sea turtle conservation efforts in Argentina

For further information, contact Alejandro Arias, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Species Coordinator: aamarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5020817.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Testing reflective nets in the Samborombon Bay

October/2007. From October 2007 to March 2008, a group of artisanal fishermen of the Samborombón Bay (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) will test reflective gillnets (winner of the WWF competition “Smart Gear”) in a project to diminish bycatch of Franciscana Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei). The project is conducted by AquaMarina Foundation and FVSA, with the support of WWF, Wildlife Trust and the Chicago Zoological Society. The goal is to assess the effectiveness of a new fishing gear for reducing the bycatch of this dolphin, endemic of South American waters and the most threatened small cetacean of the whole region. The threat is posed mainly by accidental entanglement in gillnets made by subtle material that the dolphin can not detect.

For further information, contact Alejandro Arias, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Marine Programme Species Coordinator: aamarino@vidasilvestre.org.ar, +54 223 4941877, +54 9 223 5020817.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Toward a management plan for San Blas Bay coastal-marine protected area

August/2007. As a part of the process for the development of a management plan for San Blas Bay Protected Area, led by Sergio Salva from “Del Sur” National University, during August a meeting was carried out to chart, through the GIS system, the human activities that take place in the reserve. During the meeting the activities were presented, the conflicts between them were analyzed and the group moved toward reaching solutions. The results of this meeting are a previous step for making a zoning proposal for the area. The attendants were from the fishing and protected areas management provincial authorities, fishermen from San Blas, scientist and technicians from national universities and museums, county’s representatives and staff from FVSA and AquaMarina Foundation.
The goal for the current stage is to present a preliminary report during October 2007.

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Putting in value the Tierra del Fuego's atlantic coast protected area

Otober/2007. The FVSA will publish a communication document about the natural richness of the coastal waters of the Tierra del Fuego´s Atlantic Coast Protected Area. The goal is to highlight such richness and to explain the role that plays as a feeding ground for many marine species of the surrounding areas including the Beagle Channel. Our objective is to advocate the possibility to include a marine sector within the boundaries of the reserve that is now in the process of developing a management plan.

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