Bearzi's Lament

By William Rossiter

Why can't we actually do something? Speak Up! In a lament echoed by scientists and conservationists all over the planet, Dr. Giovanni Bearzi, of Tethys Research Institute, Italy, recently commented in a professional journal about dolphins, tuna and swordfish in his Mediterranean research area disappearing as their prey, anchovies and sardines, were wiped out by overfishing. Fifteen years of effort to stop the heavy toll by pelagic gillnets hasn't succeeded. Pollution in all forms is increasing. He said, "Sometimes, it seems so hopeless."

His point is that science has fulfilled the initial need to prove the facts and clarify the trends; human threats are wiping out too many creatures and habitats. He points out that celebrating the documents, meetings or workshops as "successes" is worthless because authorities instead "commission additional planning projects rather than coming to grips with implementing the recommended actions." But he hasn't stopped trying, publishing the "Action Plan for the Conservation of Cetaceans in Libya" in late 2006.

Conferences and workshops produce agreements and appropriately named "laundry lists" of things to do. But nothing may be done if the cost is considered prohibitive or the plans call for policy changes that conflict with powerful socioeconomic interests. Scientists waste so much time writing reports and recommendations that authorities never translate into action. "Needs more study" is their rubber stamp excuse. CSI has long criticized "feel-good" conferences, where gifted people present conclusive data and creative concepts, but there is no record and everyone just goes home and forgets.

Bearzi adds that, "Even sanctuaries and protected areas sometimes function as an excuse, as a way of allowing officials to say, `Look, we just created a new protected area - what more do you want?'" Some sanctuaries in the US serve as examples of this hesitant, bureaucracy-mired process.

CSI would add that necessary remedies often are ignored if they affect the pockets of the powerful; money rules. Bureaucrats and politicians, unwilling to say that openly, will seize on the Great Excuse of our decade: they will shift from denying global warming to blaming all troubles on climate change, and then deciding that nothing can be done anyway.

But it's Bearzi's conclusion that we agree with most, and we should all accept the challenge: "what is desperately needed to promote marine conservation is public pressure. Politicians and governments are highly concerned with signals coming from their electorate. If the public were more demanding and managed to raise their collective voice in calling for serious efforts on the part of governments to preserve marine ecosystems and animal populations, regardless of the social and economic costs, there would be a greater chance for the action plans to be removed from the drawer and put back on the agenda." "Managing to build this kind of awareness among the general public is probably the greatest of all conservation challenges. Changing human behavior even slightly and influencing the public perception of what is truly valuable and worth protecting is essential."