Press Release: January 5, 2011
MANAGERS OF SEASMART TAKE LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER FUNDS AND DELIVER SUSTAINABLY-COLLECTED AQUARIUM LIFE TO AQUARISTS
Embargoed until 5 January at 6 p.m. p.s.t. – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) – EcoEZ, creator and manager of the PNG SEASMART Program, announced recently it is taking legal action to recover funds owed by the PNG National Fisheries Authority (NFA). SEASMART, the supplier of supply sustainably-collected marine aquarium animals from PNG, has been operating in the country since 2007 as part of a government-subsidized trial program set to end after 2010. The withholding of funds during the last quarter of 2010 caused SEASMART to halt collection and export of PNG marine life.
Recovering funds will allow the Program to resume operations and move forward with supplying sustainably-collected marine aquarium life to hobbyists in North America.
SEASMART gained widespread recognition amongst North American marine aquarists in 2010 as a result of, among other things, improvements in animal transit time and frequency from PNG to Los Angeles, the collection of some rare and high value species like the PNG lightning maroon clownfish, and increased interest in—and demand for— sustainably-collected aquarium animals. The keynote address at the 2010 MarineAquarium Conference of North America (MACNA) featured representatives from EcoEZ, NFA, and the Office of the PNG Fisheries Minister, who all represented PNG and the SEASMART Program. This event further increased market demand for what were considered to be some of the best wild-caught animals available to sustainably-minded aquarists. The withholding of funds, which led to operations being shut down in the fall of 2010, meant that SEASMART could not meet that demand.
“The EcoEZ PNG SEASMART Program is committed to meeting the demand of aquarists who want to use their purchasing power to support sustainable wild collection,” said a SEASMART spokesperson. “Whether we move forward as part of an extended government trial program, as the private contractor working with NFA, or as an independent company working with provincial governments, we are committed to continuing to assist the people of PNG in creating and operating a truly sustainable marine aquarium fishery. Most parties to this Program, at all levels in PNG and beyond, would like to see the work continued and expanded.”
The SEASMART Program was founded as a joint venture between the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority and U.S.-based EcoEZ. SEASMART has been working in Papua New Guinea since 2007 to establish a sustainable and equitable marine aquarium trade there.
Contact: Judy Vosseler communications@ecoez.com
Please feel free to spread the word about these conditions to other hobbyists in your area. At the very least, it is good to be informed. According to the SEASMART fanpage on Facebook, the best thing we can do is continue to ask our local stores to bring in sustainably caught fish (and corals) from the SEASMART program. By getting our stores and their suppliers demanding product from SEASMART, it will put pressure on the agencies involved. If some in the trade industry have the ability to be of assistance, the contact information above is for you to use.
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