Cablegate: (U) Update On Use of Turtle Excluder Devices

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ABUJA 001678

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR

USDOC FOR NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS ETRD NI OES
SUBJECT: (U) UPDATE ON USE OF TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICES

REF: STATE 168520

1. (U) Action requested, paras five and six.

2. (U) On September 29 Emboffs met with G. N. Shimang,
Director of Fisheries at Nigeria's Ministry of Agriculture,
to discuss an aide memoire and other documentation on
turtle excluder devices (TEDs) that supported an Embassy
demarche to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September
21. Copies of these documents were sent to Shimang that
day.

3. (U) Shimang confirmed that an amended TED Regulation
entitled " Use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and Any
Other Approved Bye Catch Excluder Device (BRD) On Shrimp
Trawl Nets, Regulation 2004" has been sent to the National
Assembly. He expects quick enactment of the bill. We sent
this document to James Story (DOS/OES) as a pdf document
September 30.

4. (U) Shimang confirmed that the proposed dates of January
23-28, 2005 for the conduct of an inspection of Nigerian
shrimp fishing practices and procedures is suitable and he
welcomes the visit.

5. (U) Meanwhile, Shimang requests three copies of the
videotape mentioned as a talking point in reftel to share
with colleagues in Abuja and in Lagos, and at the Nigerian
Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR).
Please send the videotapes c/o Joseph Gregoire, Economic
Counselor, 8320 Abuja PL, Dulles, VA 20189-8320.

6. (U) Shimang also asked that the U.S. National Marine
Fisheries Services help the NIOMR conduct a study on turtle
species, on their breeding grounds and on populations off
Nigeria's coast. (Comment. Please let us know whether the
USG provides such assistance. If yes, could such a project
be initiated in Nigeria? End comment.) Shimang also
expressed interest in on-site TED training for enforcement
and industry personnel. (Comment. Please let us know
whether the USG might arrange for such training in Nigeria.
End comment.)

7. (U) Shimang confirmed, too, that Atlantic Shrimpers
Limited, a Nigerian fishing firm that had participated in
the International Boston Seafood Show and the West Coast
Seafood Show over the past ten years, had recently
conducted a study and reported catching few turtles while
fishing for shrimp off Nigeria's shore. Shimang's office
did not accept Atlantic Shrimpers' findings because no
official from his Directorate or NIOMR or of another
recognized research institute was aboard the company's
vessels when it conducted the study.

CAMPBELL

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