Sample Letter

Mr. Tucker Scully
The State Department Room 5801
Washington, D.C. 20520
fax: 202-647-1106

Dear Mr. Scully:

I am extremely concerned about the uncontrolled pirate fishing for toothfish in the waters of the Southern Ocean. Scientists estimate that at the current rate of fishing, the fishery would collapse within two years. In addition, many thousands of vulnerable species of seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, are dying on hooks intended to catch toothfish. The entire Southern Ocean ecosystem is at risk.

The United States is a major market for toothfish. The only reason that the pirate fishery for toothfish exists is because markets are available to them. Licensed fishing provides a cover for illegally caught fish to be sold internationally. It has been recognised that CCAMLR's Catch Documentation Scheme will be insufficient to end the trade in illegally caught toothfish. I am very concerned that consumers and fish buyers cannot be confident that a pirate vessel did not catch the toothfish in their supermarkets and restaurants.

Until pirate fishing in the Southern Ocean is eliminated and seabirds are no longer killed, I demand that the US government ban trade in toothfish.

As a member of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), our government has both the opportunity and responsibility to act on behalf of this fragile ecosystem. I urge you to demand a moratorium on fishing for toothfish in the Southern Ocean, backed by a trade ban, until the pirate fishing is eliminated. We should oppose the resumption of fishing for toothfish in the Southern Ocean until it can be demonstrated that the fishery can withstand the impact of commercial fishing and that effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are in place to prevent the return of pirate vessels. Yours sincerely,

Regards