FISHERIES: In December, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization took steps to eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. The FAO resolution called for immediate proper implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing, effective monitoring and enforcement of each nations' fishing vessels, development of national plans of action on ethical fishing, and in general, encouraged cooperation among nations and regional management bodies as they all strive to eliminate unsustainable practices. IWMC applauds Japan for taking leadership responsibility in these matters.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) has taken steps to limit the increase in tuna farming operations in the Mediterranean, and to make sure that trading of tunas shall be limited to "duly registered" tuna farm operations, according to a news item in Isaribi, No 39. Only tuna from "positive list" farms shall be traded within the system, eliminating rogue tuna operations from the international market.

WHALING: There is good news from the Arctic. Bowhead in the western (American) Arctic as well as those stocks in the Canadian Arctic, are stable and increasing, and both Inupiat and Nunavut peoples can be expected to enjoy harvests this coming season. Canadian stocks of Bowhead are said to be holding their own, perhaps with slight increases, and an animal may be taken in 2004, according to Canadian and Inuit co-management authorities. In further news, an additional Alaskan village may soon share in the Bowhead harvest, according to Inupiat sources. Village authorities are deciding whether or not to share their IWC quota with their neighbors in Point Lay, who are anxiously awaiting this decision. Point Lay never had an IWC quota of its own, and they are looking forward to renewing their whaling tradition.

LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTES: State and federal authorities have uncovered two illegal bear hunting operations in Alaska, and five Alaskans have been charged with poaching black bears, primarily for their gallbladders, which were to be sold to recipients in Korea. So far, parts of 14 illegally killed animals were found in freezers in Anchorage, and the criminals have been charged with conspiracy to illegally export wildlife. The men could serve maximum penalties of five years in prison, three years of probation, and fines of $250,000 each. State and Federal authorities are currently investigating additional cases in which as many as 50 black bears may have been illegally killed for the international gallbladder trade, which is extremely lucrative in parts of Asia, and in certain cities in North America. These cases were reported in the Anchorage Daily News. IWMC applauds the efforts of game wardens everywhere. Wildlife Law Enforcement is an extremely risky profession, and its continued funding and success in investigations is vital to global conservation.