An urgent message and appeal from the American Fisheries Society and

Fisheries Conservation Foundation

(January 27, 2005)

TSUNAMI FISHERIES RELIEF FUND

More than 200,000 people are now known to have died after a 9.0

earthquake off the coast of northern Sumatra gave rise to a tsunami on

December 26, 2004. Coastal and artisanal fisheries and

aquaculture-dependent communities in the Indian Ocean region have suffered

disproportionately given their locations and economic status. The desire

to avoid unplanned and unsynchronized rehabilitation activities has

galvanized like-minded organizations of fisheries professionals in the

region, including the Network of Aquaculture Centers of Asia (NACA), Food

and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Support to

Regional Aquatic Resources Management, World Fish Centre, South East Asia

Fisheries Development Centers, and Bay of Bengal

Programme-Intergovernmental Organization to develop a Consortium to

Restore Shattered Livelihoods and Rebuild Communities in

Tsunami-devastated Nations (CONSRN), to oversee the restoration strategy

for the fisheries and aquatic habitats upon which these communities

ultimately depend. The Consortium's strategy will involve broad

participation and will be based on the needs of the community and the

resources upon which they depend. The American Fisheries Society (AFS)

and the Fisheries Conservation Foundation (FCF) are pleased to announce

their partnership with this important initiative and are encouraging

financial and technical assistance of individuals and groups to help

restore the livelihoods of fisheries and aquaculture-dependent

communities, and the aquatic habitat and resources they depend on.

The AFS, through its International Fisheries Section, and with the help of

the World Council of Fisheries Societies, will assist in three main areas:

(1) financial support through individual contributions.

(2) technical support through member delegations working in the

field, and otherwise arranged through CONSRN.

(3) donations of gear and scientific equipment, from individuals and

corporations, arranged through CONSRN.

AFS has established the 'Tsunami Fisheries Relief Fund' (TFRF) at

(www.fisheries.org/html/tfrf.shtml). Donated funds will be disbursed

totally to projects specifically focused on fisheries restoration

throughout the impacted region.

Offers of field assistance will be coordinated through CONSRN to ensure

efficiency and consistency with consensual strategies that are developed.

Gear needs assessments throughout the region are ongoing. Early reports

indicate that Malaysia and Thailand may not need this type of assistance,

but that gear and equipment may be badly needed in other affected

countries. While we with AFS and FCF recognize the importance of

restoring damaged facilities/ cooperatives and getting fishers up and

working again, we are also acutely aware that the tragic loss of lives

carries with it immense grief that will complicate these tasks, and

mandate sensitivity on the part of the CONSRN members engaged in recovery

efforts. As a CONSRN partner, we will be strongly supporting efforts to

work towards ecologically sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices

through the restoration process.

This modest effort of the AFS and FCF is meant to complement larger

programs for restoration and relief. By focusing on fisheries programs, we

can engage the large reservoir of knowledge and compassion of AFS members

and friends around the world.

(See: http://www.enaca.org/register.php for NACA updates and information

on the CONSRN, and updates from the region.)

Please consider supporting this focused effort to assist the

tsunami-impacted region and its fisheries programs.

(www.fisheries.org/html/tfrf.shtml).