Maine Department of Marine Resources hosted visitors from the People’s Republic of China’s State Oceanic Administration

Maine Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish, NACLEC Leadership Academy Cohort 1 graduate, was among those welcoming the Chinese delegation.  As part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Leadership Program, the Maine Department of Marine Resources hosted visitors from the People’s Republic of China’s State Oceanic Administration on Thursday, January 28, 2016. The visitors included Ms. Danhong Chen with the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.
(3rd from right), Mr. Jilu Wu with the China Institute for Marine Affairs (2nd from right), and Mr. Antao Wang with the Department of International Cooperation
(far right). Discussing Maine and U.S. fisheries enforcement were (left to right) U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant J.G. Pierre Spence, Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher, NOAA Supervisory Enforcement Officer Eric Provencher, U.S. Coast Guard Commander Jamie Frederick, and Maine Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish.

California and Louisiana Men Charged in Smuggling of Protected Turtles to China

Men from California and Louisiana are accused in court records of smuggling protected turtles to China.  Raymond Chiu, 72, of Foster City, California, and Eric Cottrell, 44, of Minden, Louisiana, are scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in federal district court in New Orleans, the online court documents show.

Judge Ivan Lemelle set Chiu's bond at $300,000 and Cottrell's at $25,000. Both are charged with smuggling, with transporting or acquiring wildlife for illegal uses, and with conspiracy to do so.

Read the story here

Editorial: A Job Well Done - Arkansas Director Mike Knoedl Retiring

There's a good reason why so many people in Arkansas think the state's Game and Fish Commission will bring back the bobwhite quail. Because the state's Game and Fish Commission is good at that sort of thing.

The director of the Game and Fish Commission, one Mike Knoedl, says he's going to retire. His term will expire in July, along with everybody's hunting licenses. The opinion of most in the know is that Mike Knoedl was one of the good ones. And government can use all the good ones it can get.

Read the editorial here

Tanzania - Helicopter Pilot Killed By Elephant Poachers While Flying Anti-Poaching Mission

(CNN)A British helicopter pilot was fatally shot by elephant poachers while flying an anti-poaching mission in Tanzania, a member of Parliament and a conservation fund said Saturday.

Roger Gower was working with Tanzanian wildlife authorities when the poachers fired on his helicopter and fatally wounded him Friday, said Dan Friedkin, chairman of the Texas-based non-profit Friedkin Conservation Fund.

See the CNN story here