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January 2, 2012
NBC News’ Rock Center Features the Plight of Divers in Honduras
Shining a Light on Lobster Imports to the U.S.
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An important story on the plight of divers in Honduras, an issue the Global FISH Alliance’s (G-FISH) Spiny Lobster Initiative has focused on for three years, was featured on NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams on Monday, January 2, 2012.  The video can be found on the NBC website as well as news articles entitled “Dying and disabled in Honduras, in pursuit of lobster to sell to the U.S.” and “Doctor's quest to save injured lobster divers”.  Lobster demand from the U.S. has led to over fishing and unsafe and destructive fishing practices in Honduras.  The G-FISH Spiny Lobster Initiative, managed by nonprofit FHI 360, has worked with local stakeholders in Honduras for the past three years to improve the safety and management of the spiny lobster fishery to support the divers and their livelihoods. Overall, G-FISH promotes better management practices to increase lobster populations, enhance livelihoods, and conserve biodiversity.  With Dr. Elmer Mejia as a member of the Initiative, G-FISH has supported safe diving trainings for boat captains and divers along the Miskito Coast. 

The Global FISH Alliance has partnered with more than 30 local organizations, businesses, and the government in Honduras to reform the lobster fishery by empowering local stakeholders.   FHI 360 manages the Alliance that is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and partners including Conservation International, Environmental Defense Fund, National Fisheries Institute, Seafood Choices Alliance, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, Wildlife Conservation Society, WorldFish Center, and World Wildlife Fund. 

The Alliance has also been actively reaching out to U.S. companies and buyers to raise their awareness about the labor and environmental issues around scuba dive-caught lobster through the Know Your Source (www.knowyoursource.org) campaign.   The Global FISH Alliance is working to convene importers, retailers, and restaurants in the U.S. to discuss options to improve the social and environmental conditions in Honduras.  This Alliance encourages all interested individuals and companies to contact the Global FISH Alliance at gfish@fhi360.org to learn more about the meeting and how to participate.  

For more information about G-FISH or to support to this work, please visit www.globalfishalliance.org. Look for an official press release in the coming days.