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Omega-3 fatty acids slash colorectal cancer risk in men by 66 %

by M. T. Whitney

 Omega-3 fatty acids, found in flaxseed, fish and other foods, may reduce the risk of getting colorectal cancer by two-thirds in men, a new study suggests. There is one caveat, though: the effect is seen in men who do not take aspirin.

Some research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids prevent omega-6 arachidonic acids from promoting cancer in the body. Fatty acids make compounds called prostaglandins, which either become omega-3s or omega-6s. The omega-3 fatty acids suppress the inflammation of cancer, whereas omega-6 acids promote them.

The study found that men with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood had the lowest risk of colorectal cancer. The researchers looked at 178 men with colorectal cancer and 282 cancer-free controls.  Colorectal cancer represents roughly one-tenth of all new cancer cases in the U.S., making it the third leading cause of death among

Americans.

"Blood levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids were associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer among men not using aspirin," the researchers wrote. 

Omega-3 fatty acid is a healing nutrient that helps prevent heart disease, depression, strokes and cancers.  Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are flaxseed, hemp seed, chia seed and, for non-vegetarians, oily fish. Omega-3 fatty acids also have been associated with protecting the heart and improving cognitive function.

Bottom line?

Considerable health benefits have been found from eating the omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed and fish, the most recent being a decrease in the risk of colorectal cancer. www.newstarget.com/021699.html

The study was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention - http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/

131 governments create accord to control illegal fishers

ROME, Italy, March 12 - Illegal fishers beware - 131 governments agreed on March 9 to create a legally binding accord establishing control measures in ports where fish is landed, transhipped or processed in order to combat illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing.

Fishing without permission, catching protected species, using outlawed types of gear or disregarding catch quotas are among the most common fishing offenses.

The decision came during the 27th meeting of the Committee on Fisheries of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization,(FAO), attended all last week in Rome by 131 governments and the European Commission. "FAO can count on our full cooperation and support in this area," said EU Commissioner Joe Borg, responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

Additional consultations will be held in 2007 and 2008 to generate a draft version of the agreement, which will then be presented to the Committee on Fisheries for final approval at the body's next meeting in 2009. The proposed agreement will be based on an existing voluntary FAO model outline of recommended "port state" control measures.

Port state controls include measures such as running background checks on boats prior to granting docking privileges and undertaking inspections in port to check documentation, cargos and equipment. The control measures include training inspectors to increase their effectiveness and improving international information-sharing about vessels with a history of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) activity in order to help authorities turn away repeat offenders.

IUU fishing undermines good management of world fisheries and costs governments money due to lost fishing revenue and funds spent combating it. It has negative impacts on fish populations, including those upon which poor fishers depend.

In addition to delegations from FAO members governments, 41 intergovernmental organizations and 29 nongovernmental organizations also participated in the FAO Fisheries Committee.

Other issues discussed during last week's meeting included responsible fish trade; sustainable growth of the aquaculture sector; illness and poverty affecting fishing communities; the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries; and the strengthening of regional fisheries management organizations and regional fishery bodies. Over the next two years, the Committee on Fisheries asked the FAO to draft technical guidelines on recommended best practices in deep sea fisheries.

The FAO was also asked to produce guidelines on the use of marine protected areas for better fisheries management, conserving marine biodiversity and improving fisheries production. The Committee on Fisheries asked also that the FAO conduct a comprehensive study on the probable impacts of climate change on fisheries in order to begin evaluating necessary management and policy responses.

Plans are in the works to convene an international conference focusing on problems and needs specific to small scale fisheries, which employ an estimated 34 million people in the developing world.

SCI Testifies at Polar Bear Hearings

Opposes of Listing of Polar Bear Under the Endangered Species Act

Safari Club International continued its fight to stop the proposed listing of the polar bear as a �threatened� species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act by testifying at a hearing held by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on March 5, 2007 in Washington D.C.  The FWS is concerned that, within the next 45 years, the alleged impacts of global climate change will put the species as a whole in danger of extinction.  Such a listing could mean the end of the importation into the United States of trophies of polar bears legally hunted in Canada, unless the FWS adopted special rules and permits allowing the import. 

SCI argued that the FWS cannot make a �threatened� finding because there is too much scientific uncertainty about the nature and extent of global climate change, the future impact of any climate change on the arctic ecosystem, and how the polar bear as a species will adapt to any changing conditions.  SCI explained that before making a �threatened� listing, the FWS must have some high level of certainty about these future events.  This certainty is lacking.

SCI also commented that sport hunting of polar bears in Canada brings significant dollars to local native communities and to conservation and management efforts.  Currently polar bear populations overall are healthy and in many places thriving.  Sport hunting of polar bears only occurs under strict quotas issued by Canadian provincial governments.  The FWS currently allows imports only of bears taken from sustainably managed populations.  At the hearing, Doug Burdin, Litigation Counsel for SCI, testified, �Sport hunting, especially by U.S. hunters, brings significant dollars to remote native communities in Canada.  To go along with the intrinsic value these people place on the polar bear, this economic benefit makes the polar bear valuable to these people, encouraging them to better conserve and manage the bear.�

Kevin Anderson, Chairman of SCI�s Legal Task Force, explained one of SCI�s interests in this matter, �It is important that we battle the misuse of the ESA to try to solve climate change problems -- these tasks should not fall to the Fish and Wildlife Service.  Some environmental groups pushing the ESA listing have admitted that their goal is to force the U.S. government to deal with climate change.  This simply is not a proper use of the ESA.�

USA Shooting Hosts Junior Olympic National Championships

Will take place at U.S. Olympic Shooting Center

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. � They are the best and the brightest in their hometowns, and now these young pistol and rifle shooting athletes have converged on Colorado Springs, Colo., for the 2007 USA Shooting Junior Olympic National Championships.  Taking place March 7 � 24, 2007, the event is free and open to the public.  

Young shooting stars from 46 states earned their ticket to the U.S. Olympic Complex based on performances in their state qualifiers.  In addition to the opportunity to compete against their peers, the top men�s and women�s finishers in smallbore rifle, air rifle and air pistol will secure a place on the respective National Development Team for first or second place finishes.  In total, 273 athletes will shoot in the 17-day event.  Each will live, train and compete alongside U.S. Olympic Team athletes and hopefuls at the U.S. Olympic Training Center for the duration of the competition. 

Among them is riflewoman Amanda Furrer (Spokane, Wash.), who was recently named USA Shooting�s February Athlete Of The Month for her performance at the 2007 Rocky Mountain Rifle Championship.  Just six points behind U.S. leader Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.), the No. 6 shooter in the world in women�s three-position rifle, Furrer defeated international sensation Sandra Graziolin of France.  The silver place finish earned her a spot on the Development squad and a ticket to the 2007 World Cup USA in April.

A 16-year-old up and comer, pistol phenom Heather Deppe (San Antonio, Texas) is poised to have an illustrious shooting career.  One year ago in March 2006, Deppe dominated her women�s field in junior Olympic competition by nearly 20 points to secure a position on the U.S. World Championship Team.

For more info: www.usashooting.org  and visit the "news" section.

Hunt Of A Lifetime For Young Hero

Safari Club International is honoring a young Missouri hunter with a trip to Africa to show appreciation for his actions that led to the rescue of two local boys that had been kidnapped.  Mitchell Hults, 15, was the key witness who provided vital information that led to the rescue of Ben Ownsby and Shawn Hornbeck from their kidnapper in January. Mitchell�s sharp observational skills, an important trait for a hunter to have, led police to where the young men were being held and make him a hero.

After hearing of Mitchell�s assistance, Oksana Sparks of Matlou Ranch in Botswana immediately contacted SCI to coordinate how the two organizations could team up to host Mitchell on the hunt of a lifetime. Safari Club International wasted no time in contacting Mitchell and his mother to give them the good news as well as heartfelt thanks for bringing the two boys back to their families.

The local chapter, SCI Gateway, will be providing major assistance in this effort, as well as many of SCI�s sponsors. Through fundraising and other contributions, local members of the organization will provide many of the expenses that a trip of this magnitude can accumulate.

Scheduled to set off for Botswana in June, Mitchell will not only have the opportunity to hunt game that he would never get the chance to see in his usual hunting grounds of Missouri, but will be able to visit with local villagers, to participate in a peer-to-peer outreach program between African children with visiting American children.

Mitchell�s school, Union High School in Beaufort, Missouri, will also be involved with the safari. Through the SafariCare Blue Bag program, students will be able to collect and send school supplies and other items to the local villagers in Botswana, as well as letters and photos as part of a cultural exchange.

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for March 16, 2007

Weather Conditions:

Record warmth occurred across the Great Lakes basin early this week.  Temperatures on Tuesday soared into the 70s in many locations.  Cooler conditions arrived during the day Wednesday, as a cold front pushed through the region. This front touched off some heavy rain showers as well as a few inches of wet snow.  Cooler temperatures are expected for the upcoming weekend and early next week.

Lake Level Conditions:

Currently, Lake Superior is 14 inches below its level of one year ago.  Lake Michigan-Huron and Lake St. Clair are 2 inches lower than they were at this time last year, while Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are 3 and 1 inches above last year�s water levels, respectively.  All of the Great Lakes are at the end of their annual decline, and are forecasted to rise 1 to 4 inches over the next month.  During the next few months, Lake Superior is expected to remain well below the water levels of last year.  Water levels on Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are expected to be similar to last year. See our Daily Levels web page | for more water level information.

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions:

Flow in the St. Marys and St. Clair rivers is predicted to be below average for March. Outflow from the Detroit River is also predicted to be lower than average this month. Flow in the

Niagara River, as well as the St. Lawrence River, is expected

to be above average. Water levels and flows in the connecting channels may be greatly impacted by ice jams.  Ice information can be found at the

Alerts: 

Due to abnormally dry conditions on the Lake Superior basin over the last several months, Lake Superior�s water level is currently below chart datum and is expected to remain below datum through August.  Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.

Ruffe expand eastward in Lake Superior

Poised to migrate into Lakes Huron and Michigan             

The following is a summary of Ruffe surveillance on the periphery and Outside of the Detected Ruffe Range of Lake Superior by USFWS and the Ruffe Control Committee.

Along Lake Superior�s south shore, FWS surveillance activity confirmed major Ruffe expansion 226 km east of Marquette Harbor, Michigan, the previous eastern boundary of the Ruffe range.  A USFWS crew captured one adult Ruffe near Grand Marais, MI, 120 km east of Marquette Harbor.  The Michigan DNR confirmed one adult Ruffe captured by an angler in Little Lake Harbor, MI, 167 km east of Marquette Harbor. 

The USFWS also confirmed two adult Ruffe captured by an angler in the Tahquamenon River estuary, a tributary on the west shore of Whitefish Bay, 226 km east of Marquette Harbor and 55 km west of the Soo Locks.  The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed that Ruffe span the entire length (13 km) of Thunder Bay Harbour of Thunder Bay, Ontario, the eastern boundary of the Ruffe range along the north shore. 

Lake Huron: 

Ruffe were first detected in the Thunder Bay River in 1995, with expansion into Thunder Bay confirmed in 1998.  In 1999, the river catch rate peaked to 11 Ruffe per minute in trawls, then declined to 0.3 Ruffe per minute in trawls in 2000.  No Ruffe have been captured from Lake Huron since 2003. 

Lake Michigan: 

No Ruffe were reported from new locations or Big Bay de Noc, where they were first detected in 2004.  However, MI DNR captured a total of 40 Ruffe from Little Bay de Noc, 18 more than were captured there in 2005.  Little Bay de Noc and Big Bay de Noc of Green Bay continue to comprise the Ruffe range in Lake Michigan.  Lakes Erie and Ontario:  No Ruffe were captured from the Lower Great Lakes.  Ruffe remain undetected in the Lower Great Lakes, and in all inland lakes and streams within the Great Lakes Basin.  For additional information, contact Gary Czypinski (715-682-6185), Ashland Fishery Resources Office, Ashland, Wisconsin.

Lake Michigan chinook fishing continues to be excellent

MILWAUKEE � For the fifth straight year, anglers enjoyed fantastic chinook fishing on Lake Michigan, reeling in the second highest number of fish in 40 years, according to recently analyzed angler surveys.

�The fishery that�s out there is world-class,� says Brad Eggold, the DNR fisheries supervisor for southern Lake Michigan. �Anglers caught nearly 400,000 chinook again, which is phenomenal, and the fish are bigger, which is an encouraging sign.�

Anglers caught 398,905 chinook in 2006, second only to the 418,918 anglers reported catching in 2005, based on the angler or �creel� surveys conducted from mid-March through October. The 2005 haul represented the most chinook anglers reported catching since creel surveys started in 1969, and the 2006 haul is close behind.

�It�s a tribute to everybody�s work on this issue: fish managers, fish propagation staff, sports groups, anglers, agencies and groups that have worked to help reduce PCBs in Lake Michigan and dramatically improve water quality in Lake Michigan and its tributaries. All of these efforts have resulted in chinook surviving and thriving and providing fantastic fishing,� Eggold says.

Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan first began stocking nonnative trout and salmon in the late 1960s to control exploding populations of alewife, an exotic forage fish, and continued to do so because the �kings,� as chinook are also known, became popular sportfishing quarry. The Wisconsin chinook fishery relies on stocking, with the vast majority of the 1.4 million chinook Wisconsin stocks coming from the Wild Rose Fish Hatchery, which is now undergoing a major renovation.

Efforts by these states� fish management agencies, as well as anglers� support and funding for DNR fisheries management programs on Lake Michigan, have helped propel the chinook fishery to the best five years of fishing in terms of catch rates and harvests, he says.

Overall, anglers caught 531,885 Lake Michigan trout and salmon, the fifth highest total harvest over the last 20 years. Harvest of other Lake Michigan trout and salmon stayed about the same or dropped slightly in 2006 as more Lake Michigan anglers focused on chinook, which they were catching at a faster rate and closer in.

�The word is getting out that you can go 1 to 2 miles out in Lake Michigan and catch 18-19-20 pound chinook,� Eggold says. �We saw more anglers fishing Lake Michigan and targeting chinook in 2006.�

Eggold and other fisheries officials are also encouraged that the 2006 chinook are bigger and in better condition; while anglers in recent years have been catching record or near-record numbers of chinook, the fish were increasingly skinny. Their average weight fell to 8.6 pounds in 2005, down from 9.8 pounds in 1995 and 13 pounds in 2001; fishing tournaments similarly reported a decrease in the weight of fish caught by their participants.

Fishing tournaments in 2006, however, reported more 20 pounders; one fish, caught off the port of Kewaunee, weighed 36 pounds 4 ounces after being out of the water for over five hours; and chinook returning to the Strawberry Creek weir, where DNR staff collect chinook eggs for hatching, were bigger in 2006 than in 2005, according to Paul Peeters, fisheries supervisor in Sturgeon Bay.

Peeters believes the increased size reported in 2006 underscores that better balancing the forage base with the number of chinook in the big pond will lead to bigger, healthier fish. He says that the 25 percent lakewide reduction in stocking that Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana started in 2006 will help continue improving fish condition and assure good survival of stocked fish in coming years.

A chart showing overall trout and salmon harvests, and harvests broken down by species, can be found on the DNR Web site.

Illinois Senate Considering Gun Ban

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is warning Illinois sportsmen, hunters and gun owners of a proposed semi-automatic ban being debated in the Illinois Senate. The legislation, Senate Bill 16, would ban the purchase, possession and manufacturing of many semi-automatic firearms (rifles, pistols and shotguns), individual parts from these firearms and magazines.  Enactment of the legislation, pushed by anti-gun Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and his

allies in the legislature, would also create a registry of existing or grandfathered-in firearms owners who would have 90 days to comply with the registration process or face arrest and felony prosecution.

NSSF is urging all hunters, gun owners and sportsmen to contact their state senator, telling him or her to oppose this legislation.

U.S. Open Trap Championships return to Sparta

May 10-13

World Shooting and Recreational Complex center of attraction

SPARTA, IL- Illinois DNR Acting Director Sam Flood announced that the U.S. Open Trap Shooting Championships will return to the Sparta World Shooting and Recreational Complex (WSRC) May 10-13.  In conjunction with Southern Promotions Inc., the IDNR will host the event made possible by major sponsors White Flyer, Winchester, and Browning.

In July of 2006, the U.S. Open made history by being the first trapshooting event ever held at the WSRC, and hosted nearly 1,500 shooters competing for $10,000 in cash and prizes in ten different events. In 2007, shooters will compete for over $15,000 in prizes and additional money over the four day shoot in May. 

Trapshooting is a specific form of clay target shooting and a

game of movement, action and split-second timing. It requires the accuracy and skill to repeatedly aim, fire and break a 4 1/4 inch disc, which is hurled through the air at a speed of 41 mph, simulating the flight path of a bird fleeing a hunter. 

The U.S. Open will kick off the first of three major shooting events at the WSRC in 2007.  The complex will also host its first ever Skeet Shooting event when the Briley Skeet Shoot makes it's debut at the Complex in June, and the ATA Grand American, the world's single largest Trap Shoot, will return to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in August.

The WSRC is state of-the-art 1,600-acre shooting facility which features 120 trap fields extending along a 3 � mile shooting line.  Public shooting opportunities (except during major shooting events) are available on trap fields nearest the WSRC Events Center and vendor mall for the convenience of recreational shooters.  Open trap shooting is available from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily at a cost of $5 for each 25-target round.

Spring trout fishing season opens April 7

Rainbow Trout stocked at 42 locations in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, IL � The 2007 spring trout fishing season in Illinois begins at 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, Illinois DNR Acting Director Sam Flood announced.

The IDNR stocks more than 60,000 rainbow trout in bodies of water where spring trout fishing is permitted.  The trout stocking program in Illinois is made possible through the sale of inland trout stamps.

To legally participate in the trout fishing program, anglers must have a valid Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp.  Annual fishing licenses for the 2007 season will be valid through March 31, 2008.  Anglers may also purchase Illinois� 24-hour fishing license, which includes trout fishing

privileges for the 24-hour period the license is valid.  A license is required for fishing in Illinois unless the angler is under age 16, blind or disabled, or is an Illinois resident on active military service who is home on leave.

Anglers may not take trout from any of the stocked sites from March 15 to the opening of the season on April 7 at 5 a.m.  Anyone attempting to take trout before the legal opening will be issued citations.  During the spring trout season, the daily possession limit for trout is five fish.

Anglers are reminded to check in advance for any site-specific regulations and the opening time of their favorite trout fishing location.  While the statewide spring trout season opens at 5 a.m. on April 7, some locations may have a later opening time.