Fishing Regs - Frustrating as a recreational Anglr

[bigmackattack]

So i was reading this article this afternoon. Its a bit frustrating as a recreational angler...

www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/pinellas/questions-over-fishing-limits-02112011

The part i am referring to in particular is when i hear a commercial fisherman say this and this is not being taken out of context,

""It's heartbreaking to go out there and have to throw 1,000 pounds of gag grouper back," he explains.

He's talking about the 1,000 extra pounds of gag grouper the crew caught. By law, they can only keep 280 pounds.

"When we're throwing thousands and thousands of pounds of fish overboard, with a majority of them being dead due to regulations, something's wrong," Spaeth says."

When i read something like this, "thousands of pounds", my question then comes down to the fishing methods. If your only alloted 280 pounds? What are they doing that they over shoot this quota, and how is it that, "most of this excess" is returned dead? Obviously we are not using hook and line here.

Seems like there is a fault, quota or not with the methods used to capture such a massive fishing quantity. I mean, im all for science, but when i read about such waste, in the wake of a Grouper closure that keeps all recreational anglers from harvesting even 1 fish it makes my blood boil.

Granted, both recreational and commercial anglers can agree that the scientific methods used are flawed statistical measures, but if we are going to be force fed regulations then isnt it only fair that both sides embrace change? If the commercial waste due to the weight quota is 720lbs who is really stressing the fishery the most? I assume this is a per trip quota with a maximum quota being in effect that would put a ceiling on this waste. Either way, the excess returned to the sea would be astounding as there are numerous commercial fisherman out there.

With that in mind, can you honestly tell me that a 1 fish limit, at least, per angler who realistically only gets out one day a week, yes some are blessed with more time and opportunity, is really putting the majority of the stress on a fishery? It seems to me that the antiquated science used and the outdated commercial fishing methods are really the larger problem. So if we as recreational anglers must embrace change, then lets get real and expect the same for the commercial guys.

I respect them as businessmen, but something else has got to change. My right to take a harvest a natural resource should not be usurped for the economic benefit of someone else. I am for fair and balanced regulation. Right now; however, the pendulum is definitely swinging in the wrong direction.

This isnt just a "Gag reflex", look at the red snapper as another example. What worse, its only a matter of time before another species gets the same treatment. Taking away access to one fish will only stress an alternative species...so this is a self perpetuating cycle. Lets find a real solution, one that both the commercial fisherman and recreational anglers can live with, and lets use our American ingenuity and brain power to develop a scientific method that is well, "scientifically and statistically sound".

Tight lines,

BMA

[dadflyer]

The Viking fleet has already left Florida, with an expanation:
02/10/11 at 09:07 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Capt Paul G Forsberg

"Let us have our jobs back!"

My name is Paul G Forsberg and I am the owner of Viking Fleet which operates fishing party boats out of Montauk NY, New Bedford MA, Quincy MA, and formerly from Tarpon Springs FL. I would like to bring to your attention an issue which has not been in the media, and has garnered a lot less attention than it deserves. The issue is the unnecessarily harsh fishing regulations imposed on fishermen all along the Southeast and Northeast Atlantic coast line- impacting negatively the recreational sector of the industry as well as the commercial and party boat businesses. Millions of jobs have been lost unnecessarily. Read on to find out more!

The Magnuson- Stevens Fishery conservation and Management Act of 1976 and its two major amendments in 1996 and 2006 is the governing force behind the policies and regulations the fishing communities have been burdened with. The 2006 amendment of the act puts forth a timeline for rebuilding fish stocks which lacks flexibility, thus destroying the fishing industry. The act lays out a plan for rebuilding stocks along the Atlantic coast- many of which are on track, or have already been rebuilt by as much as 200% in the case of the porgy (scup) fisheries.

The agency behind the scientific research conducted in an effort to estimate the fish populations and their health is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its Fisheries Service. In a report to the US Congress, the agency itself has declared 85% of fisheries examined in 2009 to be rebuilt. Somehow, the numbers are being ignored and the strict regulations implemented are in direct conflict of what we know about the fish stocks. Almost all fisheries are at healthy levels, yet us fishermen are being denied access to those fisheries and our livelihoods and means of supporting our families and communities are being destroyed.

The recent appointment of Jane Lubchenco by President Obama as a head to NOAA's Fisheries Service is another development that has gone under the radar. Dr Lubchenco's past career appointments include serving on the Pew Ocean Commission. She has also received a Pew Fellowship in the amount of $150,000. Pew as an organization pumps some 5 billion dollars into research aimed at promoting extreme environmental ideology and bad science. The fishing industry has no chance of survival- we cannot fight a 5 billion dollar behemoth whose protege currently holds one of the most powerful positions in fisheries management. We need a non-bias, moderate appointee in that position. Her appointment was protested in New England, and her resignation has been asked for by many, including Senator Barney Frank.

One of the proposed policies put forth by Dr Lubchenco's team is that of "Catch Shares". Catch Shares basically convert our oceans and the fish stocks into commodities that will be doled out by the government to fishermen in the form of permits which will allow a preset catch. Fishermen will then be allowed to sell or rent their shares to others in the industry, and the catch shares will be a percent of the so called "Total Allowable Catch" or TAC. The TAC will be mandated by the government. To put it in Dr. Lubchenco's own words, Catch Shares are: "A negotiable stock that fishermen can sell as they go out of business, allowing them to exit with some cash." Catch Shares are a politically correct way of saying fishermen will be forced to take a pitiful severance package as they are made to exit the industry without a chance of survival.

My business employs 50 employees in our Northeast locations during the height of the season. At one point that number was in the 60's. Business has been going downhill and we have lost a number of our employees. We were forced to close our Tarpon Springs, Florida port completely due to the unnecessary and harsh fishing regulations, which has cost the local economy millions of dollars. In addition we were forced to lay off 12 of my employees in Florida, and the situation is looking grimmer every day. This is not isolated to just the fishing industry. It is a catastrophic chain reaction which has hurt tackle shops, restaurants, the hospitality industry and the entire tourism industry as well. These industries employ millions of people. Why can't we put people back to work? If you want to create jobs and get us back on the right track- let us fish! The fish stocks are healthy, but we are told to sit back and watch as we lose our freedom, our right to fish, and our right to support our families and communities.

We need room to breathe. We need to go back to work. We need to preserve our right to fish. We need to pass S. 1255- Flexibility in Rebuilding Fisheries Act of 2009 sponsored by Senator Chuck Schumer-NY and cosponsored by Kristen Gillibrand-NY, and H. R. 1584 originated by Frank Pallone. The two bills aim to introduce flexibility to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which in its current format is used as a tool to destroy the fishing industry. That will be the first step in reviving our coastal industries and returning some much needed jobs as well as creating new ones!

I was at a meeting in Tampa, FL on Monday Nov 8th, organized by the Gulf Council. The issue discussed was Sector Separation in the Recreational Fishery. It was brought to my attention during that meeting that as far as the government is concerned in the Gulf of Mexico, fishing is no longer a right. It is now a privilege. No one seems to know when our fishing rights were stolen from us by the government and when it became a privilege in the Gulf of Mexico. I have a section of my website dedicated to articles and news pertinent to the plight of our industry. You can visit www.vikingfleet.com to read more about what has been taking place under the radar for over a decade of struggle to preserve our right to fish.

Sincerely,
Capt. Paul G Forsberg

Thanks for the explanation Capt. Forsberg - unfortunately , this is the start of "sector separation" , or more appropriately "Catch Shares ".
This is the first wave of assault on fishing , and just because it starts with the commercial fishermen, don't think for a minute that it is going to end there ! It will impact on recreational fishing too .

[dadflyer]

Sorry , I failed to make my main point about "Sector Separation" or "Catch Shares".

Since "catch shares" can be traded ($), bought ($) , sold ($) , and shared for money , it means that our fishery is a commodity which has a price tag. NOAA /Gulf Council/EDF has put a price on your fishing rights , and calls it a priviledge ; I don't recall anyone or any legislation giving any branch of Federal Govt. the authority , or the the right to sell our fishing rights out from underneath us.

Sector Separation , or true name "Catch shares" is a management program to control the fishermen ,... not the fishery !!

Do something ~ at least read this and acquain yourself with the problem :
www.theFRA.org/fishing_matters_to_me.htm

Dadflyer
"Political correctness is tyranny with manners." - Charlton Heston

[bigmackattack]

Dadflyer,

Very interesting read. Share quota trading is ctually very common. Unfortunately. They use a similar program for carbon emissions whereby you buy the right to pollute. Sad that everything has a price. We are all fighting a common battle. We want the right to fish. I hope to get more involved personally.