Louis Rossignol
01-21-2008, 08:07 PM
VIEW FROM THE HELMby Dennis O’Hern
2008 will be a critical year for fisheries management. In the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, severe restrictions on gag and other grouper are slated to be implemented by the Councils. Gulf anglers face the specter of prime offshore fishing areas’ control being usurped by the National Marine Sanctuary people under a plan code-named 'Islands In The Stream'. The Sanctuary people are already saying “nothing will change”. If that is the case, then why are they doing it?
Offshore fishing effort is plummeting. Boats, tackle, bait… all are down in sales as is the infrastructure supported by recreational fishing. Record high fuel prices and an assurance of continuing escalation of fuel prices will surely conspire to reduce offshore effort.
The Gulf Council meets in St. Petersburg Jan 28-31. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR WEDNESDAY, January 30, 1-5:30 pm FOR PUBLIC INPUT. YOU NEED TO BE THERE! More Information is below. Stand up, be counted and make a difference. Are you a registered voter? Time to remind the regulators about the "..government of, by and for the people". We, my friends, ARE the people. And we shall prevail.
Gag and Red Grouper continue to confound the logical thinker. Red Grouper are recovered (and were NOT in trouble when our bag limit went to two fish, then one). Where is our restored bag limit? Gags appear healthy by ALL anecdotal evidence (DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? DIDN'T WE TELL THEM THIS ABOUT RED GROUPER?) yet we face a 40% reduction in landings, achieved via a one gag bag limit and a longer closed season. What is the impact on our economy and our heritage?
Amberjack are slated to be reduced. The Council has heard your message of keeping one fish per angler for the recreational angler.
One of the Gulf Council’s own members, Dr. Bob Shipp, testified to Congress that the Red Snapper stock is healthy in the Gulf. This is in direct contrast to the National Marine Fisheries Service declaration of overfished and overfishing occurring. Why does NMFS ignore the facts?
The rush is on to force IFQs (Individual Fishing Quotas) on the recreational fishery. This is a bad idea for large, multi species fisheries like the grouper/snapper complex, which seems to be the first target of the multi-million dollar recreational IFQ push.
Are you a registered voter? Time to remind the ivory tower occupants about the "..government of, by and for the people". We, my friends, ARE the people. And we shall prevail.
One more thing…. Check out the FRA ANGELS 2008 CALENDAR. Wow! Go to www.thefra.org/calendar.htm (http://www.thefra.org/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLKA/www.thefra.org/calendar.htm) to see for yourself. Get yours now and support the FRA.
Dennis O’Hern
Executive Director
2008 will be a critical year for fisheries management. In the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, severe restrictions on gag and other grouper are slated to be implemented by the Councils. Gulf anglers face the specter of prime offshore fishing areas’ control being usurped by the National Marine Sanctuary people under a plan code-named 'Islands In The Stream'. The Sanctuary people are already saying “nothing will change”. If that is the case, then why are they doing it?
Offshore fishing effort is plummeting. Boats, tackle, bait… all are down in sales as is the infrastructure supported by recreational fishing. Record high fuel prices and an assurance of continuing escalation of fuel prices will surely conspire to reduce offshore effort.
The Gulf Council meets in St. Petersburg Jan 28-31. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR WEDNESDAY, January 30, 1-5:30 pm FOR PUBLIC INPUT. YOU NEED TO BE THERE! More Information is below. Stand up, be counted and make a difference. Are you a registered voter? Time to remind the regulators about the "..government of, by and for the people". We, my friends, ARE the people. And we shall prevail.
Gag and Red Grouper continue to confound the logical thinker. Red Grouper are recovered (and were NOT in trouble when our bag limit went to two fish, then one). Where is our restored bag limit? Gags appear healthy by ALL anecdotal evidence (DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? DIDN'T WE TELL THEM THIS ABOUT RED GROUPER?) yet we face a 40% reduction in landings, achieved via a one gag bag limit and a longer closed season. What is the impact on our economy and our heritage?
Amberjack are slated to be reduced. The Council has heard your message of keeping one fish per angler for the recreational angler.
One of the Gulf Council’s own members, Dr. Bob Shipp, testified to Congress that the Red Snapper stock is healthy in the Gulf. This is in direct contrast to the National Marine Fisheries Service declaration of overfished and overfishing occurring. Why does NMFS ignore the facts?
The rush is on to force IFQs (Individual Fishing Quotas) on the recreational fishery. This is a bad idea for large, multi species fisheries like the grouper/snapper complex, which seems to be the first target of the multi-million dollar recreational IFQ push.
Are you a registered voter? Time to remind the ivory tower occupants about the "..government of, by and for the people". We, my friends, ARE the people. And we shall prevail.
One more thing…. Check out the FRA ANGELS 2008 CALENDAR. Wow! Go to www.thefra.org/calendar.htm (http://www.thefra.org/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLKA/www.thefra.org/calendar.htm) to see for yourself. Get yours now and support the FRA.
Dennis O’Hern
Executive Director