Comments !
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OK
to ignore Congress? Is NMFS above the law?
Hey all-
Have a look at how National Marine Fisheries Service uses YOUR
tax dollars to THWART CONGRESSIONAL MANDATES.
The Jones Amendment was passed to STOP SPENDING MONEY ON CATCH
SHARE (LIMITED ACCESS PRIVILEGE PROGRAMS).
The attached letter is NMFS lawyers saying that NMFS does not
have to obey the law, because the lawyers claim the law is
‘worded incorrectly’.
This agency has GOT to be reminded, from the top down, that THEY
ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO WORK FOR CONGRESS!
In the real world, if you ignore your boss, you GET FIRED. In
NMFS’ world, you just use your lawyers to bend, twist, fold and
mutilate the actions of Congress, then go about your merry, well
paid way.
This should be the basis for a FULL CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT
HEARING. Congress should draft a ‘correctly worded’ letter of
dismissal for Eric Schwaab, Jane Lubchenco and the attorneys who
rendered this opinion.
Send this letter to your congressmen and state representatives.
I am mad as hell. Anyone not outraged by this should QUIT
FISHING, FOREVER.
Denny
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ANOTHER SAD DAY
FOR
THE FISHING INDUSTRY:
NOAA WILL JAM CATCH SHARES DOWN THE THROATS OF ALL FISHERMEN BY
OFFERING CANDY AND MILLIONS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
THAT THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF FISHERMEN AND FISHING GROUPS OR
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS DOESN'T WANT CATCH SHARE FOR ALL
FISHERIES NOW, NOAA IS ON A PATH TO DO WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT
ANY CONTROL OVER THEIR ACTIONS.
BOB JONES
WHY WON'T NOAA SPEND MONEY TO COUNT FISH, ESPECIALLY IN THE
SOUTHEAST, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO REDUCE FISHING?????????
HOW CAN THERE BE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES WHEN NOAA REFUSES TO
COUNT THE FISH OR LOOK AT SCIENCE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN POLITICAL
SCIENCE????
From: Congressional Info
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 4:16 PM
To: Ashlie Strackbein
Subject: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announces New
Grants for Sustainable Fisheries
Good afternoon - please see the news release below (also
attached) regarding the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s
Fisheries Innovation Fund and grants to your district/state. We
wanted to give you advance notice of this news release which is
embargoed until 10:00 AM (EDT) on Thursday 4/28. Please contact
Ashlie Strackbein at (202) 595-2483 or ashlie.strackbein@nfwf.org
if you have any questions. Thank you.
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL APRIL 28, 2011 at 10:00 AM (EDT)
For further information, contact:
Carol Denny, 202-595-2455, carol.denny@nfwf.org
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announces New Grants for
Sustainable Fisheries
Washington D.C., April 28, 2011— The National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation (NFWF) today announced the first round of grant
awards from its Fisheries Innovation Fund, a program launched in
2010 to support sustainable fisheries in the U.S. The 18 new
projects will engage fishermen around the country in the design
and implementation of effective catch-share fisheries.
With the goal of rebuilding depleted stocks and sustainably
managing the nation’s fisheries, the Fisheries Innovation Fund
fosters new approaches to making catch-shares work for
fishermen. “Helping fishermen take the lead in creating more
sustainable fisheries and protecting their jobs is one of the
most important conservation investments we can make at this
time,” said Jeff Trandahl, NFWF’s executive director. “The
Fisheries Innovation Fund supports new ideas, new technologies
and new management strategies that are tailored to meet the
needs of each region’s marine ecosystem and the coastal
communities that rely on them.”
Eric Schwaab, NOAA’s Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
expressed his support for the diversity of the projects
selected. He also noted that U.S. fishermen have been
responsible for some of the most progressive innovations in
fisheries management and science. “The number of projects
exploring new technologies and methods to help refine, improve,
and expand existing programs is testament to the entrepreneurial
spirit of our nation’s fishermen and their commitment to
sustainable fisheries.”
Catch-share management systems dedicate a specific area or
percentage of a fishery’s total allowable catch to individuals,
communities or associations. Studies have shown that they can
help restore the economic and ecological health of overfished
fisheries. In addition to helping achieve sustainability of fish
populations, catch-share managed fisheries reduce the accidental
by catch of marine fish and wildlife.
Seventeen of the 18 grants announced today, which represent more
than $2.25 million in funding, come from NFWF’s Fisheries
Innovation Fund, which is supported by NOAA, the Walton Family
Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. An
additional project in the Gulf of Mexico is supported by a
$200,000 grant from NFWF’s Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife. Most
awards will be matched by additional contributions by the
grantees.
The 2011 Fisheries Innovation Fund grants, listed by region,
are:
Northeast:
Maryland Commercial Watermen-led Catch-shares Design Effort
Grantee: Maryland Watermen's Association
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $100,000; Matching Funds:
$115,000; Total Project: $215,000
This project will extend and enhance the current effort by
Maryland’s commercial fishing industry and its partners to
design a catch-share program for Maryland’s blue crab fishery.
Tracking Catch in a New England Groundfish Sector
Grantee: Sustainable Harvest Sector
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $30,000; Matching Funds:
$30,000; Total Project: $60,000
This project will develop and implement a harvest and quota
trading system in the New England groundfish fishery for fishing
year 2011.
A Sustainable Fishing Community Model: CCFT & Loan Fund
Grantee: Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $185,000; Matching Funds:
$237,083; Total Project: $422,083
This project will launch a Cape Cod Fisheries Loan Fund to
empower fishermen to invest in their own quota and develop a
fisheries management data hub, a comprehensive source of models,
tools, and data.
Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association Fluke Sector
Grantee: Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $86,200; Total Project: $86,200
The project will design an operational catch-share for charter
and party boat captains that will debut as a pilot in 2012.
Catch Share New Entry System: Permit Bank and Sector Synergy
Grantee: Penobscot East Resource Center
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $185,000; Matching Funds:
$110,000; Total Project: $295,000
Partners will develop a process to allow new entrants into the
Northeast groundfish fishery through a permit network, business
planning, and conservation or geographic permit covenants.
Simple Communication System for Sector Vessels and Managers
Grantee: Tri State Fishing Sector
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $68,500; Matching Funds:
$68,500; Total Project: $137,000
This project will improve accountability of quota usage by
simplifying data entry and reporting for the multi-species
fishery with a software program for active fishing vessels.
Designing a River Herring Catch-share for the East Coast
Grantee: University of New Hampshire
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $142,700; Matching Funds:
$1,500; Total Project: $144,200
The project will gather existing scientific information to
design a river herring catch-share, the first anadromous fish
catch-share in the U.S.
Gulf of Mexico:
Electronic Fishery Monitoring for Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish
Grantee: The Ocean Conservancy
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $200,000; Matching Funds:
$126,000; Total Project: $326,000
The project will evaluate electronic monitoring—closed circuit
TVs, gear sensors, and a data storage system— as a viable data
collection and fisheries accounting tool for management of the
Gulf reef fishery.
Comprehensive Reef Fish and Headboat IFQ within the Gulf
Grantee: Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance
Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife Funds: $200,002; Matching Funds:
$95,200; Total Project: $295,202
Nineteen species of Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish will be protected
through the implementation of Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
systems for the remaining commercially caught reef fish and the
establishment of a pilot IFQ for headboat operators (commercial
operators who take paying customers on recreational fishing
trips).
Pacific Coast:
Prepare to Access Opportunities from Catch-Shares
Grantee: Port Orford Ocean Resource Team
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $75,000; Matching Funds:
$10,000; Total Project: $85,000
The project will prepare the Port Orford, Oregon fishing
community for catch-shares management by designing strategies to
protect access to the traditional fishing sectors upon which the
community depends.
Collective Tools for Bycatch Management
Grantee: Ilwaco Fishermen and Marketing Cooperative
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $100,000; Matching Funds:
$210,000; Total Project: $310,000
Collective arrangements will be made in the Pacific coast trawl
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery to manage accidental
bycatch of depleted groundfish species.
Reducing Halibut BycatchThrough Gear Modifications
Grantee: Buccaneer Fishing
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $72,600; Matching Funds:
$80,000; Total Project: $152,600
The applicant will conduct the first systematic evaluation of a
halibut bycatch reduction device for the Pacific coast trawl
fleet and make recommendations on its applicability.
San Francisco Long-Term Fishing Community Stabilization
Grantee: San Francisco Community Fishing Association
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $30,000; Matching Funds:
$295,000; Total Project: $325,000
The project supports the further development of a community
fishing association and will acquire an experimental fishing
permit to participate in the groundfish catch-share program as a
demonstration.
Alaska:
Electronic Monitoring for Alaskan Catch Share Fisheries
Grantee: Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $220,000; Matching Funds:
$161,000; Total Project: $381,000
This project will field-test electronic monitoring on small,
community-based boats now participating in Alaska’s
halibut/sablefish catch-share fisheries.
Alaska Catch Share Plan for the Guided Sport Sector
Grantee: Southeast Alaska Guides Organization
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $205,000; Matching Funds:
$70,500; Total Project: $275,500
In cooperation with the Alaska Charter Association, this project
will support design of a pooled catch-share program which
entails building the sector’s capacity to acquire and manage
commercial halibut quota to increase allocation for recreational
anglers.
National:
eCatch: Web-based Monitoring for Cooperative Fishing
Grantee: The Nature Conservancy
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $150,000; Total Project:
$150,000
This project will enhance a tool (eCatch) that maps and monitors
various aspects of collective fisheries data, to facilitate its
use by other collective fishing arrangements.
Electronic Monitoring to Facilitate Affordable Catch-Shares
Grantee: Fishermen's Marketing Association
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $200,000; Matching Funds:
$275,000; Total Project: $475,000
The project will test whether video can accurately determine
species identification for fish that will not be retained (bycatch).
Community-based Fisheries Trust Network
Grantee: Ecotrust
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $200,000; Matching Funds:
$304,877; Total Project: $504,877
The project supports the emergence of effective community
fishing organizations and business plan development for members
of this network on both the West and East coasts.
Capt Bob Zales, II |
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The David & Lucile Packard
Foundation's Financing Fisheries Change
An Enviro Primer On Owning Our Fish, Leasing Them Back,
Maintaining Control , & Making A Fortune To Boot
In a brazenly
open move to attract investors to EDF’s catch share movement
plans which will privatize our public marine resource, the David
& Lucile Packard Foundation, an anti-fishing environmental
group, in conjunction with Jason Winship’s Sea Change Investment
Fund, have released through Manta Consulting a 120 page document
entitled “Financing Fisheries Change.” This document clearly
explains the procedure to make huge investment dividends from
our marine resources after the Environmental Defense Fund,
through their shill EDF Jane at NOAA, forces catch shares on
both the American recreational and commercial fishermen. Simply
put, Financing Fisheries Change is a primer on how environmental
groups can purchase, or provide funding to purchase Individual
Fishing Quotas (IFQs) then lease them back to the American
fisherman. The lease revenues will provide a solid cash flow for
the environmental groups and their foundations and investors
while maintaining ownership of the fisheries’ IFQs. IFQs that
will appreciate in value yearly while giving complete control of
the fisheries to the enviros through the wordage in each lease
agreement. It will allow them to dictate fisheries management
policy. Policy that could include creation of Marine Protection
Areas (MPA), spatial, and time and area closures, and size
restrictions without the need for government regulation or
recreational fishing organization input. It is a pure genius
scheme and a win-win situation for the environmentalists at a
tremendous cost to both domestic recreational and commercial
fishermen.
.
Captain Len Belcaro
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Will flawed data close gulf gag
in Florida waters?
The National
Marine Fisheries Service is pressuring the state of Florida to
submit to closures, lost jobs and economic devastation based on
flawed data and outdated science. $3 billion dollars in
economic activity and more than 5000 jobs will be lost
PERMANENTLY if state gulf waters are closed to recreational
anglers. The Florida FWC will take action on the closure issue
next week, on APRIL 6th.
You can stop this travesty
if you take action now.
Get more information
and pick up the ACTION PLAN at
www.thefra.org/gagaction1.htm
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Latest Letter to Senator Mark
Begich >
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Per Denny O'Hern, head of Fishing Rights Alliance:
Reef Fish Battle has gone to D.C. FRA demands
solid science...not garbage!
A
U.S. Senate subcommittee met in Washington this week to discuss
implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), which has been
used to shut down or severely a number of fisheries in
Florida's offshore waters as well as other coastal states.
The central problem is that the
federal councils were directed by the reauthorize MSA to end
over fishing immediately ( inter PEW), so they have moved
precipitously to shut own harvest of many species where the
evidence of reduced numbers is either nonexistent or outdated.
Per Dennis O'Hern, " In their harvest surveys, they make a very
limited number of phone calls to
randomly
selected households, most of which have no tie to offshore
fishing, and that they use this information as a major part of
determining how many fish the recreational segment is
harvesting. There's no way that sort of data collection results
in anything but
GARBAGE,
and
yet they're shutting down the fishing industry with it. It's
basically destroying a historic aspect of America's coastal
towns and these are unlikely to come back. The efforts to end
overfishing are more likely to end fishing instead."
And what about fish released: The Gulf Council is responsible
for Florida waters up to nine miles out. Per Mister O'Hern:
"The Gulf Council says recreational anglers caught 4 million
grouper in 2009 and that 33 percent of those fish did not
survive release - 1.3 million of them. The state of Florida, out
there doing head boat tagging and getting real information,
observed only a 1-percent mortality for fish caught in 100 feet
of water or less."
Biologist for the State of Florida, FWC, such as Mister Butch
Oayala, actually go out on head boats & collect, on the
water...not behind the desk, up-to-date scientific data. Real
data that NOAA refuses to use. This real data would not support
Catch Shares. Per Mister O'Hern, "You can ask anyone who fishes
for reef fish how the numbers are for gags, for red grouper or
for red snapper, and they will without exception tell you there
are more fish in more places than there have been at any time
since electronic fish finders were invented, and yet the feds
insist that we are out of fish."
"IT
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE."
In Conclusion:
"We're not
against
reasonable
rules that protect and improve the fishery. We just want them
based on
solid
science." Mister Dennis O'Hern, FRA. |
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From:
THARB333
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 5:30 PM
To: Mark Hubbard
Subject:
Awesome Power of the American People!
NOAA/NMFS/SAFMC is now operating in contempt of Congress;" In,
"Contempt" of the American people. We, the peoples of this great
land, have had enough; we are not going to take it anymore.
Lubchenco's legacy to EDF, & PEW will not be realized at our
expense. Today, the fight continues. Bought and paid for
"Shares" to catch OUR (not their) fish is completely
unacceptable. We will not pay dearly for the privilege of
participating in our sport. "Freedom" will prevail! No
Shares/Separation. The awesome power of the American people is
about to be unleashed.
SUMMARY
This sums up why we are fighting:
The MS-RA-2007 instructed NOAA/NMFS to fix its fatally flawed
science and data by Jan 1, 2009. The intent was that once
critical science and data issues were resolved, NOAA/NMFS would
aggressively enact measures to end overfishing by Jan 1, 2010.
Many of the science and data deficiencies that needed to be
addressed were clearly pointed out by a Blue Ribbon panel of the
best scientist in the country in the National Research Council
of the National Academy of Science report to Congress. In
summary, and I quote from the text presented to Congress, “The
designs, sampling strategies, and collection methods of
recreational fishing surveys do not provide adequate data for
management and policy decisions.”. Reviews were done in 2002,
2004, 2006, and consistently highlighted the same deficiencies.
The deadline of Jan 1, 2009 is over 2 years late, and still most
of the items identified have not been corrected. Instead of an
aggressive campaign to reform core science and data
deficiencies, we have watched $54 Million budgeted for Catch
Shares, $40 Million for Spatial Planning, and another $18
Million requested to be reallocated from Fishery Science and
Research to Catch Shares implantation.
It has become apparent that NOAA/NMFS is intentionally
neglecting the MSA-RA-2007 mandate to address core science and
data issues. This is not what Congress intended or instructed in
the MSA-RA-2007. NOAA/NMFS/SAFMC is now operating in contempt of
Congress and we are petitioning Congress and the Inspector
General’s office of the Commerce Department to investigate the
deliberate and intentional disregard of the Jan 1, 2009
deadline, and the subsequent aggressive implementation of
fisheries management policies with the full knowledge that the
underlying science and data was, is, and continues to be
inadequate for proper management and policy decisions. We are
demanding that the leaders in NOAA/NMFS/SAFMC give a full
accounting of why they did not meet the prescribed deadlines,
why they did not notify Congress of the non-compliance, and why
they continued to enact management policies knowing that they
did not have the Congressionally required science and data
foundation?
The awesome power of the American people is about to be
unleashed! Bob |
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From:
Bob
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 9:36 AM
To:
Subject:
Gulf Council & SAFMC
So exactly who does the CCA actually represent?
On behalf of the Gulf Council:
On Ed Sapp: "He is a proven entity to roy who will not cause
problems." This is the problem! Roy is going to decide who he
can work with. Ed is a known quantity and has strong CCA
support. So much for the CCA!
On behalf or the SAMFC:
On behalf of CCA Florida and our 11,000 members: "We strongly
recommend Mister Geiger for an additional three year term. He
has a proven record of conservation decisions." Anti-fishing
decisions!
The positions in question are for the so called, Recreational"
representatives. Both Sapp & Geiger have proven track records of
strongly supporting every anti-fishing regulation coming across
their desks. Who are they representing?
Bob Harbison A very concerned native Florida Recreational
Fisherman |
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Red Snapper and Amberjack Limited Seasons Announced
Heads
up!!!!!!!! It’s official!!!!!!!
Just received a call from the NMFS.
RECREATIONAL RED SNAPPER
SESSION FOR 2011
OPEN JUNE 1
CLOSE 12:01 AM ON JULY 19.
This means 48 days as 7-18 will be the last open day.
GREATER AMBERJACK
CLOSE JUNE 1 THRU JULY 31
current projection is that the season may remain open thru the
end of 2011.
COMMERCIAL GREATER AMBERJACK SEASON
FOR 2011 IS JUNE 17.
CLOSE 12:01 AM JUNE 18,
LAST DAY TO FISH
Capt Bob Zales, II
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Gulf Council
motions made at their last meeting>
Summary: Here's some
hard data for you guys, far superior to the BS anecdotal
stuff in the St. Pete article. Please share with whomever, including the
media. -Bob
Robert L. Shipp, Chair
Department of Marine Sciences
University of South Alabama
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MEDIA
ADVISORY:
Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees to
Hold Joint Oversight Hearing
More possibly
good news. Clearly folks are beginning to let their legislators
that our government is costing us jobs by the excessive
regulations placed on us from all sides. We will keep you
informed or the results as we receive them. Thanks to Mark Brown
for passing this on.
Bob
Note that Eric Schwab of NOAA and the pacific coast fishermen
will be testifying.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jill Strait or Spencer Pederson
or Crystal Feldman
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 202-226-9019
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees to Hold Joint
Oversight Hearing
WASHINGTON D.C. – On Tuesday, May 3rd the House Committee on
Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture will
hold a joint oversight hearing titled “At Risk: American Jobs,
Agriculture, Health and Species--the Costs of Federal Regulatory
Dysfunction.”
The hearing will focus on how federal agencies managing the
Endangered Species Act are threatening jobs and the economic
livelihoods of American farmers, foresters and water users by
severely restricting the use of crop and tree protection
products labeled and registered by the Environmental Protection
Agency.
WHAT: Committee on Natural Resources
Committee on Agriculture
Oversight Hearing on:
“At Risk: American Jobs, Agriculture, Health and Species--the
Costs of Federal Regulatory Dysfunction”
Witnesses:
Eric Schwab, Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service
Dr. Rowan Gould, Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dr. Steven Bradbury, Deputy Director, Office of Pesticide
Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Dr. Joseph Glauber, Chief Economist, U.S. Department of
Agriculture
Dan Newhouse, Director, Washington Department of Agriculture
Dr. Debra Edwards, scientist and former Director of the Office
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency
West Mathison, President, Stemilt Growers and Board President,
Washington State Horticultural Association
Angela Beehler, American Mosquito Control Association
Barry Bushue, President, Oregon Farm Bureau and Vice President,
American Farm Bureau
Zeke Grader, Executive Director, Pacific Coast Federation of
Fishermen
WHEN: Tuesday, May 3, 2011
10:00 A.M.
WHERE: 1324 Longworth House Office Building
Visit the Committee Hearings webpage for testimony and
additional information, once it is made available. The hearing
is open to the public and a live video stream will be broadcast
at http://naturalresources.house.gov/live.
http://naturalresources.house.gov/
Facebook | YouTube | Twitter
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"The
problem as I see it is that the enviro attorneys have hijacked
our fisheries management process away from independent, viable
scientific reasoning."
Captain
Thomas Hilton.
 Nothing
could be more truthful. I see it, first hand, on a very regular
basis. The head boat Florida Fisherman, Hubbard's Marina, has
been inviting FWC biologist on board for many years. They are
very dedicated in preserving our fisheries. They know what is
actually out there. However, their on the water data is, for the
most part, overlooked in favor of PEW bought & paid for so
called "Science." PEW "Scientific reasoning" PEW "Manipulated
statistics," can "Prove" whatever it is that these radical
extremist want to push on the American peoples. A prime example
is NOAA's ongoing attempts to shove Shares/Separation down the
throats of the American people. PEW statistics can "Prove" that
these concepts are essential for the preservation of anything
that swims. Remember, PEW has absolutely "Proven" that: If it
swims, it's over-fished! They have indeed, "Hijacked OUR
fisheries. They have taken away a part of America. NOAA, PEW,
EDF have proven that $$$ is much more important than the
American people! Bob H. Mister Ayala, FWC biologist, provides
current on the water scientific data:
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You have got to
be kidding!
The regional administrator of National Marine Fisheries
informally speculated that the 2011 recreational red snapper
season would last anywhere between 45 and 55 days
This is a classic example of what the SOS Plan supporters simply
do not understand - that forming a new FMP (Fisheries Management
Plan) will have no effect on the outcome of your (our) seasons,
which is what I've been trying to get across for some time now.
The recreational sector has NOT overfished its quota from last
year, we have a LARGER ACL this year, HIGHER GAS PRICES this
year, yet Crabtree is DISCRIMINATING AGAINST US by threatening
to set an EVEN SHORTER SEASON than last year, the shortest
season in history. The SOS supporters cannot point their fingers
at private recs for their (our) shorter season this year, yet
adamantly refuse to question the absurd logic that NOAA
Fisheries is using to manage our fishing seasons for fear of
upsetting the apple cart.
The ULTIMATE STATUS QUO - giving Crabtree the discretion to do
whatever he wants without oversight or accountability...THAT'S
WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
Capt. Thomas J. Hilton
" giving Crabtree the discretion to do whatever he wants without
oversight or accountability...THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED"
And changed now! Unfortunately we live in a Republic, not a
Democracy; as such, we elect representatives to act for us.
Crabtree's position is an appointed position. We did not elect
him. Here lies the problem in a Republic. Lubchenco's position
is also an appointed, rather than elected, position. We did not,
nor would we ever have, elected either of these other directed
individuals. Come November 2012, we can sure show those who
appoint these individuals, and those like them, what we think of
their decisions. After all, "We fish, We VOTE!" Changes are on
the way! |
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1 million
pounds of red snapper may be added to quota for this year
The Governor of
Florida
and Chairman of the FWC requested that the Council recommend the
over 1 million pounds of recreational red snapper that was left
in the water in 2010 be added to the recreational red snapper
quota for 2011. Not only did they send the letter to the
Council, but fishermen were told that Governor Scott will be
contacting each of the Governors of the other 4
Gulf states
to join in the request.
Everyone needs to
contact your respective Governor and your Marine Resource Agency
and request they join in this effort. We have a very good
opportunity for the 1 million pounds to be added to this year’s
quota. Since the FWC is going to comply with the federal rules
for gags, the quota could be used in the fall during another
weekend fishery which would help to reduce the discard mortality
of red snapper while harvesting gags and allow us time to
advertise so that we could have another small fishery in the
fall.
There will be a
process to get left over quota added to this year. First, a
good majority of the council members need to support this
effort. If they do then the issue will be presented to the SSC
for their expert advice. If they agree that adding the left
over quota will not harm the resource or the rebuilding plan,
then we should be able to get the additional pounds for this
year. The additional pounds should help folks have more
business, bring in more tourism, boost the local economy, and
provide economic benefits for supporting businesses.
The council meets
next week so support needs to be gained now. Please contact
your Governor’s office and your Marine Resource Agencies now.
Gulf of
Mexico Fishery Management Council Convenes its Reef Fish
Advisory Panel (Revised)
The Gulf of
Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene its Reef Fish
Advisory Panel April 25, 2011 at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council office in Tampa, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite
1100.
The Advisory Panel will meet to review and provide
recommendations to the Council on Reef Fish Amendment 32. This
amendment contains the following actions:
-
Establish a rebuilding plan for
gag
-
Set recreational bag limits,
size limits, and closed seasons for gag and red grouper in
2012
-
Consider a commercial gag and
shallow-water grouper quota adjustment to account for dead
discards; make adjustments to multi-use commercial
individual fishing quota shares for grouper
-
Reduce the commercial gag size
limit
-
Modify the offshore time and
area closures
-
Establish gag, red grouper, and
shallow-water grouper accountability measures
The
Panel will also review and provide recommendations on the
Generic Annual Catch Limits/Accountability Measures Amendment.
This amendment contains the following actions:
-
Delegate management of selected
species to other agencies
-
Remove selected species from
the fishery management plans
-
Group species for purposes of
setting annual catch limits and annual catch targets
-
Establish an acceptable
biological catch control rule
-
Establish an annual catch
limit/annual catch target control rule
-
Establish a generic framework
procedure for implementing management changes
-
Establish the initial
specification of annual catch limits and annual catch
targets for stocks and stock groups still in need of such
specification
-
Establish the apportionment of
the black grouper, yellowtail snapper, and mutton snapper
stocks between the Gulf and South Atlantic Council
-
Set a commercial and
recreational allocation of black
-
Establish accountability
measures to keep catch levels within their annual catch
limits or take corrective action if limits are exceeded
The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m.
and conclude no later than 5:00 p.m. Copies of the agenda and
other related materials can be obtained by calling 813-348-1630.
This meeting is physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Pereira at the
Council at least five working days prior to the meeting.
Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come
before the advisory panel, in accordance with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, those issues may not be the subject of
formal action during this meeting. Panel action will be
restricted to those issues specifically identified in the
agenda.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight
regional fishery management councils established by the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of
1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans designed to
manage fishery resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of
the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Scientists unsure why dolphins
washing up dead
By Vivian Kuo, CNN
(CNN) -- Dead baby bottlenose
dolphins are continuing to wash up in record numbers on the
shores of the
Gulf of Mexico,
and scientists do not know why.
Since February 2010 to April 2011, 406 dolphins were found
either stranded or reported dead offshore.
The
occurrence has prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to designate these deaths as an "unusual
mortality event" or
UME.
The agency defines a
UME
as a stranding incident that is unexpected or involves a
significant loss of any marine mammal population.
"This is quite a complex event a and requires a lot of
analysis," said Blair Mase, the agency's marine mammal
investigations coordinator.
Mase
said NOAA is working closely with a variety of agencies to try
to figure out not only why the bottlenose dolphins are turning
up in such large quantities but also why the mammals are so
young.
"These were mostly very young dolphins, either pre-term,
neonatal or very young and less than 115 centimeters," she said.
Marine mammals are particularly susceptible to harmful algal
blooms, infectious diseases, temperature and environmental
changes, and human impact.
"The
Gulf of Mexico
is no stranger to unusual mortality events," Mase said.
Sensitivity surrounding marine life in the area is particularly
high after the BP oil disaster that sent millions of barrels of
crude into the
Gulf of Mexico
nearly a year ago.
The
incident occurred on April 20, 2010, when a Deepwater Horizon
rig leased to BP exploded, killing 11 workers and leading to the
worst oil spill in
U.S.
history.
As
recently as two weeks ago, scientists documented a dead dolphin
with oil on its remains, Mase said.
Since the start of the oil spill, a total of 15 bottlenose
dolphins have been found with either confirmed or suspected oil
on their carcasses.
Even
after the gushing well was capped, the agency said nine oiled
dolphins have been found since November 2, 2010.
Of
those nine, six were confirmed to contain oil from the incident;
one was found with oil that did not match the Deepwater Horizon
samples, and two have not yet been tested.
The
dolphin deaths may be completely independent from the oil spill,
Mase said.
"Even though they have oil on them, it may not be the cause of
death," she said. "We want to look at the gamut of all the
possibilities."
The
agency said bottlenose dolphins are actually the most-frequently
found stranding marine mammal.
Scientists say they are equally concerned about the number of
sea turtle strandings.
Similar to the dolphin deaths, an abnormally high number of
turtles have been found either floating close to shore or washed
up on shores in
Louisiana,
Mississippi
and
Alabama.
"The
vast majority of these are dead, with states in moderate to
severe decomposition," said Barbara Schroeder, NOAA Fisheries
national sea turtle coordinator.
The
majority of them are Kemp's ridley sea turtles, an endangered
species since 1970. But some strandings included loggerheads,
which are also endangered.
"Since January 1st, we've had just under 100 strandings,"
Schroeder said. "About 87 of those have been documented since
the middle of March."
Only
about a third of those found were in good enough shape to
perform necropsies, she said. Seven turtles showed indications
that they had been in accidents involving watercrafts, while
another displayed injuries consistent with being caught on a
hook.
Results from the rest appeared to indicate they had drowned near
the bottom of the Gulf -- possibly either from forced
submergence or an acute toxic event.
NOAA
Fisheries Stranding Program Coordinator Dr. Teri Rowles said
tissue samples from both turtles and dolphins are being
carefully documented due to the civil and criminal litigation
ongoing with BP.
"We
are looking at what is the impact of the oil spill and the
response activities to the oil spill event, and what impact they
had on the
Gulf of Mexico
ecosystem," she said. "We did not say that the dolphins have
died because of the oil, just that they have come back with oil
on them."
Keeping You Informed,
National Association of Charterboat Operators |
Big Game Fishing Journal Editorials
by Captain Len
Belcaro
Articles that are a must read for every fisherman concerned about their
right to fish!
|
Dear Mark ,
Many people
have requested a brief explanation of catch shares. Simply put,
they are are privatization of a public resource that will give
our fishing rights to a few individuals or institutions who will
then gladly rent them back to us in perpetuity.
The following
is from an article by Stephen Taufen and posted on
groundswellalaska.com. After the excerpt, you will find
a link to the entire article.al
become propertized for the sake of a few special interests. As
Richard Gaines reported, too, EDF's vice president David Festa
projected 400 percent returns on investment based on recent
experiences with the imposition of catch shares in other
fisheries.
For the full
story,
click here. Please
continue to follow the FISHING MATTERS TO ME action plan. Can
you make THREE CALLS PER WEEK? Don't have the ACTION PLAN?
Click here. It has phone numbers, talking points and even a
simple suggested schedule of phone calls. 3 calls, 3 minutes, 3
points. DO IT NOW!!!!
www.theFRA.org/fishing_matters_to_me.htm
I won't back
down......... Denny O'Hern |
February 22, 2011
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Tallahassee, FL
Dear Commissioners,
I am Dennis O’Hern,
Executive Director of the Fishing Rights Alliance, an organization of
concerned recreational fishermen. I am contacting you with regards to
the gag grouper issue. It is my understanding that the National Marine
Fisheries Service is requesting that the state consider closing state
waters for gag grouper for 10 months in a trade-off for a two-month
grouper season in federal waters.
We have grave concerns over
this draconian action and the effects it will have on Florida's people
and its economy. The Gag grouper stock assessment being used as “best
available science" was actually declared unreliable upon its completion
in January, 2006. Using an updated unreliable stock assessment does not
seem prudent when it closes a $3 billion fishery and destroys untold
thousands of jobs, not to mention the very act of destroying the
opportunity to fish. One of the problems with the
stock assessment is that it estimates in 2009 that 4 million gag grouper
were thrown back by the recreational sector in the state of Florida. The
assessment estimates that roughly 1/3 of all those throwbacks died,
giving us roughly 1.6 million dead discarded gag grouper.
Current research being
conducted by the FWRI indicates that many of the grouper in 60 to 100
feet are being recaptured multiple times in one day and discarded. This
is done through the tagging program. Observations of the condition of
the discarded fish from this same tagging program indicate a visible
mortality rate of less than 2%. Given that many of the tag – have been
caught repeatedly over periods of time, we feel the discard mortality
rate should be something closer to the order of 5%.
The unreliable stock
assessment does not recognize repeat throwbacks. If each grouper was
caught four times and discarded, we would only have 1 million actual
fish caught that were discarded. If the 5% mortality rate was applied to
the one million discards – we would only be discarding 50,000 gag
grouper dead per year as opposed to the 1.6 million gag that the
unreliable stock assessment provides as an estimate. There is something
seriously wrong here
We encourage our FWC
commissioners to stand up to this outdated science and this flawed data
and not allow unnecessary regulations to have undue economic and social
impacts on the state of Florida. We request that the state of Florida
perform its own full benchmark stock assessment before allowing a $3
billion negative economic impact at a loss of between seven and ten
thousand jobs. The National Marine
Fisheries Service economic impact analysis never really shows the impact
of a fishery closure. With a marquee species such as gag grouper, the
economic analysis fails to take into consideration that this will cause
people to stop fishing offshore as opposed to people shifting to other
offshore targets.
The problem we see is that
the stock assessment presents a completely different picture of the
stock compared to what the stakeholders see on and under the water. We
encouraged the FWC to hold off on any consideration of concurrency with
federal gag grouper rules in the Gulf of Mexico. We are certain that
Congress will be taking a harsh view of the use of outdated science and
flawed data when inflicting such severe economic destruction.
I understand you will all be
in St. Petersburg Friday morning, February 25, at the University of
South Florida campus. I would like to formally invite you as either VIP
guests or speakers to the FISHING MATTERS TO ME rally that will be held
just blocks from the USF. The event will run from 9 AM until noon. We
have a professional stage sound system, and 10' x 13' Jumbotron screen.
We will have a VIP area for guests and speakers. We encourage you to
come out and hear the voice of the fishermen of Florida. More
Information is available at:
www.theFRA.org/fishing_matters_to_me.htm
The fishing Rights Alliance
has always supported the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission’s management philosophy of managing the species, within
biological limits, to the desires of the stakeholders. We hope that you
will continue to manage Florida's fisheries in such a manner. We thank
you for your service to the residence and visitors of the state of
Florida.
Please feel free to contact
me with any questions regarding the FISHING MATTERS TO ME rally or any
of our positions on anything, please feel free to contact me at 727.
692. 6902.
Sincerely,
Dennis O’Hern
Executive
Director
Fishing Rights Alliance |
|
