In case you weren’t paying attention, like the rest of us,
The SAFMC is trying to require tracking for commercial boats fishing for snapper-grouper species.
These are boats that fish for the same fish as us, in the same areas as us, with the same gear as us. Equal protection arguments down the road will force the government to treat us the same and require the tracking devices for us also.
What’s more (**()ing is the council itself’s own intent for vessel monitoring systems ON THE RECORD.
SAFMC Vice-chairman Ben Hartig said this during the March 5, 2013 Snapper-Grouper Committee meeting according to the meeting minutes:
MR. HARTIG: Maybe I shouldnt say this now, but Im going to anyway. Down the road I think we ought to look specifically at [VMS for] recreational vessels that fish in the deepwater snapper grouper complex. I’m not going to do it now, but I think that fishery is small enough, and we could get the data we need for snowy and golden tile especially. I think that may be useful down the line.
If you don’t think you should be paying attention to this, you need to reconsider. There is more evidence from the bureaucrats themselves that I will post. We have warned you every time, and what we’ve warned of has come to pass. When are we going to voice a loud enough opinion to stand up to the bully and put them in their place???
GOVERNMENT’S POWER IS DERIVED IN THE PEOPLE, AND IT IS TIME THE PEOPLE TOOK IT BACK.
Also, Gregg Waugh, Dep. Dir. of the SAFMC said last night during the VMS webinar Q&A that a NOAA law enforcement agent replied in a written comment during this session and stated that ANY vessel required to have a VMS on board would have to declare a target species before leaving port AND if the target species was in the Snapper-Grouper complex said vessel would NOT be allowed to even enter the MPA or would be in violation of the regulations.
So if you go into an MPA, which is the ledge straight out of Charleston, and stop for even black sea bass on the way in, and you have black sea bass at the dock while your VMS shows having been in the MPA, you will get fined!
They also want to turn the Georgetown Hole into an MPA (CLOSED AREA) in case you missed that too. It will likely be next year when we have to fight that particular battle.
Right now though, we have to stop VMS from getting its nose under the tent.
DO
NOT
TELL
ME
THE
TIRED
OLD
LINE
OF
IT
WILL
NEVER
HAPPEN
OR
THEY
WON’T
DO
IT
BECAUSE
I
HAVE
HEARD
IT
SAID
ABOUT
MPA’s,
RED
SNAPPER,
BLACKFISH,
GROUPER
CLOSURES,
AND
EVERYTHING
ELSE.
IT
WILL
HAPPEN
AND
IT
IS
TIME
TO
Q U I T B E I N G A P A T H E T I C.
Look at the other threads on here about VMS and how you can comment in opposition and when the public hearing will be in Charleston.
^How to email comments in, and when the public hearings will be held this month.
They will not do this if there is enough stink from the public.
We stopped them from closing 90’-240’ by causing a big enough stink. This is real, and this threatens the very core of why we socially and culturally offshore fish. We do it to get away. No cell service. No strain of life’s daily toil.
Don’t let them get their foot in the door and turn our sport into Orwell’s 1984.
If you go to the SAFMC website, under the planning link it clearly mentions that the intent is to have VMS on recreational boats by 2015.
With that being said, think about how this will truly play out - any boat that is capable of fishing offshore will have to have VMS.
If I’m not mistaken, the proposed MPA for Devil’s hole (Georgetown Hole) is a type 1 MPA which means no top or bottom fishing. There are also 6 NEW more MPA’s being discussed all of which are being discussed as type 1.
The submersion of the memorial reef just became a priority for charleston fisherman.
If I’m not mistaken, the proposed MPA for Devil’s hole (Georgetown Hole) is a type 1 MPA which means no top or bottom fishing. There are also 6 NEW more MPA’s being discussed all of which are being discussed as type 1.
The submersion of the memorial reef just became a priority for charleston fisherman.
53 Paul Mann (Sadie Beth)
270 Outrage (Mellen)
You are exactly right about the GTH being a target for top and bottom MPA. They want to do “something” to protect against both white marlin and speckled hind/warsaw bycatch. GTH shut down kills two birds with one stone for them.
They also want to expand existing MPA’s and basically cover all the good reef where we fish in 30 fathoms and nearby it.
Can you explain what the memorial reef has to do with all the MPA’s the feds want? I am having trouble understanding the connection. Heard a rumor that a DNR man was at a recent seminar threatening that if the memorial reef wasn’t done that MPA’s would come.
The SC artificial reef program has nothing to do with what the SAFMC is doing.
Basic fishery data required for managed species
The following information is required for all managed fisheries and stocks:
h Complete catch and bycatch reporting by species
h Per unit (ie, tow, set, site, deployment, depending on the nature of the fishery)
information from for-hire and commercial fisheries collected through onboard electronic
logbooks linked to GPS
h Representative biological sampling of catches
h Representative sampling of bycatch and discards
h License id information for all participants and vessels linked to trip and set reports
h Global participant frame provided through licensing of all participants
h Desired location elements include latitude, longitude, and depth
Shrimp Trawl Fishery
Per tow: duration, location, trawl details, catch estimate, discard estimate
Per trip: landings by species, trip costs, price paid per lb, # crew
Supplement: 5% observer coverage for discard, 20% coverage for detailed social &
economic reporting.
Finfish Trap Fisheries
Per trap/string: duration, location, trap details, catch estimate, discard count
Per trip: landings by species, trip costs, price paid per lb, # crew
Supplement: 2% observer coverage for discard, 10 % video discard coverage, 20%
coverage for detailed social & economic reporting.
Dive or Spear Fisheries
Per dive: duration, location, gear details, # divers, catch estimate
Per trip: landings by species, trip costs, price paid per lb, # crew
Supplements: 20% coverage for detailed social & economic reporting.
Handline Fisheries
Per set/site: duration, location, gear details, catch estimate, discard count
Per trip: landings by species, trip costs, price paid per lb, # crew
Supplement: 5% observer coverage for discard, 10% video discard
This is a copied email / prayer that I sent to SAFMC as well as Jesus.
Jesus,
Please do not allow my "free" countrty to be run like a autocratic, dictatorship. Are these the correct words...I think so. Between the federal pawns, liberal groups, and other intrest groups, it has become apparant that we ("America"), the majority, are trying to be pushed under the bus. It is obvious to the majority of the people that use our resources that many of the current laws and proposed laws are not what the "free" nation needs in order to manage our god given rights regarding the wonderful resources that you have provided us.
Please Jesus enlighten the people that only have there special intrests in mind of how their special intrests may not necessarily be the best for a long term plan concerning our resources. This country is based of a democratic government and is supposed to operate as the majority of the people see fit.
The way things are going, I am thinking that things are becoming more like a monarchy....not caring what is right and wrong, but only what is in the best intrest of who is in control.
Jesus, is this the way you think your people should act towards others?
On a side note.......How is life in some of the Communist countries? I am thinking about moving there due to the fact that I am getting used to being told what to do no matter what.
The memorial reef is to be placed in an MPA that already exists since 2005,the Charleston deep reef. Any scientific proof of it’s efficacy once built will go a long way to taking the heat off of natural live bottom especially in the 300 ft depth zone. So yes artificial reefs in MPAs that already exist but have no habitat can be used as a bargaining chip. The people from dnr are your allies whether you believe it or not.
You would think this would be a democratic platform issue, but there are piles of fishermen being affected in Massachusetts and New York. …in DC…there were more dems than repubs that showed up to talk about changing the MSA. I guess its classic DC where nothing happens.
As I have pondered this situation and the apparent changes to the unknowing public; how to we spread the word?
Really, how is this going to impact the rest of the fishing industry?
Are the boat manufacturers aware of this?
Are the fishing companies, Penn, Shimano, Okuma, etc aware of this?
Marinas too.
These changes will not just affect the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Guess what once this is done to the SAFMC area, what about the Gulf States? People need to understand the FULL impact.
Phin, Do you remember the Ridgeland speed trap? The one where they had a RV parked on I95 with radar & a camera set up? The ticket would arrive in the mail weeks later. The state passed a law that this was illegal and that a ticket had to be delivered in person within 30 minutes of the officer observing the violation. I wonder if this might be presedent for this VMS case? The ticket would be way after the “violation”. I wonder how they would handle this if a boat with legal caught snapper-grouper had an engine/fuel issue and couldnt drive around an MPA? This MPA thing will close so much more than the physical MPA area - but also the shadow of the area beyond.
As usual, the SAFMC is using the same old negotating tatics and asking for much more than they can get. In my opinion the VMS rule will violate the 4th, 5th , and 6th amendment - and likely, freedom of speech as well. I have written my legislators - but in my opinion, this goes far beyond lawmakers in coastal states. When we restrict fishing in the SE dosent it affect people that come to vacation from Iowa or where ever?
Phin, Do you remember the Ridgeland speed trap? The one where they had a RV parked on I95 with radar & a camera set up? The ticket would arrive in the mail weeks later. The state passed a law that this was illegal and that a ticket had to be delivered in person within 30 minutes of the officer observing the violation. I wonder if this might be presedent for this VMS case? The ticket would be way after the “violation”. I wonder how they would handle this if a boat with legal caught snapper-grouper had an engine/fuel issue and couldnt drive around an MPA? This MPA thing will close so much more than the physical MPA area - but also the shadow of the area beyond.
As usual, the SAFMC is using the same old negotating tatics and asking for much more than they can get. In my opinion the VMS rule will violate the 4th, 5th , and 6th amendment - and likely, freedom of speech as well. I have written my legislators - but in my opinion, this goes far beyond lawmakers in coastal states. When we restrict fishing in the SE dosent it affect people that come to vacation from Iowa or where ever?
100% true. I'm more worried about them collecting every fishing waypoint in the region and compiling them into a database and then sharing them with the world. That would be the end of our fishery. We can't wait for VMS to happen. We have to get ahead of it.