Next week, at the Francis Marion Hotel on King St. downtown, the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee will be meeting. There are two times for public comment. Those are Tuesday at 4PM and Thursday at 8:30AM.
You owe it not just to yourselves but to the next generation to come and listen even if you’re not quite sure what to say in a comment.
The showing of public interest is more important than the details anyone could say anyhow. Until now, there has been very little public interest/input except from enviro’s and other special interests, a.k.a. not really from “we, the people.”
Just show up, and make it known you are there because it MATTERS TO YOU, and you are a RECREATIONAL FISHERMAN.
fishing means __________ to you
fishing means ____________ to your kids
You are proud that SCDNR does so much for our resources with our saltwater license fees, and our state’s sportfishing clubs and private individuals have donated $millions to improve our fishery through artificial reefs and research studies, etc.
The two latest MPA’s that were put in off Charleston came in with no legit chance for input from the public. (The advisory panel to SAFMC, which included Capt. Mark Brown, was never called or consulted. Recreational fishermen here were 100% against it if it meant closing recreational fishing, which it did.)</font id=“size1”>
you are tired of being marginalized or written off as not mattering when you care about our resources as much or more than anyone else, (and you spend $______ per year into our local economy just to be able to go fishing in the ocean)</font id=“size1”>
preventing you from doing that without even taking your input on how best to conserve our resources motivated you to come to this meeting because you know there will be more of the same in COASTAL AND MARINE WATERS NOW
It is in your utmost interests to have our resources conserved as much as you value being able to go fishing. It has become apparent that maybe your opportunities to recreationally fish in saltwater is what needs to be conserved now moreso than fish stocks that are already healthy or undeniably becoming healthy.
The committee needs to be more in touch with the public if they want to fulfill their mission in advising the Department of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce (yes, they are to advise on INSHORE AND OFFSHORE MPA’s to the US Government!)
It’s like they set up the times for the public at the worst times possible (the first and last hour of normal business hours)! I doubt I will be able to make… but gonna try!!!
Russ B.
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
Brass Knuckles would be better.
Mark
Mako 262 Twin Yammaha F200s
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Just got word that the time for today has been moved up to 3:50PM
I plan to be there Thursday morning…
Several local captains and members of the tackle community will be there today I have heard. They need your support behind them if you can make it there- even if you are not sure what comments to offer.
I assure you, this is something worth your time to attend!
Several of us made it and were allowed to comment. If you can get there, GO! A comment was made by a member of the panel that “only 4 or 5” showed up to comment. We did our best to let them know that we were speaking for many more, that were restricted by the hour of the mtg. Hope you can make it Thurs.
guys
we NEED your support tomorrow
5 people showed up yesterday
tow boat, zman, mark brown from the teaser, top2bottom, and me.
one of the board memebers, even interjected that they were not the group that makes the rules. short for we dont really want your input.
we NEED you there
This group meets twice a year in various locations across the country. For the past few years, they have only had about a dozen people testify to them IN TOTAL, and they have been special interest groups for the most part. Those who spoke yesterday made a strong impression, but MORE OF US NEED TO BE THERE TOMORROW MORNING to show that what we are saying represents MANY MORE.
You do not have to speak. It’s not what you say but how you say it. Help us say it louder and more clearly for you!
GO. Be there as support. Be there as a crowd of the public who is interested and being represented by who is speaking. Wear what you would wear if you were going fishing- inshore or offshore. Wear what you wear to work. Just don’t come naked because we will not bail you out of jail…
Grab a wad of chicks from the College of Knowledge next door on your way in. Tell them there are guys inside who own boats…
Stop expecting others to do your civic duty. This group advises on INTERIOR AND MARINE MPA’s. That means lakes, rivers and streams. Not just the ocean.
The take home point was that recreational fishing should be a priority instead of an afterthought when siting and regulating MPA’s in the coming coastal and marine spatial planning framework, which will go up river into watersheds, by-the-way.
Like we’ve been saying- freshwater’s next. Trolling’s next. The money is behind it. You’d better take note before it’s too late.
Sit around not showing up nor supporting those who speak for you, and you’ll have the stuff blind side you after you swore it could never happen.