Fishing groups can only do so much to help us. We have to help ourselves by coordinating our message and efforts. Please consider supporting a “Stop and Review” policy for the SAFMC. There are enough laws in place to comply with the MSA hard deadlines. We need to take some time to review existing regulations to see what is working and what isn’t. Stakeholders need to be part of this review process and offer our own solutions to mitigate negative impacts as allowed by the National Environmental Policy Act.
The Gulf council and the SAFMC are having a joint meeting soon about king macs, and other fish, and other subjects. They WILL be talking about VMS. The Gulf council is slamming it through for “for hire” vessels. The SAFMC will be taking notes. 25 years ago I stood up at a scoping meeting and stated that the “camels nose is entering the tent” I hate being right.
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Originally posted by natureboyThe Gulf council and the SAFMC are having a joint meeting soon about king macs, and other fish, and other subjects. They WILL be talking about VMS. The Gulf council is slamming it through for “for hire” vessels. The SAFMC will be taking notes. 25 years ago I stood up at a scoping meeting and stated that the “camels nose is entering the tent” I hate being right.
Natureboy, do you think the commercial guys follow the rules? Please answer honestly.
Next time you come in, come heavy, or not at all…
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Originally posted by Warblerquote:
Originally posted by natureboyThe Gulf council and the SAFMC are having a joint meeting soon about king macs, and other fish, and other subjects. They WILL be talking about VMS. The Gulf council is slamming it through for “for hire” vessels. The SAFMC will be taking notes. 25 years ago I stood up at a scoping meeting and stated that the “camels nose is entering the tent” I hate being right.
Natureboy, do you think the commercial guys follow the rules? Please answer honestly
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Yes the commercial boys play by the rules because they get checked more than anybody else. Not only do they have to deal with state level, but they also get stopped by the federal fisheries division of the Coast Guard. . Until you’ve been through a federal fisheries inspection, you haven’t seen anything. They measure everything and look everywhere . Not only do they go through inspections but they also have logbooks, catch reports that have to be filled out perfect or you will lose either quota or licensing. They make it harder every year to be a commercial fisherman.Next time you come in, come heavy, or not at all…
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PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
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Natureboy, do you think the commercial guys follow the rules? Please answer honestly.
Not sure what Natureboy thinks, but in my experience most commercial fishermen follow the rules. They have too much to lose if they don’t. They don’t make much money as it is and they can’t afford the fines.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
YES! YES! YES! They have no choice in the matter. Every single fish they dock is accounted for. There is a paper trail that is traceable. They are required to sell their catch to a licensed seafood dealer. They must allow a NOAA observer on board on short notice on every trip if asked. And often NOAA or DNR meets them at the dock. The log books must match the paper trail, complete with signed receipts attached. The paperwork is unbelievable. The fines are huge. A single violation can and has cost them their business.
Look, I’ve done just about everything a man can do on the water. There has always been a division between commercial fishing and recs, and it has been exploited by many of the enviro to the detriment of rec fishers. Being one that has seen both sides, the Rec fishers have much more opportunity to cheat. Tell me Warbler, If somebody was willing to pay you to fish, Wouldn’t you have to think about it?
I believe everything y’all have said, but I must point out that for the most part, commercial fishermen police themselves. There’s no way the popo can check them on a regular basis and there’s a way around every requirement Sellsfish mentioned. At the end of the day, it’s up to the commercial guys to police themselves. Like any other for-profit enterprise, if there aren’t enforceable rules, I’d expect a profiteer to make a buck any way he can. I’m not surprised the regulators want to put ankle bracelets on them—they sure as hell can’t enforce the rules now. Such regulation on commercial folks is fine by me, but they best not try it on the rec folks.
Next time you come in, come heavy, or not at all…
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Originally posted by natureboyYES! YES! YES! They have no choice in the matter. Every single fish they dock is accounted for. There is a paper trail that is traceable. They are required to sell their catch to a licensed seafood dealer. They must allow a NOAA observer on board on short notice on every trip if asked. And often NOAA or DNR meets them at the dock. The log books must match the paper trail, complete with signed receipts attached. The paperwork is unbelievable. The fines are huge. A single violation can and has cost them their business.
Look, I’ve done just about everything a man can do on the water. There has always been a division between commercial fishing and recs, and it has been exploited by many of the enviro to the detriment of rec fishers. Being one that has seen both sides, the Rec fishers have much more opportunity to cheat. Tell me Warbler, If somebody was willing to pay you to fish, Wouldn’t you have to think about it?
Oh, absolutely I would think about it, and thank you for proving my point.
As for the restrictions you mentioned…come on…seriously, come on…don’t sit here and tell me that an experienced outlaw commercial guy doesn’t know how to offload illicit catch to unlicensed dealers. Give me a break with that crap.
Next time you come in, come heavy, or not at all…
Look Warbler - this is the real world. Every single fish that goes to market has the required paperwork . Not only is every catch logged in , but the licensed seafood dealer had log books and MUST have a receipt for every single fish incoming and sold to a licensed seafood retailer. I know of businesses (restaurants) that have been fined for that. They are all gone. There are no outlaw comms, dealers or retailers. Name one. You cant. They don’t exist.
How dare you insinuate that that this is crap. I’ve been there and done that.
Your point is incorrect.
Also, “for hire vessels” are charters. After they get “for hire” it will be easy to include everyone else ( YOU!)
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Look, I've done just about everything a man can do on the water
So have I, and the Warbler is blowing bubbles out of his azz again.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
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Originally posted by Cracker Larryquote:
Look, I've done just about everything a man can do on the water
So have I, and the Warbler is blowing bubbles out of his azz again.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Yep, I must be way off base,but riddle me this CL or Natureboy,if the commercial guys are hemmed in so tight that they there’s no way they can possibly be raping the resource, then why would “ankle bracelets” even be in the discussion? There should be no need, right?
Next time you come in, come heavy, or not at all…
That’s a good one. Ask Skinnee about the lazy MPA management plan.
Warbler, While your at it why not join the Environmental Defense Fund? You and Greg Waugh could have drinks after the fake scoping meetings!
Also, I cant imagine Sells stating that there are ways around the rules. He runs a first class business as a licensed seafood dealer , and retailer. I would hate to keep his log books, and he must have a mountain of receipts somewhere!
Commercial guys make a living off of a PUBLIC RESOURCE, and then get pissy when someone from the public dares question anything about commercial fishing…priceless.
Next time you come in, come heavy, or not at all…
I would think more illegal sales goes on between rec guys. Say you go out and catch 30 big Mauis and know someone who owns a restaurant. Just sayin. I don’t know where this Warbler has come from, but he sure isn’t afraid to come here and assail the character of many long time posters…geez.
some Rec fishermen enjoy their sport by killing a PUBLIC RESOURCE, Then get pissy when somebody else kills a fish.
Warbler, Your singing the enviro song. Create a hard division between comms & recs to the point where the recs are pushing for more comm restrictions like VMS ,catch shares, Then it will be easier to extend VMS and catch shares to ALL fishermen.
FYI - the outlaws in fishing are Rec fishers illegally selling their catch.
Have you checked into joining EDF ?
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Originally posted by RedstripeI would think more illegal sales goes on between rec guys. Say you go out and catch 30 big Mauis and know someone who owns a restaurant. Just sayin. I don’t know where this Warbler has come from, but he sure isn’t afraid to come here and assail the character of many long time posters…geez.
Whose character have I assailed? Certainly not any of the commercial fishermen (past or present) who’ve posted on this thread. I am not saying ALL commercial fishermen break the rules, I’m just saying that I think there exists the potential for that to happen and SOME most definitely take advantage of it. I don’t know Larry, Sellsfish or Natureboy, but I’d wager that they are law-abiding citizens, in their personal and professional lives.
When I want you to have an opinion, I’ll give it to you…
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Originally posted by natureboysome Rec fishermen enjoy their sport by killing a PUBLIC RESOURCE, Then get pissy when somebody else kills a fish.
Warbler, Your singing the enviro song. Create a hard division between comms & recs to the point where the recs are pushing for more comm restrictions like VMS ,catch shares, Then it will be easier to extend VMS and catch shares to ALL fishermen.
FYI - the outlaws in fishing are Rec fishers illegally selling their catch.
Have you checked into joining EDF ?
I don’t accept the premise that there needs to be a connection between recs and commercials. I think it’s silly, really.
Enjoying a public resource as a member of the public for recreation is a far cry from engaging in business that profits from the public resource. The latter should receive much more scrutiny and bear much more of any burden to be borne. In return, they’re allowed to profit from our resources.
And any rec fishermen who sells his catch without the proper permits, etc. is an outlaw just the same as a commercial guy who doesn’t follow the rules. But I’ll guarantee you the ability of any number of outlaw rec folks to affect the resource is nothing compared to commercial guys who spend months at sea every year.
When I want you to have an opinion, I’ll give it to you…