These two obviously go together in our all knowing SAFMC brains. We must understand their negotiating skills and not fall into the trap. They are starting very high with demands to get us all in a frenzy. The type 1 MPA scare is what they will GIVE IN ON…and will ALLOW us to troll these new proposed MPAs when we all agree to VMS…they do not have resources to monitor these areas without this remote tracking system.
I strongly oppose both and have emailed our reps. To voice my opinion. We need our State and FED reps to know we will not support them in future elections if they watch this **** go down.
We need to all be shouting louder to ever be heard.
People have more power than they think. I hope everyone realizes that.
Every little bit matters. They are actually getting our emails. I have heard of some replies to folks. We have to keep it up so these people either feel their political support for their positions on council are jeopardized or they feel that budgetary scrutiny from Congress will be increased. Both are going to happen before I let these people screw us anymore like this.
It is a shame it takes this much to hold these people accountable, but we all have to do our small parts to have the effect we need!
Yes. They are hearing from both sides, and our side needs to be louder.
The other side includes a few commercial guys led by Matt Ruby who allowed themselves to be bought off by the Environmental Defense Fund. Former Congressman Robin Tallon is their lobbyist, among others, in DC.
Tallon has walked into staffers’ offices and stated that he represents sc fishermen and we want catch shares and VMS. Thankfully, Mark Brown and Keith Logan have been up there disputing that. I am assuming Keith is with us on the VMS issue. Haven’t talked to him about it since the threat has gotten as real as it has this season. I know that Mark has been in contact with both US Senators about VMS, and they NEED to hear more from us on it so they understand clearly how the majority if us feel.
nother group I am concerned about is the CCA, as I mentioned in another thread. It will be up to the members to make sure they take the right position- or take a position at all.
Please oppose the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council’s move to mandate Vessel Monitoring Systems on commercial fishing boats. Our commercial fishermen are barely able to make ends meet as it is, and this proposed regulation, which is not mandated in Magnuson-Stevens, will no doubt drive some of the remaining fleet out of business.
I’m sure Phin or others could have been more articulate, but at least they know one of their voters is concerned about this. Please copy and send if you want.
I’m not sure how articulate I can be when contacting these peeps. They put these idiots in charge. I guess I can refrain from tossing out the F Bomb, but (**()…I see this as a civil liberties deal. You would think even the dems would be on board with banning this bs.