Have any of you heard about the latest attempt to designate more areas along the southeast coast and Gulf of Mexico as critical habitat for turtles? Part of that critical habitat is the water. Could we see slow turtle zones like they have for manatees and whales on many of our waterways in the not too distant future?
It would not surprise me one bit.
- I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
The sea turtle fiasco does not want too much exposure. SE sea turtles are no longer endangered and the sea turtle donation industry wants no-one prying into how many turtles are really out there.
What about snapping turtles? Should there be speed limits on the lakes?
I think smoke is being blown on this one. Any links to the source?
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam 150
www.abfishcharters.com
I will put nothing and i mean nothing past these goons to get their agenda pushed thru…
Here a link to the proposed loggerhead turtle critical habitat designations. Read some of the comments and please submit your own. These designations will give NOAA the power to create/enforce local laws like no wake zones. As collisions with boats kills more turtles, the only way to stop it is with slow zones. NC has had seven turtles killed by boats so far this year.
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketBrowser;dct=PS;rpp=100;so=DESC;sb=docId;po=0;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0079
Actually, the way I see it - the more turtles there are - collisions will be increasing.
In Tallahassee Fl they spent 3 million taxpayer dollars to put a “turtle tunnel” under a road so the turtles could cross safely. So, I think it is plausable that a turtle safety zone could be put anywhere. I dont exactly agree with it,but that dont mean a (**() thing.
http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/48278457.html
- I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
I guess it did create a job or two.
Lol, I found this at the bottom of the page on another article about the tunnels:
Now, we have got to hire a couple people and make sure these turtles know where that hole is so they don’t crawl up on the road. Here’s the ad I placed today in the Miami paper.
CLASSIFIED AD: Miami Daily Tribune
Wanted??..Persons (2)to attend to and reposition misdirected or lost/confused turtles over newly constructed turtle bridge. No bathing or feeding required! Hours of employment: Depends on tidal schedule. Pay: Depends on prior turtle experience. Vegans only!
http://www.hartofgreen.com/green-news/eco-tunnel-help-turtles-cross-a-florida-road/
- I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
Exactly natureboy! More turtles equal more interactions.
jimmyaadams, eco-corporations are making big bucks off of grant/taxpayer money.
Here are the comments I submitted.
I am opposed to restricting the public?s access to our public resources because we might be in the same area as a loggerhead sea turtle. This action has the potential to negatively impact recreational and commercial fishing as well as the public?s freedom to access local seafood. This action could result in severe financial hardships for coastal communities that depend on tourism and fishing. Loggerhead sea turtles are already protected in many ways and are thriving along America?s southeast coast.
Has NOAA determined what the population level of each distinct loggerhead population segment should be? If so, how were those levels derived? What are the populations of each population segment now? How did NOAA calculate current population levels? What population level would warrant removing each population segment from the list of threatened species?
Rather than use turtles to further restrict our freedom, we should ban imports of seafood from nations that still allow the directed harvest of sea turtles and their eggs. The Saltonstall-Kennedy tax on imported seafood should be used to promote American seafood that is subject to strict guidelines under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and Endangered Species Act.
Thank you for considering my comments and answering the questions.
I do think we need to be careful when declaring critical habitat, since it can affect activities in that area. I think it is worthwhile to engage on this issue.
However, it seems like the ship has already sailed. I’m not a lawyer, but by reading the government document you linked to, it would seem that you can’t stop it. The loggerhead stock have already been separated out into 9 threatened groups (see “Background”). The document further states that under the Endangered Species Act, NOAA and FWS are REQUIRED to designate critical habitat. You won’t get very far by simply telling them not. Perhaps a better idea is to offer tweaks to their proposed maps.
just wait until this goes through the cape romain refuge will be shut down to boaters, no more big bulls bay shrimp!
need to stop ALL beach front development if critical habitat is important
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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”
V
quote:
Originally posted by sellsfishneed to stop ALL beach front development if critical habitat is important
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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”
Bingo!,
If it wasnt for development the 3 million dollar tunnel would not have been needed…
They are going to “nudge” people off the beach and water.
Sellsfish, tell that to the owners of a 12 bedroom house Im wiring on kiawah right on the beachfront, i could spit onto the sand with the wind at my back from the pooldeck…
14’ Skiff-“Redfish Reaper”
yet they blame the fisherman
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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”
Thanks for providing the link, as this was news to me. After perusing the lengthy documents and the legal jargon, this is how we would be impacted.
Activities That May Be Affected
ESA section 4(b)(8) requires in any proposed or final rule to designate critical habitat an evaluation and brief description, to the maximum extent practicable, of those activities that may adversely modify such habitat or that may be affected by the designation. A wide variety of activities may affect the proposed critical habitat and may be subject to the ESA section 7consultation process when carried out, funded, or authorized by a Federal agency. These include (1) Nearshore and in-water construction, dredging, and sediment disposal, such as construction and maintenance of offshore structures such as breakwaters, groins, jetties, and artificial reefs; construction and maintenance of transportation projects (e.g., bridges) and utility projects; dredging and sediment disposal; channel blasting; (2) fisheries management, such as Federal commercial fisheries and related activities; (3) oil and gas exploration and development, such as decommissioning of old oil and gas platforms, construction of nearshore oil and gas platforms, oil and gas activity transport in the nearshore environment; (4) renewable energy projects, such as ocean thermal energy, wave energy, and offshore wind energy; (5) some military activities, such as in-water training and research; and (6) aquaculture, such as marine species propagation.
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam 150
www.abfishcharters.com
The dredging and jetties part could negatively impact the safety of boaters using inlets. It seems like our public servants would rather see a dead person wash up on the beach than a dead turtle.
quote:
Originally posted by freefish7The dredging and jetties part could negatively impact the safety of boaters using inlets. It seems like our public servants would rather see a dead person wash up on the beach than a dead turtle.
Yep we worry about more bugs,fish,manatees than any human…our public servants have forgotten thats what we elected them for,to protect us and our rights,not all this special interest B.S.