F'ISSUES April 2008
Text version of F'ISSUES articles below.
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PLEASE HELP FUEL THE FRA
ENGINE.
Travel, attending
meetings, spend many nights away from home ( and
loved ones) costs money. What is it worth for
you to have the kind of effective representation
that the FRA provides? Every dollar helps
protect your rights to expect a well managed
resource and TO FISH. Donate $25 or more
now and get an FRA shoulder tote bag.
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GULF OF
MEXICO |
SOUTH
ATLANTIC |
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Donate money to help pay for Dr.
Kenchington's work on Gulf issues.
$5, $10, $20, $100 - What can
you spare? What is it worth?
Dr. Kenchington's estimated Gulf Gag
cost could run close to $25K due to resistance from NMFS. |
Donate money to help pay for Dr.
Kenchington's work on South Atlantic issues.
$5, $10, $20, $100 - What can
you spare? What is it worth?
Dr. Kenchington's estimated SA Gag
cost could run close to $15K due to resistance from NMFS. |
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In this April 2008 F'ISSUES
Dr. Trevor Kenchington (left side, at
podium) presented his findings on the Gag assessment to the
Gulf Council's reef fish management committee on Tuesday,
April 8th. Nearly all Council members were
present as Dr. Kenchington presented that overfishing for
Gulf Gag has ended, according to National Marine Fisheries
Service's own Gulf Gag stock assessment. |
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We hope you find this F'ISSUES
informative.
VIEW
FROM THE HELM
by Denny O'Hern
Viewing the horizon of fisheries management
through a spyglass, I see some big changes. We
will be seeing believable 'best available
science' used to manage our fisheries. The
concept of managing fisheries for optimum yield
will take hold, with economic and social impacts
having a bearing on management decisions. Seems
like some mighty big changes, eh, my friends?
All of you who are FRA supporters should feel
good about the impact you have made on the
fisheries management process. Fairness in
fisheries management has been and always will be
worth fighting for. Commercial and recreational
stakeholders alike are realizing that fairness
and common ground are both worth pursuing and
defending.
Just a few short years ago, a good friend and
original FRA member used to joke about the
start-up FRA beginning life as a Chihuahua in a
Pit Bull suit. Looks like we have grown into
that suit. A Pit Bull loyal to Fairness in
Fisheries Management; now THAT's a dog I want on
my side.
Thank you all for providing the FRA with the
strength needed to stand up to (and within) the
system.
Staying the course,
Denny
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RETURN ON INVESTMENT |
The FRA wants to thank each and every one of you for
your contributions of time, money and effort to
effect what just months ago seemed impossible. That
is: a vote by the Gulf Council to DELAY ACTION on
gag grouper April Council meeting in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.
The FRA/SOFA-hired biologist Dr. Trevor Kenchington
informed the Council that their own data indicated
NO overfishing of Gulf Gag has
occurred since 2005. This is something, as
participants in the fishery, we have seen with our
own eyes. Dr. Kenchington also brought into question
the extremely low natural mortality rate used in the
assessment. While this may represent a stay of
execution in some respects, it certainly has made
the Gulf Council take pause with their proposed
severe cutbacks. The Council voted to convene its
own panel of scientists, called the SSC (Scientific
and Statistical Committee) in late May so that the
SSC can review the information brought forth by
Trevor and provide advice to the Council. The
Council also voted to invite Dr. Kenchington to
attend this meeting.
We expect that the current effort reductions and
other information should provide us with a
more reliable picture of the stock and landings.
The Gag issue is not over yet. Some Final Action
may be considered at the August Gulf Council
meeting. There is still much to do. The FRA will
be at every Gag meeting over the upcoming months.
While this can be considered a strong victory, an
even more notable event has taken place: a
unification of fishing interests that is focused on
defending (and regaining) common ground. The
FRA/SOFA joint effort is making history in fisheries
management. The Council, NMFS and other groups are
keenly, some even painfully, aware of the power of
large groups with common interests. Many comments
have been made about this joint effort on Gag
Grouper; most have been positive. None, however,
can refute the value and results of this effort.
Through our joint efforts, the observations provided
by Dr. Kenchington will be transparent, lacking the
bias normally associated with a 'commercial' or
'recreational' scientist. WE will no longer be
scientifically hoodwinked. We have engaged Dr.
Kenchinton for many of the upcoming fisheries
issues.
South Atlantic Gag is next on Dr. Kenchinton's
rapidly-growing to-do list. The South Atlantic Gag
assessment was done side by side with the Gulf Gag
Assessment. There are a few items of concern common
to both assessments.
Dr. Kenchington will be working on the South
Atlantic Gag issue in the next couple of weeks. We
hope all affected FRA members will turn out for the
public input sessions scheduled throughout the South
Atlantic. A list of times and locations is in this
F'ISSUES.
The FRA is asking questions and demanding answers.
This much we know: NMFS's final Gulf Gag Assessment
shows that overfishing of Gulf Gag was not occurring
in 2006 or 2007. The overfishing projections for
2008-2010 are based on erroneously high effort and
landings estimates that, when adjusted for reality,
will show the same lack of overfishing as the 2006
and 2007 numbers show. There is no need to take any
action whatsoever on Gulf Gag grouper.
Instead of
acknowledging that their own 'best available
science' shows Gag is OK, National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) has chosen to aggressively defend
their position of aggressive action by 'reviewing'
their assessments. Further wasting our tax dollars,
NMFS has chosen to review the ALREADY APPROVED,
WIDELY AGREED UPON Red Grouper assessment. What is
the motivation here? Economic destruction?
Pressure from anti-fishing groups? Payback for
fishing interests daring to question the rock solid
science of the NMFS?
REMEMBER: THE GROUPER ISSUES ARE FAR FROM SETTLED!
Constant vigilance and the knowledge of a
world-class Dr. of Marine Biology are what it takes
to stand our ground. Someone is still trying to
steal our pie. Join us in stopping them.
WE HAVE MUCH WORK AHEAD OF US. WE SIMPLY CANNOT
AFFORD TO COME UP SHORT.
We can certainly take a moment to celebrate a
success, but the forces that seem hell bent on
severely restricting or eliminating all together our
access and opportunity to fish in the Gulf of
Mexico, despite a healthy and sustainable resource,
do not rest. A proposal for a series of large marine
preserves that threaten access to a large section of
the most productive waters in the Gulf called the
"Islands in the Stream" looms before us. While the
precedent setting 140,000 square mile Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument
established in 2006 lies mainly in remote waters,
the Gulf of Mexico does not. Eliminating access to
this resource trumps everything that we have fought
for to this point. Please read the below editorial
ABUSE OF POWER by Doug Olander of Sport
Fishing Magazine, and contact the
recommended individuals with your concerns. No doubt
there will be more information and required action
that we will all need to take on "Islands in the
Stream" in the very near future.
We would like to thank you again for your continued
support. Be assured that the FRA will tirelessly
fight for fairness in fisheries management.
The FRA is always in need of more fuel. We nearly
ran out earlier this year, which would have caused
the end of our Gag grouper fishing as we know it,
FOREVER. Gas is over $4 a gallon at the dock. Can
ya swing $5, $10, $20, $100..??? You've seen what we
have done so far.
Help fuel the FRA engine!
A donation of $25 or more is eligible to receive an
FRA TOTE/SHOULDER BAG
Click here
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ABOUT DR. TREVOR KENCHINGTON |
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Dr. Kenchington's consulting company.
My personal thoughts on Dr. Trevor
Kenchington after he had been exposed to me for four
straight days:
We are fortunate to have such an
intelligent, engaging and genuinely nice Fisheries
Expert. Dr. Kenchington's experiences make for some
interesting conversation. You will all have a chance to
meet him in the near future. I am looking forward to
working with him. In the meantime, you can check him
out at
http://home.istar.ca/~gadus/
What does Gadus mean?
It is the biological Latin name of
the codfish.
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The following is a Press Release from the Recreational
Fishing Alliance, a national force in fisheries
management and, as you can see here, an FRA supporter.
Independent Fisheries Scientist to Refute NMFS Gag
Grouper Assessment
As recreational fishermen were bracing for another round
of harvest reductions, this time in the gag grouper
fishery, which were prompted by the a stock assessment
determining overfishing was occurring, a world respected
fisheries biologist hired by the Fishing Rights Alliance
and the Southern Offshore Fishing Association found
serious flaws in the gag SEDAR assessment. Trevor
Kenchington, a Canadian fisheries biologist, reviewed
NMFS's own data and determined that overfishing was not
occurring on gag grouper during 2006 and 2007, a finding
consistent with what industry data has indicated. Based
on Kenchington's findings, no further reductions are
needed in the gag grouper fishery at this time.
"Despite the known problems with the gag grouper and
other stock assessments, NMFS is able to hide behind the
"best available science" clause to justify significant
cutbacks," states Jim Donofrio. "The approach taken in
the gag grouper fishery is a growing trend where
industry has to force NMFS to close massive holes in
their assessments through the use of outside, non-bias
fishery experts."
On a national scale, the industry is seeing a downturn
in angler participation in response to economic
conditions, rising fuel prices and ever-more restrictive
regulations. This decline in effort is having a direct
impact on recreational fishing mortality. However, NMFS
consistently uses inaccurate effort and participation
estimates, which are primarily produced from the MRFSS
program. The result is artificially inflated fishing
mortality estimates and unrepresentative stock
assessment. Recreational industry data in the form of
bait sales, party boat ridership, fuel sales, splash
data, boat sales, tackle sales, etc. is extremely
reflective of what is actually occurring in the
fishery. Yet, NMFS has refused include this important
information in their assessment and dismisses it as
anecdotal. RFA is working hard to have recreational
industry data included in stock assessments.
"RFA applauds the effort of Dennis O'Hern and the
Fishing Rights Alliance," continues Donofrio. "It is
obvious that if we are going to beat the anti-fishing
groups, we need to have better science."
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SOUTH ATLANTIC
GROUPER /SNAPPER PUBLIC INPUT |
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BE THERE! MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
Public hearings and scoping
meetings will be held on the following dates
and locations:
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May 7 - Key Largo, Florida - Key
Largo Grande
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May 9 - Port Canaveral, Florida -
Radisson Resort at the Port
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May 12 - Pooler, Georgia - Mighty
Eighth Air Force Museum
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May 13 - Charleston, South
Carolina - Town & Country Inn
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May 15th - New Bern, North Carolina
- Sheraton New Bern
ALL HEARING TIMES ARE FROM 3pm TO 7pm! |
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Islands In The Stream - ABUSE OF POWER
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The plan to carve a vast
marine sanctuary in the Gulf out of prime fishing areas,
innocuously entitled "Islands In The Stream" threatens
our fishing. We have talked about it here before.
Click here to read Doug
Olander's outstanding editorial entitled ABUSE OF POWER,
about the Islands In the Stream plan and its ugly abuse
of government power.
Voice your concerns:
President George W. Bush
Vice
President
Richard Cheney
Council on Envrionmental Quality
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Capt Tommy Z/Capt Steve Papen's
FRA fundraiser
A big FRA THANK YOU
to the following tackle centers:
Bett's Fishing Center
CB's Saltwater Outfitters
Dogfish Tackle
Economy Tackle
Fisherman's World
Holy Mackerel Tackle
TA Mahoney's
Tightlines Tackle
Southeastern Tackle
Support the FRA by
supporting the Tackle Centers above!
If you don't go to one of the above
excellent Tackle Centers, then please ask YOUR
tackle store to support the FRA.
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Please be sure to thank the following
Captains for supporting the FRA:
Troy Sapp
Randy Rochelle
Ron Presley
Tommy Z
Steve Papen
Travis Palladeno
Tom Turke
Bill Miller
Billy Nobles
Mike Anderson
Patrick Green
Mel Berman
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THE LOWDOWN ON GAG- |
Gulf Gag-
THIS ISSUE IS FAR FROM RESOLVED. NO OUTCOME IS CERTAIN
AT THIS TIME. VIGILANCE, MY FRIENDS.
May 27-29 SSC Committee to meet in late May to
discuss current indices, the natural mortality rate used
in the assessment and other issues.
June 2-6 Gulf Council Meeting in Houston, TX.
There will be no action taken on Gag at this meeting, as
the results of the SSC meeting will create the need for
new alternatives, if any are needed, for stricter
regulations.
July, 2008 The Gulf Council's Reef Fish
Advisory Panel will meet to consider any new
alternatives for Gulf Gag, if necessary.
August 11-15, 2008 Gulf Council Meeting, Key
Largo Any actions that may need to be taken on Gag will
be considered and possibly acted upon at this meeting.
We will need Dr. Kenchington for at least ten more days
for Gulf Gag between now and August.
Dr. Kenchington's knowledge and experience have already
made a difference for us. He is worth his weight in
Gold, I assure you. We need to be able to continue to
pay Dr. Kenchington for his excellent work.
Please donate some of your hard-earned money to support
the work of the good Doctor. A donation of $50
or more is eligible to receive an FRA TOTE/SHOULDER BAG.
Click here
Donations received through this will be used ONLY to pay
Dr. Kenchington.
South Atlantic Gag-
THIS ISSUE IS FAR FROM RESOLVED. NO OUTCOME IS CERTAIN
AT THIS TIME. VIGILANCE, MY FRIENDS.
We will have more information available the week before
public comment begins. Dr. Kenchington needs to review
the South Atlantic assessment and will provide us with
the basis for our comments and actions.
We will engage Dr. Kenchington with the South Atlantic
Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC)
prior to the June South Atlantic Council meeting in
Orlando, FL.
Public hearings and scoping meetings will be held on the
following dates and locations:
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May 7 - Key Largo,
Florida - Key Largo Grande
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May 9 - Port
Canaveral, Florida - Radisson Resort at the Port
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May 12 - Pooler,
Georgia - Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
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May
13 - Charleston, South Carolina - Town & Country
Inn
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May
15 - New Bern, North Carolina - Sheraton New Bern
The meetings will be held between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
The public is invited to attend and provide comments
anytime
between these hours. Periodic presentations on
each fishery management issue will be given.
Click
here for the South Atlantic Council's webpage on
the issue:
http://safmc.net/Library/PublicHearingDocuments/tabid/398/Default.aspx
Dr. Kenchington's
knowledge and experience have already made a difference
for us. He is worth his weight in Gold, I assure you.
We need to be able to continue to pay Dr. Kenchington
for his excellent work. Please donate some of your
hard-earned money to support the work of the good
Doctor. A donation of $50 or more is eligible
to receive an FRA TOTE/SHOULDER BAG.
Click here
Donations
received through this will be used ONLY to pay Dr.
Kenchington.
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Please be sure to thank
the following Captains for supporting the FRA:
Troy Sapp
Randy Rochelle
Ron Presley
Tommy Z
Steve Papen
Travis Palladeno
Tom Turke
Bill Miller
Billy Nobles
Mike Anderson
Patrick Green
Mel Berman
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