Article: Fluke anglers take on experts blinded by science

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Fluke anglers take on experts blinded by science

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/19/07
BY JOHN GEISER
CORRESPONDENT

It was a shame that there was no biologist from the National Marine Fisheries Service in the Taylor Pavilion in Belmar on Monday night. He or she might have learned something.

There were at least 350 fluke anglers — maybe 400 — in the pavilion. They were there to attend a summer flounder and blackfish information meeting sponsored by the Recreational Fishing Alliance and the Shark River Surf Anglers.

Raymond D. Bogan, legal counsel for the RFA and the United Boatmen of New Jersey and New York, asked if there was anyone in the gathering who thought the summer flounder stocks were in trouble. Not a single hand was raised.

He asked if there was anyone in the room who had ever seen more fluke in Shore area waters than they have seen this year. Not a hand was raised.

The pavilion was packed with concerned fishermen. Every seat was taken, they were massed along the walls, they were jammed in the back of the room, they were standing on the porches, even the windows were opened to let those who could not get in hear the speakers.

Scientists may try to ignore the obvious, clinging desperately to their theories and computer models, and arrogantly attempting to dismiss what fishermen see and experience as anecdotal, but truth cannot be buried forever.

"We're not talking about what fishermen out of Manasquan Inlet see," Bogan said. "It's not anecdotal when fishermen from Massachusetts to North Carolina are seeing the same thing.

"It's important that fishermen know their adversaries," he added. "One thing we should never forget is that scientists want to continue ownership of the science.

"The academic and theoretical models they use can adversely impact the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of fishermen, but they will not admit that they are wrong."

Bogan said one remedy would be to counter this mind set with superior science, and he feels Rutgers and Cornell universities, which have taken some steps, could do the work with proper funding.

It was evident that there was not a person at the meeting who believed the science. The fisheries management contention that the stocks can be doubled in five years drew derisive mutters.

Those close to the plan know that the biomass grew from 112 million pounds to 114 million pounds this year. How could it somehow surge to 204 million pounds by the end of 2012?

James A. Donofrio, executive director of the RFA, said one way management could try would be to close the fluke fishery.

"This is what we're facing, if we do not address it," he said. "We've been suffering pain for a long time, but, since Congress compromised on the wording of some parts of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, it's going to get worse.

"It's not just fluke," he added. "It's only been nine months since Magnuson was passed, but they're already starting to shut fisheries down in Florida and Georgia."

Fisheries that are on the imperiled list include: blackfish, winter flounders, weakfish, sea bass, porgies and sharks, in addition to fluke.

Those who spoke at the meeting included: Greg Hueth, president of the Shark River club; Assemblyman Sean Kean, R-Monmouth; Bill Figley, former head of the state's artificial reef program; John DePersenaire, research scientist with the RFA; and Tim DelMonico, aide to Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. They clearly and succinctly described the problems fluke and blackfish anglers face, and outlined some courses of action.

The route to follow is simple, according to Hueth: "Unity and political action."

Hueth said the recreational fishing community is facing a disaster in less than 10 years, if fishermen do not unite and act.

"It will all come to an end unless we do something," he said. "Together we can make a difference. Together we can move forward. We're fighting a monster, but we can win if we unite and take action."

DelMonico said Pallone recognizes the seriousness of the threat to all of the fishermen and businesses that depend on the fluke fishery.

"Since the current data is clearly unreliable, I have requested that the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans hold a hearing on the rebuilding targets and the science used to develop the yearly quotas," Pallone stressed in a statement read by DelMonico.