Lets Hear Your Opinion on NMFS opening the 2001 closed waters to Long Liners

[flatbottom]

What impact will this have on the sword fish and other bill fish migrating through "that" previously "closed" area? What reasonably sound information could NMFS possibly be looking for? and What is their real agenda here. Cut it loose guys and gals. No hold backs on this one. Everyone fishing beyond 40 miles in the north should have very precise opinions on this, and t2o our south, right in their back yards, another precise set of opinions. Please ya or na. What did the closure in 2001 help? Should it remain that way or not ? Please educate all of our new fishermen through your eyes and knowledge. Thanks Flat

[floridadeckie]

I think its bullshit. complete and utter bullshit. down here in florida, we finally get our sword fishery back to a halfway decent level after almost losing the entire thing, and now they want to let long liners back into one of the few areas that our swords have to breed and grow. The vast majority of the swords we catch are still pups by my standards, with a few big nastys thrown into the fray. NMFS is a joke, and if your pockets are deep enough you too can own your very own government agency!

[OffTheHook13]

The decisions made are so ridiculous sometimes it baffles me to the point of hair pulling.

I don't know much about that fishery.

Meanwhile, we are about to have our Fluke/Summer Flounder fishery stolen right out from under us

And the commercial guys keep their 14" limit

Something is extremely wrong here

WTF

[OffTheHook13]

I need a beer

[iguana1]

There has been no doubt that the NE Canyons have seen a huge uptick in swordfish since the closure. Whether you can directly tie the two events together is beyond me, but it sure seems a likely cause and effect.

NMFS is the biggest government cluster going.

An excerpt of their missions statement (from website) is as follows:

"...the goal is to optimize the benefits of living marine resources to the Nation through sound science and management."

Anyone in the know sees this as laughable. NMFS couldn't be less efficient. Hypothetically, imagine if a private corporation bought the rights to all domestic fisheries. What would they do?

1) Eliminate any bycatch discards
2) Manage to an entire ecosystem approach (i.e. stop fishing out forage for commodity prices, using great that detroys habitat)
3) Give preference to highest economic value for the resource. This would mean inshore cod would be harvested hook and line on day boats, not banged up in a cod end tow. It would mean that generally, recerational would get preference since the resource benefits the nation equally (as food) and you get the extra economic lift from all the other tourism, goods, etc not to mention the recreation benefit. Of course a private co would monetize this through fees to recreational

NMFS has failed miserably at its charter, primarily due to political influence and outright corruption. This is all done under a guise of traditional values (you know the hardworking independent fisherman), but it just stinks. Why we can't nominate independent leadership that can focus on the mission is beyond me. It seems like government can manage land-based wildlife much more effectively.

[Glenn W]

Here are the details---- perhaps it is wise to understand what's going on before going off half cocked


http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/new...e%20Notice.pdf

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/fis...FR%2062441.pdf

Highlights are:
289 sets (500 hooks per set) over a 1 yr period: (max. of half in closed area)
must use 18/O circle hooks (non offset)
Estimated "worst case" environmental impact:

Swordfish:
1083 retained, 973 released alive, 360 discarded dead

White Marlin:
9 released alive
13 discarded dead

Blue Marlin:
10 released alive
14 discarded dead




Ok, now you can go off fully cocked

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Glenn, at least it was printed on recycled paper.
Holwachagot

[Randy Stinchcomb]

.....No matter how they word it or the fact that only a few ships are involved inside or outside the protected areas, it's still a Slap in the face to ALL recreational fisherman in the Atlantic a sad-sad day if you ask me

[Ace1st]

Yes, it is sad, we have finally proved that a species can be brought back from the brink of collapse. Only to allow the culprits to do it all over again. And for what? The all mighty dollar!! Your opinion does count as well as your vote. So speak up and contact those powers that be. If an overwhelming majority is against the opening, I dont see how they can allow it. Let your voice be heard!

[shoefish]

Yes, it is sad, we have finally proved that a species can be brought back from the brink of collapse. Only to allow the culprits to do it all over again. And for what? The all mighty dollar!! Your opinion does count as well as your vote. So speak up and contact those powers that be. If an overwhelming majority is against the opening, I dont see how they can allow it. Let your voice be heard!

Sounds good to me....so how do we do it? Is there an email address that we could send complaint letters to?