a petition to amend the Magnuson act

[jackdaniels]

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/68/--...kwrappedtables

[jackdaniels]

Amend Magnuson Now, Hatteras Fisherman Says

Whether you are a recreational or commercial fisherman, chances are that you are starting to feel the heat generated by the inflexible nature of the Magnuson Stevens act. And while I doubt there is one of us that does not want to be good stewards of this nations natural resources and fisheries in particular, I would also doubt that any of you would care to be put out of business or have your recreation compromised because of some arbitrary timeline by those in congress who really don't have a clue......
If you really want to know what is at stake, click on the SAFMC's website and read Chairman Duane Harris's testimony to Congress on the lower right hand corner of the page. What you as stakeholder's will find is a frank discussion relating how healthy or managed fisheries are now going to be held hostage by the weakest link and science need not be present to further your pain.
Take for instance the 40 fathom seaward closure now being proposed from Fla to N.C... This is being perpetuated by two species (speckled hind and warsaw grouper) that this council has acknowledged they haven't a clue about since they have no landing data since 1995. They along with the environmental community further that by stating that it will also help other deepwater species that are undergoing overfishing.
But what they don't seem to be interested in discussing is that they have recently instituted a management plan with benefits across the board in the deepwater complex with the culmination of amendment 13c (2006). This plan originated for the benefit of snowy grouper and has reduced a fishery that historically averaged around 300.000 lbs annually . As of mid December of this past year landings on snowies were at 66.000lbs which equated to over a 75% reduction when 13 C only required a 69 %.. That certainly doesn't throw precaution to the wind for the two species in question or any others in this complex. Furthermore, when they don't even have a bench mark to go on with the two species in question, how or when will they decide that it is rebuilt? The convenient response from the council is that they have got to obey the law of Magnuson....
I could name plenty of other fisheries important to both recreational and commercial fishermen that either are facing or have already entered similar situations as the above, but that wouldn't change a thing.
Only our collective voice is going to make a difference in any of this. Please go online to "Ahab's Journal "and sign the petition to "Amend the Magnuson Stevens Act" and encourage as many of your friends as possible to do the same. .. Also, I hope to see you on the steps of our nations Capitol between noon and 3 p.m. on February the 24th. It's your future....

Jeff Oden
Hatteras, NC

[BarryTurano]

#295 forwarded to 30 people and asked all of them to forward it. I explained that this is denying mine and others like myself the right to fish, and when I don't fish I get CRANKY, nobody wants me CRANKY. (insert evil laugh here)