Reply from Virginia Dept of Game and Fisheries

**obxfish** · 02-04-2010 02:35 PM

Copied is a Email I received in response to a scientist from Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries supporting full closure of parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore (including The Point) to pedestrians and off road vehicles.

Thank you for your inquiry about Ruth Boettcher's signature on a letter regarding potential closures of portions of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to access. Ruth is the shorebird expert for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and she has many years of professional experience managing coastal wildlife resources in both Norh Carolina and Virginia. On the letter you referenced, Ruth included her professional affiliation with her name as indication of that professional expertise, not as a statement of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' position on this issue. The Department has not expressed an official position on this issue and I do not anticipate that we will, though protection of shorebirds and critical habitats from disturbance along their entire coastal range is of major concern. Thank you for your inquiry.

ray

Raymond T. Fernald, Manager
Nongame and Environmental Programs
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
P.O. Box 11104
4010 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230-1104
804-367-8364 Voice
804-367-2427 FAX
ray.fernald@dgif.virginia.gov

**netman9** · 02-04-2010 03:31 PM

Every Fall I spend a week fishing S Nags Head area with a bunch of freinds including two VDGIF officers. These guys are just like any other fisherman on vacation enjoying some of the best sound, nearshore and offshore fishing around.The one big difference is their educational background and knowledge of the wildlife we visit. The conversations we have over a beer in the evening are very interesting with their legal veiws and personal opinions of hunting and fishing topics. My hats off to the whole group at VDGIF for the work they do.

**ncfish** · 02-04-2010 04:18 PM

What do they think about the closures? Go in the spring when you can't get to Oregon Inlet spit and see how much fun it is... not trying to be a smartass but driving out that ramp and having 150 trucks crammed into an area of 100 yards ain't much fun... when they let you go out the ramp that is.

I spoke to several NPS rangers down there a few weeks ago and got a mixed bag on their thoughts. Some think we need to protect the birds, even though we're the edge of their breeding range and they aren't successful at breeding on OBX. Others think the whole thing is a waste of budget.

I got a response from DU w about why one of their biologists signed the letter. They said that letter explicitly DOES NOT reflect a DU position. And they wouldn't have a position if asked for one although generally they fall on the side of conservation and use, not isolation. I've asked for a formal statement saying as much and haven't received it yet. BTW, the biologist is from Michigan and now in ND...how much do ya think she really knows what the hell she's talking about concerning OBX issues??

The whole thing is a land grab and a pretty fair representation of what's wrong with this country. From a corrupt judge to special interest groups owning the DOI and NPS. Really cool thing is that when the NPS rolls over in these lawsuits, taxpayers foot the legal bill for the asshats suing to deny the public access. It's always about the money...makes me sick.