Endangered species

[twofinbluna]

back to your regularly scheduled rant about conspiracy and "them".

Huh? You realize the Center for Biological Diversity already filed a petition for endangered species listing? This is far from being any kind of conspiracy theory or anything like that- it is a fact. And if you think this oil spill is really the reason, you should read one of the stories on the petition where CBD themselves said they were going to eventually do this anyways. But you can sit back and pretend like these people are not all gunning for this fishery.

Your estimates are very high IMO about what this will do to the bluefin stocks. Fish were likely spawning a month before the spill even happened, and possibly earlier since this season everything has been early (including a B Block fish showing up off Canada earlier than ever before). And on top of that, they spawn in multiple sites throughout the Gulf. This idea that somehow all the spawn is going to die is ludicrous IMO (not saying that is what you were saying, Backman). And while some like to believe that these fish only spawn in the Gulf, ask Molly what she thinks about that theory. Even if you were to assume the worst case scenario possible, it probably would not even put a 10% dent on the population, and we are far from the worst case, IMO.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with listening to what knowledgeable people think about this issue and we have been talking to everyone we can to get their thoughts on this. Keep in mind though that the real impacts, if any, will not be known for many years. That goes for what I am saying too- all just gut feelings and predictions. But if you think that Bill Fox is an objective source you need to brush up a bit on your bluefin management history. These people will do whatever it takes to achieve their goal and the sooner people realize that the better.

[twofinbluna]

The fish peta people just want to end all fishing. Why do you think they are sending books to kids calling fish sea kittens? That said ,I believe that nature/tuna will choose not to breed in an oil poluted area and will seek an area that is suitable to continue their species. I've been told that fish such as herring go to the same water source using imprinting(tasting the water?). Oil should contaminate this method and cause them to seek a better area. Nature seems to rise above human stupidity. Clambo

I also agree that these fish did not get this far by being stupid enough to be swimming around, and spawning, in oil. I would be interested to see the tracks of the fish that have pop-up tags overlayed on a map of the actual oil. Hopefully at some point we will see that done.

[clambo]

I also would like to see tracks this year. They will be more important than ever before. The last time I saw Molly's tracks the tuna did not mix with the western group and up to that time all info I was told said they would. The tracks showed all but one followed the east coast down to the south, one went half way to England then came back. Hopefuly the Gov won't screw either the com's or the rec's but I feel the peta's of the world are way more organized than we are. If i wanted to screw the data I would have all my friends get a HMS permit and report a tuna every day! NMFS can't even count the reports fast enough so I doubt they would be able to graff the data and realize that a reporter seems to fish every day and does not seem to work to survive as do the rest of us. clambo

[striper swiper]

They know they breed in that area; there is scientific fact all over the internet on that.

Guys - not to knock you off your self interested soapbox but this one is a bit different than the usual arguments about Eurotrash, pinko, environmental NMFS, ICCAT, your favorite government employee conspiracies against poor 8th generation Swamp Yankee's.

Common sense says at a minimum this year's spawn is going to be affected in some way shape, or form even if the spawner's themselves aren't hurt - we may have lost 5-10% of the western tuna population for the next 10 years.

I know there are millions of fish around and plenty for all, but I also know it ain't like it was when I first saw it 15 years ago.

It strikes me that at least listening to the discussion of the impact of the oil spill on bluefin and other pelagic's is a reasonable approach.

back to your regularly scheduled rant about conspiracy and "them".

The breeders of the gulf also provided an annual bft blitz in the Bahamas. Usually there would be a 1-3 week period of busted rods spooled 50's and other stories of getting a big bluefin beating. When was the last time you heard about this???
Yes they have spawn in the Gulf in the past. The tag data suggests that it's at or below 1000' but it is also in other areas besides the gulf. The med comes to mind. So does the mid Atlantic ridge. That area has active volcanic vents yet they seem to survive just fine from there.
This is just another knee jerk reaction. They need all kinds of "studies" to do anything productive to fix it yet your gonna let them close down all fishing over a complete unknown. The fact that the fish were long gone, if they were there, when this well started leaking