THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN FISHERMAN

[relentless]

Good Day,

I usually don't give to panhandlers but today in Boston this guy caught my eye and I handed him a five. Yes I know he might go get his next fix or bottle because of it but, after talking to him for a bit he was a pretty good guy. I am starting to think with Jane, NGEO'S and the Santuary Superintendent trying to restrict fishing on Stellwagen bank we may see more guys like this one. Either way his sign caught my eye and made me think about the future of the US fisherman both commercial and recreational.



Have a good day.

Dave

[FullStrikeAngler]

Unfortunately Dave you are spot on as usual. The Stellwagen fiasco is flying under the radar but that guy is very serious in his objective to close fisherman out of the area and set up his own "little" reasearch lab. People had better start speaking out or get ready to sell your fishing gear and take up golf.

[relentless]

George,

Here is the link for the agenda to the meeting for the Sanctuary Advisory Committee meeting which will be held in Dedham at the Holiday Inn on September 14th next week. The SERA (Sanctuary Ecological Research Area) or NNO FISHING ZONE discussion is at 10:30 -12:30. This will be interesting to see if Craig MacDonald actually tells people his little secret and the location and coordinates fo the areas he proposes to shut down to no fishing.

http://stellwagen.noaa.gov/sac_sep11_agenda.pdf

34th SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
14 September 2011 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Boston/Dedham Hilton, Dedham, MA

Meeting starts PROMPTLY at 9:00 AM!

9:00 A.M. Welcome, Review of Agenda and Approval of SAC Minutes (Rich Delaney)
9:15 – 9:30 SBNMS Business (Craig MacDonald)
SBNMS 2011 Budget Update
9:30 – 10:30 SAC Business (Nathalie Ward)
Council “Round-Robin”
New Members Welcome and Future Recruitment
2012 Meeting Dates
SAC CHALLENGE 2012: SAC Member Updates (Members)
Programmatic Updates
SAC Youth Seat Subcommittee (Dave Robinson & Rob Moir)
SAC Leadership Award and Sub-Committee (John Galluzzo)

10:30 –12:30 SERA Proposal and Discussion – Potential Council Action (Craig MacDonald)
Ad Hoc Subcommittee Report (Rich Delaney)12:30 – 1:30 Working Luncheon—“Seabirds of Stellwagen Bank NMS” (Wayne Peterson)
1:30 – 2:00 Stellwagen Sanctuary Seabird Stewards (S4) Citizen Science Program (Anne-Marie Runfola)
2:00 – 3:00 Partner and Constituent Reports
Diving in the Sanctuary (Heather Knowles and Matt Lawrence)
New Bedford Whaling Museum (Bob Rocha)
NOAA Fisheries Regional Report (Jen Anderson)
NEFMC Report (Michelle Bachman)
3:00 – 3:15 New SAC Issues
3:15 – 3:30 New Business
3:30 – 4:00 Public Comment
4:00 P.M. ADJOURN

[Gadaluvit]

That has been something that I have been trying to find out... What locations are in this discussion for closure?!

[fishingmaniac]

"The Sliver" includes very large part of Stellwagen Bank, about 5 miles North of the SE corner, and even more area outside it. Attached is an image of the "Silver". This is an area where the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary and the Western Gulf of Maine Closed area (an area already closed to commercial fishing without a LOA but not closed to tuna fishing) intersect.

Chart below:



As you can see, "The Sliver" as they choose to call it, has actually been a very large portion of our fishing grounds for hundreds of years. Once they get their foot in the door - look out...the area will grow and grow, as I hear it already has in Calif and Florida. And if you've ever been in a boat you know there are no no-trespassing signs out there, so if and WHEN you cross them by accident while fishing you will be screwed. Even if it was well marked with signs and buoys, I'm pretty sure the fish will still pass over, under and around them, thereby necessitating an even larger area of concern/research.

If you all want to continue fishing out there be it recreationally or commercially, best make your voice heard at these meetings.