how are the tuna /noaa meetings going so far?????

[twofinbluna]

Hey Chris.good to hear bout Portland. I just jumped to NC section of this site and saw no mention of meeting down there. Is there someone from this site you may know who could post up a "all hands" call for the guys in NC?

Hey Tom

I posted something on the offshore fishing forum (on this site) a little while back, and on some other sites that guys down in that area read. We have contacts with fishermen down there, and with Winter Bluefin guys in NC and I know they have been helping spread the word on certain sites, by email and in person. Between all of that, and the SS notice, the word has been spread a lot. But as always there is more that can be done. Its looks like Animal posted a link on the NC board of this site tonight, so hopefully it helps. I would encourage anyone reading this with contacts down south to let them know if they do not already.

[Charlie Wade]

I'll add my thanks to the fishermen who have gotten out to these meetings. It was great to see such a good turnout in Portland as has been mentioned.

Even if you couldn't get to a meeting -- and that would be most of the people reading this thread -- written comments are key. Please take a moment to send along your comments and observations.

Regardless of how often you fish for tuna, if a positive finding comes out of this process and the BFT are deemed endangered or threatened, the government will have to define and protect critical habitat. Think about where we fish for tuna. Now imagine those areas closed to fishing. Period.

Nuff said...

[twofinbluna]

Very true, Charlie. Hopefully people will submit comments telling NOAA what they are seeing out there.

[Captain Greg Sears]

Very true, Charlie. Hopefully people will submit comments telling NOAA what they are seeing out there.

I know Chris and others have done this but we need as much amunition as possible Volunteer some time and Information to help guide the process.

We have until Jan 18th to supply NMFS with documentation showing how "ludicrous" it would be to place BFT on an endangered species list. Your comments should be related to your observations and rebut against the five criteria's used to place BFT on The ESA. criteria's ABCDE

If all the members of the SFC write a comment and send hard copy by fax or mail to the proper authorities listed below. This will help immensely in our quest to fight this petition. Do not be afraid to post your observations even if you have only fished for a short time and have not caught fish.

PLEASE NO COMMENTS ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU HATE NMFS OR THEIR POLICY. only send semi scientific observations and evidence regarding bluefin tuna and the locations you fish. You may provide a summary of your observations and how it effects BFT. You may also provide observations regarding the five criteria used to place BFT on ESA.

ESA Petition for Bluefin Tuna - Listening Sessions in January

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources hosted three listening sessions with bluefin tuna fishermen during January 2011. These meetings where designed to give bluefin fishermen an opportunity to present information to be considered in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) status review that is now underway. A summary of information provided at these meetings and written comments will be reflected in the final status review report. The attached list of questions, provided by Kim Damon-Randall, is intended as a guide for discussion.

Anyone interested in participating should contact Kimberly.Damon-Randall@noaa.gov. A
If you have any questions, please contact Kim Damon-Randall at the email address above. She can also be reached at 978-282-8485, x 6535.

Questions for the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Listening Sessions
1. What are your general impressions of the abundance and distribution
of Atlantic bluefin tuna over time?
2. If you have experienced a decline or increase in bluefin tuna catches
what do you attribute this to (abundance, distribution, availability,
gear changes, regulatory effects, etc.)?
3. Are there particular areas where you typically encounter larger
numbers of bluefin tuna?
4. If so, where are they (e.g., inshore or offshore)?
5. Do these areas change on an annual basis?
6. What is the average size of bluefin tuna being caught by different gear
types or fisheries?
7. Has this changed over the time that you have been fishing for bluefin
tuna?
8. What other information can you share with us that you believe is
relevant to the review of the status of bluefin tuna? (Please focus your
response on pertinent information on the status of the species that
needs to be considered in the status review and not on the petition). criteria's ABCDE on Kuldruff comments. ESA petition.

Thanks for supporting our endeavors to stop this ESA petition.

Please Pass this on .............and on ............and on..........

[twofinbluna]

Two reminders-

Meeting in North Carolina is on the 19th.

Also, tomorrow is the last day to send in emails to Kim, so get them in! Do your part to fight this thing!