MPA's and NC

[Fritz]

I just looked at the nominated sites for North Carolina. Damn, who did you fellas piss off in DC. It looks like nearly the entire state is on the list.

[saltwaterbucks]

Those guys and gals in DC............. their day is coming soon....................sooner than they would like.........


Current politicians will be on the ENDANGERED LIST

[WAHOONBOX]

I just looked at the nominated sites for North Carolina. Damn, who did you fellas piss off in DC. It looks like nearly the entire state is on the list.

MY GOAL IS FOR EVERY PERSON AFFILIATED WITH MPA'S AND CITIES TO LOSE THEIR JOBS. I WANT TO SEE THEM STANDING IN LINE IN A DC SOUP KITCHEN BEGGING FOR STALE BREAD.

[scattered_grass]

I was talking with someone last night, and mentioned these possible closures and "MPAs". They were not very well informed on these specifics but brought up a point.

After describing what I've read on various forums and some magazines about these closures, he said it sounds like very exaggerated statements. He compared this to the whole "gun control" thing that we were faced with when Obama was supposedly going to make us register every firearm we owned on our tax returns or something along those lines. This never happened...

I just don't see some of these things EVER being put into law. How can anyone on any level practically close fishing. I can't even see the most left-wing Liberals wanting to close fishing. Well, maybe I can see some wanting to, but doing is totally different. And yes, I know they closed bottom fishing in FLA for a period of time, which sounds like is backed with completely false science, but some of these claims on closures in the future are utterly OUTRAGEOUS.

No, I have not read all these links that people keep posting up about the "sanctuaries, protected areas and all the other hoopla"...but I think, or at least hope like hell, that it is being blown WAY out of proportion.

I just don't think we could, as a "free country", ever have rights taken from us on this large of a scale.

I could however, simply be worried, and in a state of denial.


-Chaser of the Skirt

[ncfish]

Skirtchaser, talk to some people from CA... they'll tell you. Didn't believe it would happen there either.

Reminds me of people that used to say, "They'll NEVER CLOSE the Point" in Hatteras to fishing. Oh sure, technically they don't close it to fishing now. They just close access to it (vehicle or pedestrian) so that to get there you have to kayak or walk a couple miles below mean low tide line...with your gear.

I agree there have been a lot of things overstated and a lot of misinformation posted all over the 'net about ... I can't even say his name and his policies... but this one bears watching.

[WAHOONBOX]

I was talking with someone last night, and mentioned these possible closures and "MPAs". They were not very well informed on these specifics but brought up a point.

After describing what I've read on various forums and some magazines about these closures, he said it sounds like very exaggerated statements. He compared this to the whole "gun control" thing that we were faced with when Obama was supposedly going to make us register every firearm we owned on our tax returns or something along those lines. This never happened...

I just don't see some of these things EVER being put into law. How can anyone on any level practically close fishing. I can't even see the most left-wing Liberals wanting to close fishing. Well, maybe I can see some wanting to, but doing is totally different. And yes, I know they closed bottom fishing in FLA for a period of time, which sounds like is backed with completely false science, but some of these claims on closures in the future are utterly OUTRAGEOUS.

No, I have not read all these links that people keep posting up about the "sanctuaries, protected areas and all the other hoopla"...but I think, or at least hope like hell, that it is being blown WAY out of proportion.

I just don't think we could, as a "free country", ever have rights taken from us on this large of a scale.

I could however, simply be worried, and in a state of denial.


-Chaser of the Skirt

GREAT POINTS YOU HAVE MADE HERE..................BUT I WILL STILL REMAIN PISSED OFF AT THESE "ENEMIES OF THE STATE " ANYWAY....

THANK GOD FOR UNCLE TED!!!!

IN GOD & TED I TRUST....

[scattered_grass]

Skirtchaser, talk to some people from CA... they'll tell you. Didn't believe it would happen there either.

Reminds me of people that used to say, "They'll NEVER CLOSE the Point" in Hatteras to fishing. Oh sure, technically they don't close it to fishing now. They just close access to it (vehicle or pedestrian) so that to get there you have to kayak or walk a couple miles below mean low tide line...with your gear.

I agree there have been a lot of things overstated and a lot of misinformation posted all over the 'net about ... I can't even say his name and his policies... but this one bears watching.

You are exactly right! That is a point that I actually brought up.

[scattered_grass]

GREAT POINTS YOU HAVE MADE HERE..................BUT I WILL STILL REMAIN PISSED OFF AT THESE "ENEMIES OF THE STATE " ANYWAY....

THANK GOD FOR UNCLE TED!!!!

IN GOD & TED I TRUST....

That makes two of us...

[offshore]

Does anyone have a link to a map of the MPAs I cannot find one..Thanks Mark

[Searen]

This came from a buddy of mine in California. I asked what can we do. His response was:

Well, we had the Marine Life Protection Act hit us full force in 2009. I was a representative for shore based fishing and spearfishing. My greatest personal concern was lost public access to the shore diving and fishing. With a boat, you have more mobility. We have a lot of diving within 100 feet of the sand, so beach diving and fishing is important to us.
What we found almost immediately was how they WILL try to divide and conquer.
I REPEAT: The enemy of your enemy is your friend. We had an incredible group assemble from every fishery possible: Commercial lobster, urchin, wetfish, bottom fish, trawlers, rec. shore, spearfishermen, tackle manufacturers, rec. boat fishermen, and marine waterfront managers (Landings, dock owners).
For all your differences with many of these people, you MUST put those issues on the back burner. Agree to disagree, and then move forward with finding the MOST valuable places each user group utilizes. It's easiest done with coins on a map; every spot you really like, you put a coin on it. Limit yourself to 25 coins. You will be amazed when you do this across 3 or 4 ocean users, ie lobster guys, snapper fishermen, spear divers. You will find that many areas have a lot of coins superimposed on them. Those need access allowed, and they need to be fought for.
When a fishery is targeted and closed/ restricted, one or 2 user groups are affected. When the habitat is closed, it is not at all about fishery management.....it's about pushing you ALL off the water. (Example-Grouper) So, you have issues with commercial grouper fishermen say. They say "We need spot X to fish." You say "You take too many, I'd rather see you pushed off that spot." NOAA then says "Well, in the best interest of grouper, we will allow the take of grouper along the coast....(all sand).... but we are going to put an MPA on the one big rockpile to protect the grouper habitat. It will be great for fishermen; the fish will grow and breed undisturbed, and there will be a spillover effect; when the grouper fully populate the reef, the young will travel out of the MPA, and fishermen can target those fish."

You got the part where it is all sand for 10 miles in every direction, and no grouper will EVER be found there...right??? But, you the recreational fisherman helped to put the commercial grouper fisherman out of the spot, so you won...right???

Don't fall for it. INSIST on advanced fishery management on a species and habitat basis. Seasonal closures, bag limits, size limits, etc. But not total closures on any areas. (You see where I keep going?? Areas...not fish. Don't get hung up in the trap, no matter what.)
As spearfishermen, get your best and brightest, and your most dedicated/ knowledgeable with regards to the local area and fish. Get a simple plan to look to these areas and what you need to fight for. Then- FIND the commercial fishing groups. Get your harbor master associations. Get a meeting with all of them. Band together; explain your needs for access to these areas as well as theirs. Understand, any closed area is one less place to go. The places left will have more competition, and you and your commercial brethren WILL be getting closer together, because that is all you will have left for access.
There is so, so very much to explain about this; it's amazing how complicated this all will be. We created the California Fisheries Coalition, and it wasn't perfect, (We are always fixing and tweaking it...) but it served us very, very well.
It's there at the bottom, in my sig line. Take a look at it, and it will give you an idea of what you can and need to put together for a protective lobby for your coast.
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