Tuna Crisis meeting March 17th Tomorrow

[Captain Greg Sears]

Suggestions and comments to NMFS regarding the 2009 regulations will be held at;

Tomorrow March 17th, 2009 4pm to 6pm Location NOAA 1301 E West Highway Silver Springs MD. 20910 ( Science center)

Directions http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Noaa%2...N&hl=en&tab=wl

OK southern Group I want more than 120 people at this one make a good show. We need as many people as possible to show up bring your friends. Express your feelings and thoughts do not be shy.

[Fishfinder]

For those of you , like my-self that will not have a chance to go to the meeting in Silver Springs MD you still have a chance to have your voice and opinion heard. You can go to www.regulations.gov and e-mail your comments on the change in the bluefin tuna seasons as late as tommorrow. I e-mailed a very long comment about what the bluefin tuna commercial season means to me here in Morehead City NC. There will be such a negative economic impact here in the Morehead City area it's not funny. I hope that a large number of you fishermen and business owners here in NC either go to this meeting or e-mail comments to the NMF.

Capt. Joe Shute

[Capt. Jon Tennant]

One other thing that I don't understand is what we are fighting for in these meetings? As far as loosing our quota thru ICCAT, it is just that and these meetings affect nothing with the NMFS and Iccat's agreement which affects all Iccat country members and the BFT fishery as a whole. As far as catch it or lose it, that has been part of the contract with Iccat for all member countries for quite a while. One other thing that has not been made clear is what "quota" will be transferred. Quota from future seasons or unused quota from previous seasons. It was discussed at the townhall meeting the Tag-a-Giant put on a few years back in MHC and it was explained to me as being more of the second. If thats the case then how does this affect future seasons?


here is the docket for discussing for the meeting...

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...50%3A8.0.1.1.3

From what I can tell, this has nothing to do with Iccat transfing US quota to any other countries, so I guess my question is this...

is this really about protecting the fishery for GBFT or just a stand to combat the new retention limits on rec. caught juvenile BFT & it's affect on the charter and recreation fishing industry?

One other thing... is everyone fighting to protect the GBFT or just fighting for the last one?

[Fishfinder]

All that I am sure of John, is that the new proposed general catagory tuna season for 2009 runs from June 1st thru August 31st and if something doesn't change, you and I and all of North Carolina will be left with nothing!

Capt. Joe Shute

[Capt. Jon Tennant]

not so fast Joe...

from the way it reads, the june 1 thru aug 31 is only referring to daily retention limits... nothing about closing at all. Page 2 has the quota broke down by time period and quota allowances which shows the fishery open june 1 thru Jan 31 2010.

https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/other/bl...%202-18-09.pdf

[Fishfinder]

I understand that John, and I read the 2nd page. Why would they state the closure dates then?

Capt. Joe

[Capt. Jon Tennant]

it does not say a word about any closure. it is only dealing with quota allowance for this year and daily retention limits thru Aug 31. In the last sentance above the chart says that it is a only a proposed rule for daily renention limits.

[Fishfinder]

Your right! Lets hope that is all they want to do. If we lose any part of the quota or fishing days, we more than likely will not get it back. I am very tired of our government agencies giving things like the quota for bluefins back to other countrys along with our money.

Capt. Joe

[Capt. Jon Tennant]

My only concern is with the seriousness of the fate of the GBFT and any fisheries involved is we are fully informed of what is actually happening, not just being smoked screened into financially & politically supporting one groups agenda regardless of what the science says or what we know is right.

All I'm saying is the facts should be clear and the reasoning should be sound before "jumping on the band wagon." Something has to be done, but I'm very concerned of "the boy who cried wolf" hurting us in the long run.

[Captain Greg Sears]

Capt. Jon: you are correct in your feelings for more information. I also was concerned about the lack of information so I studied the laws and proposed rules for two weeks, it was very difficult even finding the documents that contain this information. The first issue is with ICCAT, the use it or lose it policy. This issue is up for discussion in 2011 ICCAT review, But we need to start focusing on what we can do now. One problem is we have been sandbagged by NMFS with a false revenue reports letting ICCAT believe we have no economic Impact by losing our quota. NMFS say our entire bluefin industry is only worth 2.5 million. Also we have some issues with historical turf concerning some countries. We have 1.5 years to find resolution to these problems with ICCAT but we need to start now getting our government involved.

The next issue that you can voice your opinion at this meeting is, the fact that NMFS is not allowing us to catch enough fish to fill our own USA demand. Our country imports more bluefin tuna than we are allowed to catch. this means we send our money to these countries who catch small fish and buy these fish to sell in our own restaurants. Why would we not let our own people catch fish for our own demand? The quotas have been set to increase the population of fish but some countries catch way more than their quota ( another issue for ICCAT) Stop the other countries from over fishing not the USA who has protected these fish!

you may call me if you like 781-545-6516 I am not an expert but I have done alot of reading. And can help you find some information if you want to read.

Capt. greg fishing@massbayguides.com