What is a Catch Share?

[LuckyLady]

What is a Catch Share? I have been reading and reading title after title. I really can't sit here and say that I even know what a catch share is??

In addition I am curious to know who also can say they do not know exactly what a catch share program is...I am shocked to read that there is currently 14 Catch Share programs throughout the regions...

Catch Share is a in a sense a fancy new term that is flowing these days and I haven't really read any article that tells me what is really is , what the pro's and con's are of it and what would this benefit...

Call me stupid or whatever but what is this fancy new (to me) name CATCH SHARES

Why are the fishermen in the Florida Keys up and arms over it?

What was all the hype about in California?

All I have read is a few states are against it but nothing really explaining it. I am sure I can read a document on NOAA or NMFS giving me the scientific data, what I want to hear is peoples opinions, pro's and con's of the program and if you are for the Catch Share program or if you are against the Catch Share program.


Please list the state you are in a sense representing so we know what area you are from. Members if you want to speak and you are a public figure and don't want to use your normal user name, please create a new user name and make that post and make yourself count.

[seapower]

You tell me what and where my SFC "credit's" are and I'll tell you what catch share's are! I think they are pretty much the same thing in essence, something many worry about, but only a select few really know what they really mean! Frank

[clt_capt]

Catch shares are fisheries magic. They make fishing effort go "poof"

[Captain Michael Buffington]

You tell me what and where my SFC "credit's" are and I'll tell you what catch share's are! I think they are pretty much the same thing in essence, something many worry about, but only a select few really know what they really mean! Frank

well said bud

Mike

[LuckyLady]

Ah the infamous credit question lol well let me ask u this what would u Like them to mean? No free boats

[seapower]

What would YOU like them to mean? Don't need a boat, already got one, but can alway's use lure's, braid, flouro, oil skin's, boots, electronic's, etc...... Oh wait how about a couple of those fancy SFC Tee Shirt's I was promised over a year ago. Xtra large would be great. Frank

[LuckyLady]

What would YOU like them to mean? Don't need a boat, already got one, but can alway's use lure's, braid, flouro, oil skin's, boots, electronic's, etc...... Oh wait how about a couple of those fancy SFC Tee Shirt's I was promised over a year ago. Xtra large would be great. Frank

Hmmmm just maybe just maybe I can make something happen...BUT no has answered my question 1st sooooooooooo me first

[LuckyLady]

Sweet I moved up in the world!! haha Thank you

33.33% think I am an idiot lol

[Sushi50]

Here's how I understand it from the pieces I've read:

In short it's a method of assigning the right to catch and retain a certain amount of fish (either number or weight, however the quota is specified) to a financial instrument called a catch share.

Management entities (like NMFS or councils) can assign or sell catch shares based on historical landings, outright sale of shares to the highest bidder, or some combination of the two.

Once a catch share system is established for a fishery then only those who own the catch shares for that fishery may retain any of that fish species.

If you're poor and don't fish much, don't expect to be allowed to retain any species with catch share management.

If you're rich or have a history of large catches, you might expect to be allowed to buy catch shares and thus be allowed to retain however much fish your shares constitute of the quota for that species.

This means catch shares will turn most recreational fishermen and part-time commercial fishermen into release-only, no-take fishermen, which is what the enviro maggots want.

The historical result of catch shares, according to articles I've read and what the enviros apparently brag about, is that it eliminates about 50% of the fishermen from that particular fishery and makes it easier for NMFS and councils to track who's fishing and how much is being caught.

So catch shares basically means most recreational fishermen/women will no longer have the natural right, by virtue of your US citizenship or residency, to go out and fish for and retain any species, so long as you have applied for and received your permit. To do so you will have to have earned the right by some combination of historical landings and financial investment in catch shares.

For hard core fishermen with money this might not be an issue and might make fishing better due to less boats fishing for your target species, but to others it's a denial of what has historically been free and open access to fish quotas.

Maybe some catch shares expert will be willing to add to or correct this, with references.

[gottaflylee]

"Catch share‖ is a general term for several management strategies that allocate a specific portion of the total allowable fishery catch to individuals, cooperatives, communities, or other entities."

Catch Shares is a way to put many commercial fishermen out of business and don't let that statement put out by CCA fool you, it will effect the regional sector. I will boil down to the fact, that if you or I want to keep a fish, we will have to obtain a "Catch Share" in order to keep a fish.

Here is a "loose" link to what it is, I had a link to the main document but lost it when my hard drive locked up...I will see if I can find you more...

DRAFT NOAA CATCH SHARE POLICY

Search for what happened to the New England fleet and how many of then were put out by this program and many were thinking they were going to get their quota poundage from historical landings only to find that they only got a small % that would not sustain their boats, much less their lives, having to sell their Shares and not being able to fish.

This is just a way for the government to NOT to have to put $$$ in to the resource for research and to take to out having to regulate the resource once it goes into effect.

End of rant for now...