By Henry Hauch Sector Separation, which is useless without the IFQ scheme proposed by this same EDF funded commercial organization does NOT create equal access. It has been shown to likely close red Snapper seasons for all recreational anglers that do not or will not pay a privileged Charter operation to take them fishing. More importantly is the fact that these charter business owners are NOT the rightful stakeholders in the fishery, the recreational Angler is! Its their fish, their quota, not a business owner, boat owner or captain. Should a recreational angler choose to harvest fish on a charter boat, friend or family members boat or their own boat, that is their choice, not a business owners or the governments, but yet that is exactly what this scheme would do. The IFQ goal of those pushing the Sector Separation scheme would take away the Harvest Rights, which is what federal fishery laws define as those that belong to IFQ holders, FROM the recreational harvester, and cede them to a commercial business owner. Its neither Fair and Equitable as defined under the National Standards, nor likely to meet certain legal challenges. The fact that the Red Snapper stock, the fish at the center of this scheme, is likely exceeded its historic virgin stock levels tells us that there is more than enough to support much greater access for ALL recreational anglers, but rather than focusing on this HUGE fishery management failure, and seeking solutions to fix this, this Separatist group chooses to ignore this in favor for what is best for their Business model. They really do not want sound, reliable science to enter the picture, since it would indeed allow greater access for ALL, and not force those wanting to fish to use their services, or stay on the docks! Some may think that I am a just a private recreational angler seeking my own interest.....but think again. I am a recreational angler, but also a Charter Captain and Charter Business owner. I like a large portion of the Charter For Hire fleet DO NOT want this scheme, but rather for fishery managers to simply do their job and Count the fish. You see as simple as it sounds....its not happening. Besides not knowing how many people fish the federal waters, the federal managers do not even know how many active charter boats there are in the GOM, yet they somehow came up with percentage numbers based on this unknown number that would effectively put half of all the recreational Anglers quota in their control. If they get what they want, next year those fishing on their own boat, a friends or family members boat would not be allowed to keep a Red Snapper and take it home for dinner.......but these business owners pushing this scheme would be allowed over 4,000 pounds of fish per boat to sell to the highest bidder. When recreational anglers are cut off, and forced to hire a commercial business, think the prices wont go up? The Head Boat scheme that has been given a Pilot to this scheme has proven it will charge more for your fish. This has got to be shut down......before all of our fishing access is only possible thru a handful of commercial operations.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:47:17 +0000
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