Catch Shares from one end of our country to the other

[harbison]

 
                            The Last Frontier
Catch shares in Alaska:
This privatizing of a national resource is making a select few wealthy while putting many out of business. But what about our Gulf of Mexico? So far away from Alaska,  and 'The Last Frontier' concerns commercial, not recreational, fishing. However, per Captain Bob Zales,ll, "The NMFS and environmental defense fund (EDF) are working together to take us (all of us) off the water, consolidate the for-hire fleet, and privatize the resource that we currently have access to."  Captain Zales ll

The Gulf Headboat Collaborative (GHC) is the first step in issuing in Catch Shares to the Gulf of Mexico recreational sector. A 'select few' head boats have been granted the exclusive privilege of catching, and keeping, not only OUR American red snapper, but also OUR gag grouper, anytime throughout the year. NO season for them. Own your own boat, hire a charter, or fish on a head boat other than the chosen few? Too Bad!            Want open access to what was once OUR resource? Too Bad!  Bob Harabison

This short film was on “fisherman’s voice” on facebook. If you have seen it, it is worth watching again.  If not it is a must watch and please pass it on.  The film is from 2005.  It would have been great if we could have seen it back then because the whole effort to move for-hire boats into a separate sector and create catch shares for us would most likely be a thing of the past.  The story in this film is compelling and shows how catch shares make a select few wealth while putting many out business and turning the rest into share croppers.

 

The Gulf Council will be discussing amendment 40, the sector separation issue once tabled due to over whelming opposition, at the Feb meeting beginning on 2-3-14.  If you are considering supporting or do support the amendment this film should change your mind.  The NMFS and environmental defense fund are working together to take us off the water, consolidate the for-hire fleet, and privatize the resource that we currently have access to.   Capt. Bob Zales, ll   

Check out the short film. Think it cannot happen here? Think it cannot happen in our Gulf of Mexico?  Take a good look at the Gulf Headboat Collaborative. It is happening here!                Bob Harbison

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[IrishAyes]

This entire country is being run to benefit a select few. If you are not in with 'the group' you are screwed. The average guy is taking a beating and it will only get worse. We are, quite frankly, in a sorry state of affairs and it will get far worse before it gets even a little better.

[harbison]

     Agreed!    NOAA is so infiltrated with EDF & Pew. The mighty dollar rules over science, what is best for the fishery, and what is best for the fisherman. The special interest groups are so very well organized and extremely good at persuasion. Over the objection of the masses, catch shares is now a reality from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico. We are many; they are few. However, the big money groups are well ,organized. The recreational sector can't even get 10% to stand up & fight.