Open access fisheries:
The RFA, data, Walton Foundation (Walmart), and catch shares:
Ok! It's time to take a closer look at why the restrictions being forced on the fisherman are creating such a controversy and a wide spread mistrust of government. The number one problem is data. So exactly how bad is the data process that is restricting access to our fishery? In Florida, why a 40 day ARS season? Why is gag grouper all but shut down? What does congress say about the data being used?
In 2005, Congress convened a special hearing to examine the data collection processes being used to control our fisheries. The National Research Council (NRC) was charged with conducting an in-depth analysis of the data collection methods used by NMFS. The NRC report called the process "fatally flawed," saying the monitoring system has "serious flaws in design or implementation" and the "collection methods of recreational fishing surveys do not provide adequate data for management and policy decisions." That report was released seven years ago and the data collection system remains the same today. That data system is behind the over-regulations of our sport.
Most fishermen are conservative and want what is best for both fish & fisherman. However, we want to be able to catch and keep whatever a healthy fishery will allow. "Fatally flawed" data used to close down OUR fishery is a crime against the American people.
What is the mission statement of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA)
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries
Why is the RFA fighting the Walton Foundation, Walmart, and catch shares?
How is Walmart involved?
The Walton foundation money is Wal-Mart money sheltered from taxation to push the Walton's family agenda of 'ocean privatization.'
The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), a national grassroots recreational fishing organization, on August 17 slammed the Walton Family Foundation's contribution of $36 million to ocean privatization efforts through "catch shares" programs and the creation of so-called "marine protected areas."
The foundation, set up by the family who founded Wal-Mart, announced this week "its efforts to help fund the demise of both the recreational and commercial fishing industry while also working to ensure that the next generation of sportsmen will have less access to coastal fish stocks than at any point in U.S. history," according to a news release from RFA
"A catch share, also known as an individual fishing quota, is a transferable voucher that gives individuals or businesses the ability to access a fixed percentage of the total authorized catch of a particular species," according to Food and Water Watch. "Fishery management systems based on catch shares turn a public resource into private property and have lead to socioeconomic and environmental problems. Contrary to arguments by catch share proponents – namely large commercial fishing interests – this management system has exacerbated unsustainable fishing practices."
“Fish are a public resource," explained Wenonah Hauter, Food & Water Watch Executive Director. "Unfortunately, private investment groups and even some public interest groups have shamelessly and publicly compared access to fish to the stock market and are treating it like an investment that can be bought and sold for personal profit. They’re aiming to model the fishing business after big agribusiness on land, with giant commercial operations controlling the market
A broad coalition of commercial and recreational fishing, consumer and environmental groups is opposing the catch shares programs being pushed by NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, a former vice-chair of the Board of Directors of Environmental Defense, because these programs amount to the privatization of public trust resources by concentrating fisheries in the hands of a few corporate hands. Wherever catch shares have been introduced, local fishing communities, fish populations and the environment have been devastated.
Our local outfitters and tackle shops along the coast have had to face an immense challenge by going up against Wal-Mart's purchasing power during the last decade, but now that the Walton family is so up front about their opposition to open access fisheries, it's hard to believe that any sportsmen would ever be interested in shopping at Walmart again.
Bob Harbison A concerned native Florida fisherman & hunter
