BAD NEWS FLUKE FANS! NMFS Wants a 40% Quota Cut in 2008!!!

[Capt. Ed]

Hi All,

Word has gotten out that the NMFS is talking about a 40% quota cut for the 2008 season.

This is even before the numbers for 2007 come out. On water observation would lead one to believe that NY, NJ and Delaware, at least, will overfish their quota.

This has brought outrage on Capitol Hill, especially to Rep. Jim Saxon who helped author changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act that was suppose to stabilize the quota.

Rep. Saxton promised us that the 2008 quota would be 19.2 million pounds; 2009 would increase to 22.7 million pounds; and 29 million pounds by 2012.

Even though the stock biomass has doubled since 1993 and the spawning stock biomass has nearly tripled, NMFS is proposing to vitrually halt all fishing, recreational and commercial, with this quota.

How can this have been so mis-managed? What will lawmakers do? Are the fish already rebuilt to maximum levels given the depletion of the estuaries?

One thing is sure, this will not get resolved quickly.

If the scientists at NMFS are the "best and brightest," someone should be looking at the schools that issued their degrees!

Stay tuned!

Capt. Ed

[Luna Sea 5]

 wow...   

[Pops Soul]

 
Thanks for keeping us up to date Capt. Ed

[bassnblues]

Here we go again

[Flukedood]

Oh boy.. I dont undertand the rationale.. Could some please explain??

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Flukedood,

In short, the NMFS is trying to rebuild the fluke population to a level "guessed to exist through computer models" back in the 1930s. That would be somewhere around 200 million pounds, give or take a few million pounds.

They have a timeline to do it via the Magnuson-Stevens Act. There are also tons of environmental groups armed with lawsuits in hand if that number is strayed from.

It has lead to a battle every year since 1994 over quota. That is just the overall quota, not how comms vs recs split it or how it is allocated to states.

This will get ugly ... it is a possiblity, and I stress a possibility, that after they figure out the quota and the 2007 data comes in, that there will be little or no quota left for 2008.

Of course, there is a ton of finger pointing to how this could have happened, but ... HERE We ARE!

Scary,

Ed

[IrishAyes]

Typical governmental operation.  The blind leading the blind. 
Also falls into the Peter Principal.  "In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence."  I think these people are there.

[Flukedood]

wow, So this could possibly mean no season for 08?? That is truly sad..the financial impact is unthinkable..

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Flukedood,

Little or no season if NMFS gets there way and that still does not mean we are out of the woods for 2009 and beyond.

Right now, it is estimated that there are 110 million (give or take a few million) pounds of fluke. That would mean they would have to nearly double the population by 2013 to be in compliance with the law (Magnuson-Stevens). There are no provisions in Magnuson-Stevens for what happens if the target is not met.

There is also case law that says the plan in place, yearly, must have a 50% chance of contributing to the population growth.

Add to this mess that they:

1. Do not know the historical highs to begin with.

2. The collected data is flawed but it is the "best available science."

3. We need to double the population in the next 5 years.

4. The estuaries are 50% destroyed from 1950 levels.

All leads to court, eventually, in my mind.

Yes, it is a possibility that lawmakers will be involved so anything can happen. This time I am sure that someone may want to challenge any "deals" cut in court.

Yes, your 2008 and beyond fluke seasons are in jeopardy! No melodrama here. I have sat in too many of the NMFS, JCAA and RFA meetings to know this is not good.

As far as financial impact, it is clear to me they do not care!

Capt. Ed

[Flukedood]

Wow they dont care about the domino affect finacially it will have?? Head boats, bait stores, I mean The list can go on and on ..
 
 this is very sad.. I really hope they can come up with some kind of compromise.. And there is no changing/ modifing the magnum Stevens act?? I mean is it me or does the fluke population seem pretty stable?? and the want to double the biomass in 5 years?? Seems a little extreme to me..

[Ruger314]

Again,, were's the data from the commercial industry?? What about all the dead loss from their quota!!

I hate to say this but what a joke!!!..

Punish the recreational fisherman!!!

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Joe,

Recs. are an easy target because there is little or no organized opposition ... we need a good lobbyist or, this sounds absurd, but a saltwater license to show how many people actually fish instead of just estimates. Ouch!

Flukedood - They just renewed the Magnuson-Stevens Act last year (they do it every 10 years). What happens when a fish is determined to be "overifshed" is that there becomes a 10 yr. plan to rebuild it. That has been going on since 1994 or so with fantastic results (nearly doubling the biomass and tripling the spawning biomass). However, the goal they set back when this started was flawed. They chose a number of 200 million pounds or so, despite no evidence that the fishery had this many fish. It is a guess and they have been basing all there decisions on this guess for 10 years.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act is suppose to look at the financial hardships involved, but the environmental lobby (Pew Trust among others) are so strong and organized that they are afraid of lawsuits.

I say, let's go to court!

Capt. Ed

[ped579]

Hi All,

I just read Ed's post and John Geiser's article in the Hook, Line And Sinker.  Both mentioned that the mark everyone is focusing on is the 1930's biomass figures.  They say with computer models they have an idea of what it was back then.  In my way of thinking if you use even a slightly different model to figure this out the statistics will be skewed and flawed making them unrealistic and useless as a benchmark.

There are so many variables to take into consideration today that would make those figures useless as well.  A for instance, the bays and estuaries that once harbored pristine spawning grounds are being deteriorated to the point that some if not most are irreversible or would take decades to repair and many of us would never see their return in our life time.

If you have any concerns about what to do now is the time for some it is too late but later is better than never.

Write or call or e-mail your state Representative and voice your opinion.

Here is Jim Saxton's web site e-mail like I do and did to add a voice to his arsenal of weapons to use when he represents us.

http://www.house.gov/saxton/

Don't stick your head into the sand on this one it is too mismanaged and I think most of us realize this.  So in plain language JUST DO IT!!!  If you choose to just sit there wringing your hands and do nothing you are part of the problem.  Sorry for the wake up call

Happy Catching

Paul

[Duffman]

40% cut!!!  Jersey will have something like a 20" minimum, 3 bag limit and a 10 week season!!   Damn, this is getting BAD!!!!

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Paul,

Many thanks!

One more thing guys. If you think this stops at Fluke you are not thinking on a bigger picture.

When the Fluke become more restricted, we, as fisherman, will target other species. What will they be?

Well, Stripers for a part of the Spring and maybe into the Summer. But, they have their own problems, especially if we do not fix the menhaden issue on an oceanwide basis.

Some will say we should target Blackfish. Well, that plan is not acceptable because even stiffer rules will be coming down the pike because they are not recovering at all and are already under a similar rebuilding (i.e. "overfished") plan.

Some will say Sea Bass. Very good and that will work for a while. Then the tremendous pressure will have negative impact on that fishery. The spiral downward continues.

Some will say Ling offshore. Yes, it is a possibility but now you are travelling 20+ miles to fish.

Some will say Bluefish. OK - but how many trips can you take of those.

Some will say tuna. They are harshly restricted and in danger of collapse themselves.

Some will say sharks. They are harshly restricted and in danger of collapse. themselves.

Some will say swords. They are far offshore and a night fishery that few are really equipped to pursue.

You all can get my point. We are in a downward spiral that may not be recoverable for a long time.

We face the following:

1. Regulations pushing us offshore further and further to find other species to fish.

2. We are heading for a trophy fishery or even "Catch and Release."

3. We have been asked to sacrifice and the sacrifices are not be rewarded.

There are few answers. The one that is easiest to do is to get involved. Get educated. Hold your Representatives and Senators in Washington, DC accountable.

Time to step off the soap box,

Capt. Ed

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Duffman,

It will be worst than that!

The Fluke fishery is "overfished." That is why there is a "plan" in place. There is early data to show that many states including NJ, NY and Delaware are "overfishing." That is bad as harsher penalties kick in.

For example, if they allocate 11 millions pounds next year (which is roughly a 40% cut), they then can take the amount of fish that were "overfished" in 2007 away from the 2008 quota.

We then have to split the quota with the comms 60 comms vs. 40 recs. we then hav to allocate to all the states in the eastern seaboard.

You are thinking right but not steep enough!

Capt. Ed

[Flukedood]

Where and when do they usually hold meetings?? I have not really been involved but I would like to start to get involved as much as I can

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Flukedood,

You have taken the first step. You are asking good questions!

I will be posting meetings and times as we go along.

Oh yeah, most meetings are not local to NJ (but they try to get one in here). ANother problem with the way the "system" works.

I have been a part of this mess for a long time. I will try to share any background I have.

There are many better people to do so but I think I am a good start.

BTW, even though I have had my disagreements with the JCAA and RFA over the years, they are, right now, our only hope of representation! They will need more money, members and volunteers.

Capt. Ed

[Capt. Ed]

Hi All,

BTW ... I belong to the National Environmental Trust (Pew Trust) and a few other "environmentalist mailing lists.

Why?

Some of their causes are good and reasonable. SOme of them are not and I want to know what they are doing.

For example, this week, they are pressuring key Representatives and fisheries people about Oceans 21 (wait until you hear about that one) and the new quotas as called out in Magnuson-Stevens.

They are well organized; motivated; and have a lot of money. This will be a formidible fight!

Below is the letter.

Thanks,

Capt. Ed

______________________________________

Dear Ed,

[Note: We normally don't send two emails in one week, but this
issue has a sudden deadline.]

In January, Congress responded to public pressure from citizens
like you and passed a strong new law to end overfishing and put
ocean wildlife on a course toward healthy population levels. But
without strong rules from the National Marine Fisheries Service,
the federal agency responsible for enforcing the new law,
Congress' action will be meaningless.

Send a message to your representative asking him or her to sign
on to a letter calling on the National Marine Fisheries Service
to enact strong new rules to protect fish and fishermen by
ensuring sustainable fish populations through well-informed
decision-making.

The Representative must consider the issue and sign the letter
on or before Friday the 20th, so time is of the essence. Thanks
for your help!

You can take action on this alert via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/ocean_ecosystems/5eu37nr1dtn8et?

Visit the web address below to ask your friends to help.
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/ocean_ecosystems/forward/5eu37nr1dtn8et?

We encourage you to take action by July 20, 2007

Urge Your Representative to Conserve Fish and Ocean Ecosystems

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this
alert by going to the following URL:

http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/ocean_ecosystems/5eu37nr1dtn8et?

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Your Congressperson

----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As you are aware, numerous recent scientific studies have come
to the conclusion that our oceans are in trouble and we need to
chart a new direction to fix them. Two blue-ribbon commissions,
the Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean
Policy reached this conclusion. In January 2007, President Bush
signed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Reauthorization Act. This important law took several steps
forward to protect our oceans and marine fish populations while
ensuring continued fishing opportunities. For example, the new
law strengthens the role of science in fisheries management and
seeks to end overfishing once and for all.

However, your good actions won't result in on-the-water
protections for marine fish populations unless the National
Marine Fisheries Service writes strong rules to implement the
new law.

Please sign on to a letter being circulated by Representative
Nick Rahall (D-WV) to the fisheries service calling on them to
enact strong new rules to protect fish and fishermen by ensuring
sustainable fish populations through well-informed
decision-making.

----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

Sincerely,
Ed Marut

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[gottog]

Was saying all last year that regardless of what regs they put in place for NJ 2007, with such a reduced Rec TAL, we'll overfish them and be in dire straits for 2008+.