Fisherman's Voice

Fishermen say rules hurting business | hurting, mexico, rules - The News Herald

2012-01-24T03:26:00.000-08:00

Fishermen say rules hurting business | hurting, mexico, rules - The News Herald

Mexico Beach Charters best charter fishing Florida's Panhandle - Information - #1091782

2012-01-23T02:38:00.000-08:00

Mexico Beach Charters best charter fishing Florida's Panhandle - Information - #1091782

Green or Not

2010-06-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

Follow the money!!http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2010/20100602161253.aspx

Best Available Science

2010-05-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

Freedom To Pay

2010-04-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

We have been warning about the dangers of "marine spatial planning, marine protected areas, and payments for ecosystem services schemes". Below is some information on what it takes to get permission to take photographs or video in a marine protected area in Belize. The lines for the area were drawn on a chart and complete control over all access to that area was turned over to a non governmental organization or NGO.

FILMING GUIDELINES
Friday, April 16, 2010 at 11:50am
FILMING/PHOTOGRAPHY/MEDIA VISITS at Marine Protected Areas Co-managed by
Southern Environmental Association (SEA)

Southern Environmental Association "is a non-governmental organization
(NGO) that continuously works towards improving stewardship and the
environmental integrity of key marine areas in southern Belize (Laughing
Bird Caye National Park, Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve and
Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve) through effective, collaborative
protected area management, community involvement and strategic
partnerships for the benefit of all stakeholders". In order to preserve
the environmental integrity of marine resources and to ensure the
enjoyment of those resources by current and future stakeholders,
Southern Environmental Association has developed the following
guidelines as they relate to filming, photo shoots and media visits
within the marine protected area boundaries of Laughing Bird Caye
National Park, Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve and Sapodilla
Cayes Marine Reserve.

These guidelines are in accordance with the policies of Southern
Environmental Association and were developed to prevent potential
deleterious impacts to the marine ecosystems within the protected areas
and the disruption of visitor use.

FILMING/PHOTOGRAPHY PERMITS

Permits are required to access marine protected areas for professional
/commercial photography and filming activities and media visits to
ensure protection of resources and to prevent significant disruption of
normal visitor uses, or when they involve props, models, set dressings,
professional crews and casts.

In general, filmmakers and photographers seeking to produce film or
photography within the marine protected areas for personal or
non-commercial purposes are not required to apply for a permit. However,
such filmmakers and photographers must supply to Southern Environmental
Association with a detailed description of activities in a prescribed
format developed by Southern Environmental Association.

News media wishing to access the marine protected areas for
entertainment or to cover breaking news events will need to consult with
Southern Environmental Association to determine if a filming permit will
be required.

Prior to submitting an application to Southern Environmental Association
for a FILMING PERMIT, filmmakers and photographers with definite plans
to shoot commercial films, photographs, documentaries or media spots in
Belize must submit a FILM LICENSE APPLICATION to the Belize Film
Commission.

To apply for a FILMING PERMIT, please complete and submit a Southern
Environmental Association filming permit application form to the
Development Director (contact information on last page of these guidelines).

Applications must be submitted to Southern Environmental Association for
processing of simple requests at least two weeks prior to the
anticipated commencement date of any filming or photography activities.
Requests that involve multiple locations, complex logistics and
extensive coordination may require a processing period of four weeks.
Applications are processed in the order in which they are received.
Priority will not be given to urgent requests. Submission of an
application does not automatically guarantee that a FILMING PERMIT will
be granted.

A non-refundable processing fee of US $50.00 must accompany each
professional/commercial photography and filming activities application.
Payment can be made in the form of a cashier's check or money order and
must be payable to Southern Environmental Association. Approval of
applications for a FILMING PERMIT is subject to a schedule of fees that
will be payable upon the granting of the permit.

SCHEDULE OF FEES

Protected Area Entrance Fee

A park entrance fee is required for all visitors to enter any of the
three marine protected areas co-managed by Southern Environmental
Association. These fees are to be paid for each entry into the protected
area and will allow access to the protected area only for the duration
of the filming/photography schedule agreed to by Southern Environmental
Association and the applicant in the FILMING PERMIT. The entrance fee
does not automatically grant exclusive rights to film crews,
photographers or media personnel to access any location within any of
the respective marine protected areas. Grantees of a permit must remain
within the specific designated locations to conduct all activities as
agreed to by Southern Environmental Association and the grantee in the
permit agreement.

Laughing Bird Caye National Park US $10
Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve US $10
Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve US $10

Whale Shark Zone Entrance Fee

All visitors to the Whale Shark Zone at Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine
Reserve are subject to an entrance fee. This fee is to be paid for each
entry into the Whale Shark Zone and will allow access to the protected
area only for the duration of the filming/photography schedule agreed to
by Southern Environmental Association and the applicant in the FILMING
PERMIT.

Whale Shark Zone Entrance Fee US $15

Administrative Fee

An administrative fee will be levied to cover the cost associated with
the actual site usage. These fees are as follows for Laughing Bird Caye
National Park, Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve and Sapodilla
Cayes Marine Reserve:

. Photographers shooting 1-4 days are subject to an administrative fee
of US $500 with US$ 100 for each additional day.

. Film crews shooting 1-4 days are subject to an administrative fee of
US $2000 with US $300 for each additional day.

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

All activities within the marine protected areas must be conducted in
accordance with the respective rules and regulations that govern each
marine protected area. Upon approval, permit grantees shall be supplied
with a list of prohibited activities, as laid out in the regulations for
each marine protected area, which has the potential to damage or
significantly alter marine resources.

RESTRICTIONS AND CONDITIONS

Diving Activities

Southern Environmental Association will determine the extent of
allowable dives, including dive depths and schedule for dives. If
filming / photographing activities are taking place within the Whale
Shark Zone, film crews are required to adhere to the Whale Shark Zone
Guidelines, inclusive of time allotted per dive, maximum depth and hours
permitted to dive.

Vessel Requirements

Film crews, photographers and media personnel must rent a dedicated boat
and shall use the services of a captain and assistant approved by
Southern Environmental Association. A list of approved boat captains and
assistants shall be supplied upon request.

Film crews are allowed a maximum of four (4) crew members in the water
at any given time, of which, one is to be an approved guide. Crews are
to have at least two (2) people on the boat, which shall include the
boat captain and boat captain's assistant. Film Crews are allowed a
maximum of two (2) cameras or videos in water per dive. In an effort to
mitigate any potential disruptions to the ongoing ecological processes
at this site, requests for crew sizes exceeding six (6) individuals must
be reviewed and approved on a case by case basis by Southern
Environmental Association.

It shall be the responsibility of film crews, photographers and media
personnel to carry satellite phones and radios in their emergency kit as
a safety precaution.

Supervisory Staff Requirements

Filming within the Whale Shark Zone at Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes
Marine Reserve must be accompanied by at least one whale shark
accredited Dive Master or researcher approved by Southern Environmental
Association. It will be the responsibility of film crews to cover this
individual's fee for the duration of the filming activity.

Should Southern Environmental Association allow overnight stays at the
Protected Areas, the film crew must be accompanied by an approved
guide/dive master to supervise all night activities. The film crew would
have to cover this individual's fee.

The Southern Environmental Association reserves the right to monitor
activities as specified and agreed to in the permit.

Filming/Photography Permit Conditions

Upon approval, permits shall be developed by Southern Environmental
Association which shall contain detailed terms and conditions of the
permit and will be developed on a case by case basis. The permit shall
also include Southern Environmental Association's policy for the payment
of fees. The permit will only be considered a valid agreement upon
signing by Southern Environmental Association and the permit grantee.

Southern Environmental Association reserves the right to request copies
of the final production of video or photographic development to use for
non-commercial purposes (i.e. educational, scientific, etc) that will
enhance and promote the management of the marine protected areas that it
co-manages.

DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR PERMIT

Requests for a FILMING PERMIT may be denied if it is the opinion of the
Southern Environmental Association's Executive Director, Protected Area
Manager or other qualified technical consultants that the proposed
activities:
. Represents a potential harm or impact on the protected areas' natural,
cultural or recreational resources or may create health or safety risks,
or disrupt visitor use and enjoyment;

. It is determined that supervisory requirements for the proposed
activities will place unreasonable burdens on protected area staff,
regardless of the applicant's willingness to pay for supervisory costs;

. The proposed filming or photography would conflict with visitors'
normal use of the marine protected area.

TERMINATION OF PERMIT

All filming or photography permits issued by Southern Environmental
Association are "revocable" on 24 hours notice or WITHOUT NOTICE if the
terms of the permit are violated. Deliberate infractions of the terms of
the filming permit or the deliberate making of false or misleading
statements concerning intended actions in order to obtain a permit are
causes for immediate termination of the permit and cause for possible
prosecution. Permits will be revoked if damage to resources or
facilities is threatened, or if there is a clear danger to public health
or safety.

Completed application forms for FILMING PERMITS within Marine Protected
Areas co-managed by Southern Environmental Association can be sent with
cashier's check or money order for US $50 made out to Southern
Environmental Association to:

Development Director
Southern Environmental Association
Placencia Village, Stann Creek District
Belize Central America

For questions or additional information, please forward to:
info@seabelize.org

A Must Read --Bypass NOAA

2010-04-22T21:48:00.001-07:00

cathleen mackay
Lawmakers demand higher fish catch limits: By Steve Urbon NEW BEDFORD — New England's congressional delegation Thu... http://bit.ly/aEtdQq
Today, 23:37:37 – Flag – Lik

Divide and Conquer Strategy

2010-04-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

"Divide and Conquer Strategy, also known as “Divide and Rule Strategy” is often applied in the arenas of politics and sociology. In Divide and Conquer Strategy one power breaks another power into smaller, more manageable pieces, and then takes control of those pieces one by one. It generally takes a very strong power to implement Divide and Conquer Strategy. In order to successfully break up another power or government, the conqueror must have access to strong political, military, and economic machines."

Read this New York Times article about it's use with our fisheries.

Red Snapper Controversy

2010-04-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

New England Fishermen And Catch Shares

2010-04-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

Join CCGF

2010-04-01T04:41:00.000-07:00

I would like to suggest to all our friends and followers here at Fishermans Voice and United we Fish Blogspot to please dig deep and join or contribute to Conservation Cooperative of Gulf Fishermen http://www.conservationfishermen.com .. Bob Zales and Pam and Ken Anderson work tirelessly for our rights to fish, especially here on the Gulf Coast. They are the ones that speak directly with Congressmen and Senators along with the NMFS and NOAA. They travel to all the meetings and were a big part of organizing the Rally in Washington. While we may have gone to the rally for a day—They were there for nearly a week –having meetings with our elected officialsto get US some backing.
Please take some time out to look at their website—join up or at least make a contribution. http://www.conservationfishermen.com
We need to help them to help us. These are OUR lobbyists! They need a little funding so we can stave off the likes of Pew and EDF and all the disinformation they put out in articles!

Thanks,
Tom Adams--850-381-1313

BE HEARD!!

2010-03-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

HELP GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE On THE GULF COUNCIL—I like Larry Abele since he has the scientific background and he is Bob Zales choice as well!!

________________________________________
Gov Crist's appointments office has come up with a list of four candidates for Florida's At-Large representative to the GMFMC Gulf Council, for consideration by the Secretary of Commerce and Director of NMFS. This list is on its way to the Sec Commerce as we speak.

Martin Fisher - a commercial guy who owns three boats. I did some checking around and I hear that he's a west coast version of Tony Iarocci. Tony is a commercial fisherman who is on the South Atlantic Council. If you look at his voting pattern, he has consistently voted no on regs that will hurt recreational fishermen. I've known Tony since 2001 and he's a good guy. If Martin Fisher is anything like Tony Iarocci, we can work with this guy to curtail the non-stop outpouring of harmful regs from the Gulf Council that are based on fiction. He is the #1 choice of the 100 Fathom Fishing Club.

Larry Abele - a scientist/ professor at FSU. He is the #1 choice of Bob Zales, a fellow recreatioinal angler that many of us know and respect. Some would say that as a scientist, Abele could demolish the fictional "science" coming from the Gummint scientist careerists working for the Gulf Council. He is the # 2 choice of the 100 Fathom Fishing Club.

Jerry Smalley - he admits he is an Enviro. 100FFC doesn't want him, period.

Colecchio - Folks, don't forget for one minute that this guy is desperate. He will say anything and do anything to get appointed by Gov Crist to the Gulf Council so that he can lord it over us peasants.

Let me ask you this - do you want someone like Colecchio who is out of touch with offshore recreational fishermen's concerns to represent you on the Council? Do you want someone who is a meatpuppet dancing to the tune of the Florida Guides Association and the CCA to represent you? Both FGA and CCA do a great job with backbay inshore issues but both are out of touch with offshore issues. The RFA is the nationwide leader for offshore recreational fishermen's rights. Every time CCA gets involved with offshore issues, they invariably come out in favor of the Council amendment that will do the most harm to recreational fishermen. Do you want an out-of-touch guy who is a backbay, flyfishing, catch & release, flatsboat tarpon guide to represent your offshore bottomfishing & pelagic interests? . Not only that, but Colecchio has a decade-long pattern of abusive, personal attacks against anyone who disagrees with him. We need someone on the Council who can work well with others and be effective. Even if Colecchio was omniscient and all-knowing (which he is not), his toxic, abrasive personality guarantees that the other Council members will turn a deaf ear to him. 100FFC doesn't want him, period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to see the right person selected for the Gulf Council, it's vital to contact the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of NMFS, the NMFS Assistant Administrator for Fisheries and the Florida Governor's Appointments Office. Here is the contact info you need to make your voice heard.

US Dept Commerce, Secretary Gary Locke, 1401 Consitution Ave NW, Washington DC 20230 fax 202-482-5685

cc: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Director Jane Lubchenco, 1315 E. West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910

cc: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Asst Administrator for Fisheries Eric Schwaab, 1315 E. West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910

cc: Florida Governor's Appointments Office, Mavis Knight, Capitol Building, Room 705, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Mavis.Knight@EOG.MyFlorida.com

Seats Available on Coast Guard Committee

2010-03-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC). The CFIVSAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard on matters relating to the safe operation of commercial fishing industry vessels.

The CFIVSAC is a Federal advisory committee under 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463). The Coast Guard chartered the

CFIVSAC to provide advice on issues related to the safety of commercial fishing industry vessels regulated under Chapter 45 of Title 46, United States Code, which includes uninspected fishing vessels, fish processing vessels, and fish tender vessels. (See 46 U.S.C. 4508.)

The CFIVSAC meets at least once a year. It may also meet for other extraordinary purposes. Its subcommittees may gather throughout the year to prepare for meetings or develop proposals for the committee as a whole to address specific problems.

The Coast Guard will consider applications for five positions that expire or become vacant in October 2010 in the following categories: (a) Commercial Fishing Industry (two positions); (b) Education or Training Professionals related to fishing vessels or personnel qualifications (one position); (c) Underwriters that insure fishing vessels (one position); and (d) General Public (one position).

Completed application forms should reach the Coast Guard at the address below on or before June 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may request an application form by writing to Commandant (CG-5433), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street, SW., Mail Stop 7581, Washington, DC 20593-7581; by calling 202-372-1249; or by faxing 202-372-1917. Send your application in written form to the above street address. This notice and the application form are also available on the

Internet at http://www.FishSafe.info.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Kemerer of the Coast Guard by telephone at 202-372-1249, fax 202-372-1917, e-mail: jack.a.kemerer@uscg.mil.

Write a letter--PLEASE HELP

2010-03-24T16:30:00.000-07:00

The letter below is from Jim Busse, owner of Seafood Atlantic in Cape Canaveral. He's been working pretty hard on fighting the IFQ stuff.

Can we get this on FB and on the blog? There is an Opposition Form attached, very simple. It can be printed out and mailed to the address below or feel free to also add my address: DC Marine Services, 4733 Floramar Terrace, New Port Richey, FL 34652. I'm guessing that originals are best, but if you want to fax them to my office that should be ok too. The fax # is 727-938-6633 (Viking Fleet office).

There is a meeting in Sebastian, FL on Monday (3/29) opposing catch shares. Dave and I plan on being there. I'll send along more details as I find them out. Any questions, give Dave a call. 727-836-0050

Lisa
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Seafood Atlantic
Date: Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 6:18 PM
Subject: OPPOSING CATCH SHARES
To: bryant001@centurytel.net

AS BOARD MEMBER OF SFA ECFS, I'M ASKING ANY AND ALL, EAST COAST, WEST COAST, COMMERCIAL, RECREATIONAL,FISHERMEN AND WOMEN, ANY RELATED BUSINESS, ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT DOES NOT WANT OUR FISHERIES PRIVATISED, TO SIGN THIS"OPPOSITION FORM".

WE WILL TAKE THEM TO OUR CONGESSIONAL LEADERS, LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES,AND WE INTEND TO SUBMIT AS MANY AS WE CAN TO THE JUNE 6 SAFMC MEETING IN ORLANDO FL. AS PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF EACH ONE OF YOU TOOK 50 COPYS OF "OPPOSITION", PASSED THEM OUT TO NEIGHBORS, FREINDS, FELLOW FISHERMEN AND RELATED BUSINESS OWNERS,GOT THEM FILLED OUT AND BACK TO US BEFORE JUNE 5TH, WE WOULD PROVE, AS A WHOLE,OUR POSITION ON CATCH SHARES.

GET ALL COPIES BACK TO US ASAP (EAST COAST FISHING SECTION, 111 W. GRANADA BLVD. ORMOND BEACH, FL. 32174) OR JUST GET THEM BACK TO HULLS, KINGS,SEAFOOD ATLANTIC,BUTCH OLSON,INLET,OR ELAINE.
THEY WILL DO THE REST.

WE NEED AS MANY PERSONAL LETTERS AS WE CAN GET, FROM GULF PARTICIPANTS,AS TO WHAT CATCH SHARES, ITQ.IFQ'S HAS DONE TO YOU.

HOW HAS YOUR LIFE AND WAY OF DOING BUSINESS CHANGED?

WE ASK YOU TO TAKE THE TIME. HELP US HERE ON THE EAST COAST TO SLOW DOWN AND STALL OUT CATCH SHARES. WE DONT WANT THEM OR NEED THEM.

PLEASE EMAIL TO SEAFOODATLANTIC@GMAIL.COM

THANKS, JIM BUSSE
seafood Atlantic
520 Glen Cheek Dr
Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920
Ph: 321 784-0333
Fax: 321 784-1391

--
David S. Campo

IF you're lazy like me

2010-03-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

One Click

http://southernoffshorefishing.org/mailform/contact-fishery.shtml
Try this link and go to the submit blank letter and write in what you want--It goes out to all these folks with one click

James W. Balsiger: Acting Assistant Administrator of Fisheries
NOAA Mary M. Glackin: Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
William J. Brennan Ph.D.: Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Acting
NOAA Administrator:
Samuel D. Rauch III NOAA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs
Dr. Steven A. Murawski: NMFS Director of Scientific Programs Chief Science Adv
Dr. Mark Holliday: Director NOAA Fisheries Office of Policy
Alan Risenhoover: Director Office of Sustainable Fisheries
James H. Lecky: Director Office of Protected Resources
Patricia Montanio: Director Office of Habitat Conservation
Dr. Roy E. Crabtree: NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Administrator
Frederick C. Sutter III: Deputy Regional Administrator for Operations at NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office
Dr. Bonnie J. Ponwith: Director Southeast Fisheries Science Center
John Oliver: Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations at NOAA Fisheries

David Peluso: Executive Assistant to Gus Bilirakis (R 9th FL)
Josh Gifford, Environment Legislative Assistant to Rep. F. Allen Boyd, Jr, (D 2nd FL)
Harry Glenn: Chief of Staff to Representative Bill Young (R 10th FL)
Representative C. W. (Bill) Young | FL Representative (R - 10)

Fishing Gone?

2010-03-17T23:43:00.000-07:00

Fishing Gone?

House Aides Mull Plans to Overhaul, Codify NOAA

2010-03-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

The 17-year veteran of the House added: "If the fish people don't like our organic act, that's fine. There is always something fishy somewhere. I hope you can do what you can to persuade anyone, we are not invading on their jurisdiction and not trying to change their activities."

Read the article and stop this now!

From the Town Landing: Drawing the line on spatial planning

2010-03-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

Ocean Policy Task Force for implementing its staggeringly broad mandate is marine spatial planning. Old wine in a new bottle, marine spatial planning will use lines on charts to reduce conflicts among the myriad activities carried out at sea. Think shipping lanes, fisheries-management areas, dynamic area-management zones for right whales, offshore energy (wind) farms-all with lines in the water.

Read the entire article.

CONTROL DATES FOR THE KING AND SPANISH MACKEREL FISHERIES OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

2010-03-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

March 15, 2010

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Gerhart or Susan.Gerhart@noaa.gov
727-824-5305, FAX 727-824-5308
FB10-020

Gulf Council Press Release: Southeast Fishery Bulletin - CONTROL DATES FOR THE KING AND SPANISH MACKEREL FISHERIES OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

On March 15, 2010, NOAA Fisheries Service published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking revising control dates for the Gulf group king and Spanish mackerel components of the coastal migratory pelagic fishery. This notice informs participants in the fishery of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s (Council) intention to consider further limiting access within the commercial sector of this fishery.

Specifically, the Council may consider creating a catch share program. To discourage accelerated effort to develop a catch history before the program is implemented, the Council may establish eligibility criteria based on catch histories from and before the most recent full fishing season. For king mackerel the date would be June 30, 2009, and for Spanish mackerel the date would be March 31, 2010. Thus, landings of the respective species after these dates may not count toward eligibility under future management programs. The previous control date for both components of the fishery was October 16, 1995. The current notice moves the control dates to the end of the most recent full fishing year to allow incorporation of more recent, as well as historical, fishing activity.

The revision of control dates does not commit the Council or NOAA Fisheries Service to any particular management regime. The Council may or may not make use of these control dates as part of the qualifying criteria for participation in any future catch share or other management program for Gulf group mackerel. Fishermen are not guaranteed future participation in the fishery, regardless of their entry date or intensity of participation in the fishery before or after the control dates under consideration. The Council may give variably weighted consideration to fishermen active in the fishery before and after the control dates. The Council also may choose to take no further action to control entry or access to the fishery, and rescind the control dates.

Publication of the control dates informs the commercial fishing sector that the Council is considering management measures in its jurisdictional area that could limit eligibility in the commercial mackerel fishery. Implementation of any program would require preparation of an amendment to the fishery management plan and publication of a notice of availability and proposed rule with pertinent public comment periods.

Request for Comments

Comments on the establishment of control dates for this fishery must be submitted by April 14, 2010. Comments should apply to the control date as an eligibility requirement for a catch share program, not the catch share program itself. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

● Electronic Submissions: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. No comments will be posted for public viewing after the comment period closes. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries Service will accept anonymous comments. To submit comments enter “NOAA-NMFS-2010-0031” in the keyword search and then check the box “send a comment or submission.” Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

● Mail: Susan Gerhart, Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries Service, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505.

Write David Vitter

2010-03-15T05:19:00.001-07:00

Sunday, March 14, 2010
Read this carefully...it's another DEM "take-away" !!

Dear Friend,

This week I wrote President Obama a letter expressing my sincere concerns with his administration's efforts to unilaterally exclude fishing in waters off Louisiana's Coast.

President Obama has created the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force under the guise of protecting our lakes, oceans, coasts and their ecosystems and resources. This task force is working on a secret zoning plan that would give it a say over what activities get to happen on public lands and waters, and they would make these decisions without any public input.

The Obama Administration is proposing to use the most far reaching and questionable legal authority it can conjure to achieve what a handful of special interest groups have always wanted -- limiting the access of U.S. resources to U.S. citizens. And coastal states are set to suffer the economic and social impacts of an agenda-driven administration that does not have fishermen's interests in mind.

There has been virtually no public or Congressional input before using this questionable legal authority to decide to cut off fishing access. ESPN covered this issue earlier in the week and the strong outrage that is beginning to resonate throughout the country over this unbelievable activity by the administration.

Fishing is a social, cultural, and economic bellwether for the health of a great many Louisiana communities. Unilateral action by the Obama administration to sever fishing from the soul of Louisiana by zoning off our oceans arbitrarily is an outrageous federal reach into the state of Louisiana, and I assure you I'll keep fighting against it.
Sincerely,

David Vitter
U.S. Senator
Posted by The Old

Angry Fishermen

2010-03-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

2010-03-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Bad Weather Coming

2010-03-13T18:03:00.000-08:00

With three quarters of the world’s fisheries in distress and nearing depletion, there is an urgent need for the international community to increase efforts to halt the decline of fish stocks. According to the report of the Secretary-General prepared for the resumed Review Conference (document A/CONF.210/2010/1), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that the majority of straddling fish stocks -- highly migratory species and other high-seas fish stocks -- are considered to be either fully exploited or overexploited. This means that fisheries are operating close to or above the optimal effort that is sustainable in the long term, and there is no expected room or potential room for further expansion. For overexploited species there is a risk of stock depletion.

Read it. What more can one say.

Bad Weather Forecasts

2010-03-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

Many of you know how often NOAA has been completely out or whack with weather forecasting that makes the quote below all the more hilarious.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

Hubris knows no bounds and it is extremely dangerous.

From Lisa Steelman

2010-03-12T11:05:00.001-08:00

--------------------
Subject: commercial shark season

Tom,
I just tried to post this on Fishermen's Voice page, but was unable. Please pass this info along as you see fit. Thanks so much!!

Dave just got off the phone with Margo Shulze-Haugen (Highly Migratory Species Div, NOAA).

Shark season is f*cking over on march 17th in the gulf. This is devesating for us. Because of weather temps, etc. this will limit Dave's season to less than 7 days. Shark is his primary harvest.

Margo Shulze claims that the quota has been met by Louisiana since the opening of the season on Feb 4th (in one month? really??). She also said that (AND I QUOTE), "The fishermen tell me that they only want a few week to a month season because they want to fish for something else." She also said that in the long line commericial shark fishery that we have the ability to catch large coastal's WITHOUT catching small coastals. Dave says BULLSH*T.
She said, "WE HAVE TO GO BY OUR SCIENCE AND THE DATA GIVEN BY THE FISHERMEN". Well, something isn't jiving here.
The minute Dave hung up with her, he called Madiera Beach Seafood (his main buyer). Bobby Spaeth called her right away and was told that she's out of the office until Monday. She knew to expect Madiera's phone call. How convienient.

Dave told her that NMFS and NOAA will not win. He told her that, "THE FISHERMEN WILL NOT GIVE UP, AND WE WILL NOT QUIT FISHING"

Here is Margo's contact information. Now is the time to let her hear our voices!! Flood that inbox!!!!!

(301)713-2347
margo.schulze-haugen@noaa.gov
--------------------

Gone, Fishing?

2010-03-11T06:50:00.000-08:00

Will Obama’s ocean-policy task force remain in lockstep with radical greens?

So Pres. Barack Obama’s “Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force” has decided that the opinions of America’s 60 million anglers aren’t worthy of its consideration.

This task force, headed by the chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), was charged with drafting a national ocean policy of marine spatial planning to manage U.S. ocean territory and the Great Lakes. Its recommendations — due out later this month — could be enacted by executive order.

Here’s why anglers, and freedom-loving Americans, should be alarmed: Without input from recreational anglers and the conservation groups that represent them — such as Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Recreational Fishing & Boating Coalition, and the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies — decisions made under this new national oceans policy could be used to close saltwater and freshwater recreational-fishing areas.

Read the more.

Please thank our speakers from The Rally

2010-03-10T14:46:00.000-08:00

PLEASE SEND A THANK_YOU TO OUR RALLY SUPPORTERS

Faxes will be much stronger than emails—If we can load up their faxes. They will remember us! Please ask all of your friends and members of you group to please fax ALL these folks that stood up for our rights to fish and to help us change the Magnuson Act. We all need to thank them personally and help to rally more support. If you cant fax please email or write. If I forgot any speakers please update.
www.conservationfishermen.com

http://unitedwefish.blogspot.com www.joinrfa.com fishermans voice—on facebook,twitter,utube

Thanks—Tom Adams 850-381-1313
Sample letter

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come to our—Fix Magnuson Now Rally on February 24. You Helped make it a great success. I believe with your continued support and our growing army of commercial and recreational fishermen and women—we can get the changes made to the Magnuson Act that will keep us from losing our jobs and our passion. A little flexibility in the Magnuson Act will go a long way towards helping our coastal communities and our economy in general.

We stand together; commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen and charter boat owners , praying you will continue this fight in our behalf in the Congress and Senate.

Thanks again for your support!

Signed

____________________________________________
From: Pam Anderson [mailto:pamheartsofhope@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 9:44 PM
To: 4tomadams@gmail.com
Subject: Fwd: legislators and speakers

Here is info on the legislators we spoke to plus a list of speakers, which may not be total but to the best of memory. The first 4 are from FL, the rest from where they are listed. You can find their fax numbers by going to www.thomas.loc.gov and finding their web sites. I placed “spoke” by those who did. The rest were contacted by our team, the ones who spoke at the rally except for Senator LeMieux were contacted by others. When contacting to thank please state our appreciation for their attention and continued effort to conduct hearings and to reform Magnuson.

Senator LeMieux: Frank_Walker@LeMieux.senate.gov, fax 202-228-5171, LeMieux spoke

Senator Nelson: susie_perezquinn@billnelson.senate.gov , fax 202-228-2183, also Stratton_Kirton@billnelson.senate.gov

Congressman Boyd, Josh.Gifford@mail.house.gov, fax 202-225-5615

Congressman Miller, Elizabeth.McErlean@mail.house.gov, fax 202-225-3414

Congressman Bonner, AL, Matt.weinstein@mail.house.gov, fax 202-225-0562

Congressman Cassidy, LA, michael.biagi@mail.house.gov, fax 202-225-7313

Congressman Carol Shea-Porter, NH, robert.moller@mail.house.gov, fax 202-225-5822

Congressman Donna Christensen, VI, makeda.okolo@mail.house.gov, fax 202-225-5517

Congressman Inslee, WA, Celina.cunningham@mail.house.gov, fax 202-226-1606

Congressman Kratovil, MD, ben.abrams@mail.house.gov, fax 202-225-0254

Senator Shelby, AL, Laura_Friedel@shelby.senate.gov, fax 202-

Senator Sessions, AL, Melissa_shute@sessions.senate.gov, fax 202-

Senator Maria Cantwell: WA, jeffrey_watters@cantwell.senate.gov, fax 202-228-0514

Senator DeMint, SC, Jacqueline_gelb@demint.senate.gov, fax 202-228-5143

Senator Schumer, NY, spoke-202-228-3027

Senator Scott Brown, MA, spoke

Senator Gillibrand, NY, spoke 212-688 7444

Senator Hagen, NC, spoke 202-288-2563

Senator Burr, NC, spoke 202-228-2981

Congressman Pallone (NJ), spoke 202-225-9665

Congressman Frank (MA), spoke-202-225-0182

Congressman Tierney (MA), spoke 202-225-5915

Congressman Adler (NJ), spoke202-225-0778

Congressman Macintire (NC), spoke 202 2255773

Congressman Brown (SC), spoke 202-225-3407

Congressman Jones (NC), spoke 202 225-3415

Congressman Putnam (FL), spoke 202 225 0585

Congressman Mica (FL), spoke202 225-0821

Congressman Wittman (VA), spoke 202 225-4261

Congressman LoBiondo (NJ), spoke 202-225-3318

Capt. Bob Zales, II

bobzales@att.net

Ph 850-763-6242

Fax 850-763-3558

Obama’s war on fishing?!?!?!

2010-03-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

By Michelle Malkin • March 9, 2010 05:00 PM

Longtime readers know I love to fish and have been at war with the anti-fishing nuts at PETA for years.

JWF flags a story today from ESPN about Obama regulatory maneuvers that look to limit fishing access:

Read the blog.

Fishermen’s fear: Public's 'right to fish' shifting under Obama?

2010-03-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

Sport fishermen worry about an eroding 'right to fish' as the Obama administration shifts fishing policy to include United Nations objectives. Proponents say fishermen have much to gain by zoning uses of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems.

C

2010-03-09T12:00:00.001-08:00

Folks the story is breaking nationally on ESPN's story on what is going on with our nations fishery resources.

Gateway Pundit Blog
http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/03/obamas-latest-assault-on-freedom-new-regulations-will-ban-sport-fishing/

Free Republic Forum
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2467036/posts

Matt Drudge - lower right corner of the homepage
http://www.drudgereport.com/

G. Gordon Liddy - Radio Host Interviews the ESPN author
You have to let the audio play for quite a while. If someone can edit and upload a link to just this segment please let us know!
http://live.radioamerica.org/loudwater/player.pl?name=ggl&url=http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/feeds.radioamerica.org/loudwater/ggl/000001195_000_000000006.mp3

Well said Mr. Gurney!

2010-03-08T17:30:00.000-08:00

Fascists for Fish

by Letters to the Editor on Mar 8th, 2010

The Marine Life Protection Act Initiative has come to to the North Coast, skirting the laws and making up the rules as they go. The MLPAI obeys the law only as they see fit, all the while being held accountable to none that they break. It’s the opposite of real democracy, where the will of the people is the motivator for change, where public officials are charged with the duty to carry out that will, and are held accountable when they break the law.

The MLPAI seeks to take control of large areas of the coast, supposedly to regulate fishing and food gathering, in a state where fishing is already so tightly regulated that for most of the year a local coastal resident cannot go out on the ocean to catch a fish. These new closed areas will allow the take of fish and marine life for so-called research purposes, but what constitutes research is not clearly defined. The privileged few will be allowed to take fish to supply large commercial aquariums, owned by the very people who sponsored and funded the initiative. A gross conflict of interest exists that so far has not been addressed.

The MLPAI is led by privately funded public relations and policy experts, masquerading as a true public agency. The staff are funded by multi-billion dollar private foundations that conceal the amount, sources and distribution of their funds. Money is being channeled through the director and managers of this program to individuals and local government entities, without public scrutiny or accountability. Bribery and coercion have become commonplace.

The MLPAI administrators laud themselves for their “transparency,” but corruption always seeks to be invisible. Lies and deception are by their very nature “transparent.” The transparency of which they speak is that of the bullet proof glass in the armored car that will carry away the legacy of a once free ocean, and the rights of the people guaranteed in Article 1, Section 25 of the California Constitution. Theirs is the transparency of the thick glass walls of the corporate funded aquariums. It’s the transparency of the invisible lines of money, power, and real estate interests, who desire ownership and control of the ocean for their own benefit. When the truth is revealed, the lies that concealed it will always be revealed as “transparent.”

The legitimate concerns over the MLPAI are many. Concerns about public-private graft and the corruption of democratic process. Concerns that pie-in-the-sky solutions based junk science will not yield desired results, even after we have been bamboozled into giving up our free rights to open ocean access. Concerns that issues influencing the marine environment beyond fishing are not being addressed, and that blaming fishing for the problems our oceans are facing is a smokescreen for corporate takeover and control of the oceans. Concerns about flagrant conflicts of interest. Concerns of political subterfuge, where back room deals are being made to trade off the ocean in exchange for the waters of Northern California rivers. Concerns that oil and energy interests are backing the initiative. Concerns that the corporate powers who funded the MLPAI process with tens of millions of dollars of private money will inevitably want their pay-off in the end.

The MLPAI is an Enron style scam that is being perpetrated on the unsuspecting people of California, and has coerced those opposing it into taking part against their better judgement. It has cynically taken advantage of the efforts of well meaning scientists and environmentalists to take part in a flawed process that is already generating junk science to prove the necessity of a solution to problem that does not exist. The MLPAI has corrupted the very idea of science, seeking to prove unsound hypotheses with insufficient data in an effort to blame fishing access as the cause for the collapse of marine ecosystems, and proposing to take away fishing rights in areas that are already not being fished, all the while ignoring the real problems of ocean ecology.

Many miles of the California Coast are already closed behind the gates of private property, effectively making the issue of marine protected areas a moot point. To take away access in more huge areas and turn it over to corporate interests will, in the long run, have the opposite of the intended effect. The ocean is a public trust and a public commons, not to be relegated to private dominance and control as is being done with the MLPAI.

With the implementation of the MLPAI, we have been told that we are just giving up small parts of our ocean, that we are sacrificing just a little chunk of our constitutional rights, whether we like it or not, to this public-private partnership. We have been told that the killing of a blue whale by the MLPAI’s unlicensed and illegally operating sonar mapping vessel was just an accident, for which they are not responsible. We are told that the Brown Act and Bagley-Keene laws do not apply to them. We are told that armed guards at all their official meetings and workshops to stifle public outrage and opposition is standard operating procedure.

As this illegal act is forced upon us, we are losing not only just a little bit of our once free ocean, we are also sacrificing some of the very principles and decency upon which this nation was founded.

David Gurney
Fort Bragg, CA

Culled out

2010-03-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

The Obama administration will accept no more public input for a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing the nation's oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes, and even inland waters.

This announcement comes at the time when the situation supposedly still is "fluid" and the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force still hasn't issued its final report on zoning uses of these waters.

That's a disappointment, but not really a surprise for fishing industry insiders who have negotiated for months with officials at the Council on Environmental Quality and bureaucrats on the task force. These angling advocates have come to suspect that public input into the process was a charade from the beginning.

Read it and weep.

$10 million funding boost seen as 'buying everyone off'

2010-03-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

Lubchenco holds firm on May 1 'catch share' launch $10 million funding boost seen as 'buying everyone off'

By Richard Gaines
Staff Writer

The Obama administration's avowed plan to advance a fishing policy aimed at putting "a significant fraction" of the fishing captains in the northeast groundfishing fleet out of work is on track, according to testimony by captains.

"This is the face of consolidation; no one is going to make it," Gloucester Capt. Al Cattone said of the government's push through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to launch its "catch share" regulatory format here May 1.

"I got nothing; I'll be catching one third of the fish I caught previously," said Capt. Joe Orlando. "Because of the reallocation, we got screwed."

Read the entire article.

Thanks Senator Richard Shelby!

2010-03-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

Can you say corruption?

2010-03-07T06:18:00.000-08:00

Just when you think marine management can get no worse imagine a strategy that encourages corruption on a grand scale. Marine protected areas or MPA's offer just such an opportunity and they are being pushed for by environmental non government organizations or ENGO's.

Evidence shows MPLA corruption
Jim Matthews
www.outdoornewsservice.com
03/06/2010

ONTARIO - The first wave of hard evidence documenting the corruption and conflict of interest that's guided the implementation of the 1999 Marine Life Protection Act surfaced at the meeting of the California Fish and Game Commission at the DoubleTree Inn this past week.

The commission accepted public testimony again on the so-called Blue Ribbon Task Force's recommended ocean fishing closures and protected areas along the Southern California coast before adopting a final plan. During Wednesday's testimony, documentation was provided that proved that two members of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, Bill Anderson and Greg Schem, lied to the commission at a recent meeting about having a business association.

Read the entire post.

Must see video!

2010-03-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=60&extmode=view&extid=324

Anglers Dock in D.C. to Voice Concerns

2010-03-04T05:45:00.000-08:00

By Bennett Roth
Roll Call Staff

March 1, 2010, 12 a.m.

Sporting a gray ponytail and gold chain with a small anchor pendant around his neck, captain Dave Tilley hardly fits the image of the K Street lobbyist.

But last week the burly 42-year-old fisherman drove up from North Carolina to Washington, D.C. — the first time he had ever been to the nation’s capital — to persuade Members of Congress to change a law that he claims is threatening his livelihood.

LeMieux: Fisherman are losing their Livelihoods

2010-03-03T16:47:00.001-08:00

Taking on water.

2010-03-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

The plight of the planet's oceans was a focus of the conference, with numerous discussions of acidification, marine reserves and the newly implemented concept of "marine spatial planning," an effort to map the oceans' topography, biota and habitat, then translate that into a kind of zoning plan for human use (an approach specifically mandated by the Obama administration last year).

This is a must read.

Finally! A response from Congressman Boyd!

2010-03-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

*Please note the italicized portion of the Congressman's response.

Why didn’t you give us 5 minutes of your time On Feb 24^th, when we were in Washington? You had to know about it. I wrote 4 times to your office with no response, and also had Gulf County Commissioner Bill Williams get in touch with you as well. No response from Jan. 15 to March 1 Just a little late to show any support! Barney Frank had enough time to show up and George LeMieux and about 28 other Congressmen and Senators in DC. It would have been nice, if you were too busy, to send an aide to speak in your stead. All in all—Florida with the most coastline of any state –Was a disgrace.

Signed -----VERY Disappointed in Florida

Thanks,

Tom Adams--850-381-1313

From: Congressman Allen Boyd [mailto:congressman.boyd@mail.house.gov]
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 10:35 AM
To: tadams@cbforgottencoast.com
Subject: A Message from Congressman Allen Boyd

Dear Mr. Adams:

Thank you for the opportunity to address this important issue with you. As a member of our North Florida family, your views are important to me. I appreciate the thoughts you have communicated.

Like you, I am very concerned with the needs of our nation's fishermen. Fishing is a very important industry and sport in North Florida. With the recent release of the Interagency Ocean Policy interim report, it has become increasing clear that science-based decision-making will continue to be a necessity in order to accurately determine fishing quotas and seasons. This science will have to be balanced with the effects of policy on communities whose economic health depend on the fishing industry. Both commercial and recreational fishing plays a key role in Florida's economy.

Because of these reasons, I am a cosponsor to H.R. 1584, the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act, which would require the Department of Commerce to keep closures as short as possible, rather than a mandatory ten years. I will keep your thoughts in mind as this bill and any others related to our fisheries moves through Congress. Thank you for the opportunity to address this important issue with you. As a member of our North Florida family, your views are important to me. I appreciate the thoughts you have communicated.

Thank you again for bringing your views to my attention and adding your voice to the ongoing debate. Please continue to write to me, and I encourage you to sign up for my e-newsletter by visiting my website at www.house.gov/boyd.

Sincerely,

F. Allen Boyd, Jr.
Member of Congress

AB:ss