Time to get involved

[BA17]

I have not seen much posted on here about attempts to create "no fish zones" in the ocean. I figured I would post a link to one of the latest articles. If these policies get passed it will only be the beginning. Fishing (recreational or commercial) will be something future generations read about in history books. Please get involved and let your voices be heard.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/s...ory?id=4975762

BA

[McGillicuddy]

We in CA are struggling with that. MLPAs (marine life protection areas) are being rammed down our throats at the behest of some relatively unknown but well-funded "green" groups.

San Diego's sport-fishing fleet will soon go the way of the tuna industry and the private boater will not be far behind.

Many fishermen know the value of stewardship and one need look no farther than B.A.S.S. and T.U. to know these groups started the concept of catch and release and have made inland fisheries across the country far better ecologically than they were a mere 20 years ago. Hell, we've got 20+lb FL large-mouth bass in virtually every lake, pond and resrvoir in southern CA. Southern steelhead still exist in San Diego County streams even though they were initially declared extinct south of Malibu in 1971. The current environmentalists had nothing to do with this. This was the fruit of caring sportsmen.

As coastal and offshore anglers we must educate one another to limit our kill rather than always trying to kill our limit. It will go a long way in public perception and with those that don't share our passion for fishing. And give us a better reason to fish tomorrow or next weekend.

Closing an area seasonally to protect and preserve spawns, etc. are valid closures. Closing areas indefinitely means DFWs and NMFS management practices including bag limits, failed miserably. Take and seasons should be revisited and corrected annually. And this should be done scientifically. Not in meetings behind closed doors with people that are not even stakeholders in the commercial or recreational fisheries.

Unfortunately many of the meetings held by those hellbent on closing some fisheries out here, have not even allowed public input until their political green machine had already gained the ear of lawmakers.

And when the public finally has a say we come to the table with science which goes largely ignored.

If these things are happening in your region take time to get involved or your kids may never get to take their kids fishing. And that would be un-American an a damn shame.

[pl99]

Now this is a really sore subject... I hope the rally did some good things for the Commercial Industry.....

I am all for No fish zones for certain types of fishing.. LIKE NO FISH ZONES FOR CAST-GILL NETTERS. I HATE TO SAY IT BUT BANNING GILL NETTING IN FLORIDA WAS A GOOD THING.. eVERYONE KNOWS WHAT I MEAN. THE FISHERY FOR MANY SPECIES HAS GROWN. I PERSONALLY FEEL THE U.S.A. SHOULD BAN IMPORT OF ALL FISH. I THINK THEY SHOULD EXPORT ONLY.

Now that the manatees are saved, SAVE COMMERCIAL FISHING.....................

I SPENT FOUR DAYS OFF PALM BEACH DURING THE MINI KING MACKERAL SEASON. The king mack stock is strong from what I saw.......
I also heard the big tobacco companies in Florida are trying to get involved with the commercial fishing industry to try to corner the market somehow.

[Basspond]

I'd be interested to hear what some of the northeastern members think of the whole CITES thing as far as bluefin are concerned...