This is no BS - Act Today - in the next few hours - if you don't want this to happen. - READ the thread please: http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=27739

Time to Act on Massachusetts No-Fishing MPA Legislation!
Critical Committee Vote to be Held During the Afternoon of Monday, December, 12th! Call on Legislators Now to Oppose S529!
Hi Folks,

As you know RFA, MSBA, NECCA, and SBCCA have all been working hard seeking changes to Massachusetts bill S529 to prevent the establishment of permanent, arbitrary No-Fishing MPAs in Massachusetts' waters.
The most recent draft of the bill has been released. Unfortunately, the bill's sponsor, Senator Robert O'Leary (Cape and Islands) has refused to address our concerns. S529 is still so riddled with language that will lead to the establishment of No-Fishing MPAs, that we have no choice but to oppose the bill and seek alternative legislation that addresses real threats such as gravel mining and floating Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities.
The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture will be voting on S529 next Monday, December 12th. Now is the time to let the members of the Committee know that we are opposed to S529.
Below is a list of all the members of the Committee, their phone numbers, and the towns the represent. Please call all of them by noon on Monday, Decmeber 12th (if you live in the district let them know that you are a constituent) and let them know you are opposed to the bill and that you want them to vote "NO" on S529.
While there are many problems with S529, send a simple message to the members of the Committee that you are opposed to S529 because-

1) S529 will lead to permanent, arbitrary No-Fishing MPAs in Massachusetts waters.
2) S529 will add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to the fishery management process.
3) S529 will lead to the establishment of a saltwater license.
You need not get into a debate regarding the merits or fine points of the bill with anyone you speak to. As always, be polite, give them your name and your home town. If they ask you for more specifics about opposition to the bill, ask them to call the RFA at 888-564-6732.
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CAL NOW

ACTION ALERT: Massachusetts No-Fishing MPA Legislation PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 09 December 2005

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By Michael Doebley
RFA Deputy Director of Government Affairs

Time to Act on Massachusetts No-Fishing MPA Legislation!
Critical Committee Vote to be Held During the Afternoon of Monday, December, 12th! Call on Legislators Now to Oppose S529!

Hi Folks,

As you know RFA, MSBA, NECCA, and SBCCA have all been working hard seeking changes to Massachusetts bill S529 to prevent the establishment of permanent, arbitrary No-Fishing MPAs in Massachusetts' waters.

The most recent draft of the bill has been released. Unfortunately, the bill's sponsor, Senator Robert O'Leary (Cape and Islands) has refused to address our concerns. S529 is still so riddled with language that will lead to the establishment of No-Fishing MPAs, that we have no choice but to oppose the bill and seek alternative legislation that addresses real threats such as gravel mining and floating Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities.

The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture will be voting on S529 next Monday, December 12th. Now is the time to let the members of the Committee know that we are opposed to S529.

Below is a list of all the members of the Committee, their phone numbers, and the towns the represent. Please call all of them by noon on Monday, Decmeber 12th (if you live in the district let them know that you are a constituent) and let them know you are opposed to the bill and that you want them to vote "NO" on S529.

While there are many problems with S529, send a simple message to the members of the Committee that you are opposed to S529 because-


1) S529 will lead to permanent, arbitrary No-Fishing MPAs in Massachusetts waters.
2) S529 will add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to the fishery management process.
3) S529 will lead to the establishment of a saltwater license.

You need not get into a debate regarding the merits or fine points of the bill with anyone you speak to. As always, be polite, give them your name and your home town. If they ask you for more specifics about opposition to the bill, ask them to call the RFA at 888-564-6732.
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STATE SENATOR
PAMELA P. RESOR
Telephone: (617) 722-1120
Fax: (617) 722-1089
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: MIDDLESEX AND WORCESTER. - Marlborough, Acton, Ayer, Boxborough, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard, Shirley, Stow and Sudbury, precincts 2, 3 and 5, in the county of Middlesex; and Harvard, Northborough, precinct 3, Southborough and Westborough, in the county of Worcester.


STATE SENATOR
MARC R. PACHECO
Telephone: (617) 722-1551
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: FIRST PLYMOUTH AND BRISTOL. - Bridgewater, Carver, Marion, Middleborough and Wareham, in the county of Plymouth; and Taunton, Berkley, Dighton and Raynham, in the county of Bristol.

STATE SENATOR
STEPHEN M. BREWER
Telephone: (617) 722-1540
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: WORCESTER, HAMPDEN, HAMPSHIRE AND FRANKLIN. - Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Brookfield, Charlton, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Rutland, Spencer, Sturbridge, Templeton, Warren, West Brookfield and Winchendon, in the county of Worcester; Brimfield, Holland, Monson, Palmer and Wales, in the county of Hampden; Ware, in the county of Hampshire; and Orange and Warwick, in the county of Franklin.

STATE SENATOR
ROBERT S. CREEDON, Jr.
Telephone: (617) 722-1200
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED- SECOND PLYMOUTH AND BRISTOL. - Brockton, East Bridgewater, precincts 1 to 3, inclusive, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson and Whitman, in the county of Plymouth; and Easton, precincts 1 and 2, in the county of Bristol.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
FRANK ISRAEL SMIZIK
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
Telephone: 617-722-2210
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Fifteenth Norfolk. - Consisting of precincts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the town of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
STEPHEN KULIK
Telephone: 617-722-2210
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT

DISTRICT REPRESENTED: First Franklin. - Consisting of the towns of Conway, Deerfield, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Wendell and Whately, all in the county of Franklin; and precincts A and D, of the town of Belchertown, and the towns of Chesterfield, Goshen, Huntington, Pelham, Williamsburg and Worthington, all in the county of Hampshire.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DOUGLAS W. PETERSEN
617-722-2637
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Eighth Essex. - Consisting of precinct 4 of ward 3, and precinct 4 of ward 4, of the city of Lynn, and the towns of Marblehead and Swampscott, all in the county of Essex.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
WILLIAM M. STRAUS
Room 163
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: 617-722-2040
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Tenth Bristol. - Consisting of the town of Fairhaven, in the county of Bristol; and the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester, and precincts 3 and 6, of the town of Middleborough, all in the county of Plymouth.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
MATTHEW C. PATRICK
617-722-2090
Party Affiliation: - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Third Barnstable.--Consisting of precincts 5 and 7, of the town of Barnstable, precincts 5 and 6, of the town of Bourne, precincts 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9, of the town of Falmouth, and precincts 2, 4 and 5, of the town of Mashpee, all in the county of Barnstable.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
PETER V. KOCOT
(617) 722-2210
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: First Hampshire. - Consisting of the town of Montgomery, in the county of Hampden; and the towns of Hatfield, Southampton and Westhampton, and the city of Northampton, all in the county of Hampshire.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
MICHAEL F. RUSH
617-722-2210
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Tenth Suffolk. - Consisting of precincts 15 and 16, of the town of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk; and precincts 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of ward 20, of the city of Boston, in the county of Suffolk.


STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DENIS E. GUYER
617-722-2400
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Second Berkshire. - Consisting of the towns of Becket, Cheshire, Dalton, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, New Ashford, Peru, Richmond, Washington and Windsor, and precinct B of ward 1, of the city of Pittsfield, all in the county of Berkshire; the towns of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Colrain, Leyden, Northfield and Shelburne, all in the county of Franklin; and the towns of Cummington, Middlefield and Plainfield, all in the county of Hampshire.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
SUSAN WILLIAMS GIFFORD
617-722-2090
Party Affiliation - REPUBLICAN
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Second Plymouth. - Consisting of precincts 1, 2 and 3, of the town of Bourne, in the county of Barnstable; and the towns of Carver and Wareham, both in the county of Plymouth.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DONALD F. HUMASON, JR.
617-722-2460
Party Affiliation - REPUBLICAN
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Fourth Hampden. - Consisting of the city of Westfield, in the county of Hampden.

STATE SENATOR
ROBERT O'LEARY
Telephone: (617) 722-1570
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: CAPE AND ISLANDS. - Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, precincts numbered four and seven, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet and Yarmouth, in the county of Barnstable; Chilmark, Edgartown, Gay Head, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury, in the county of Dukes County; and Nantucket, in the county of Nantucket.

STATE SENATOR BRUCE E. TARR
Telephone: (617) 722-1600
Party Affiliation - REPUBLICAN
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: FIRST ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX. — Gloucester, Boxford, Essex, Georgetown, Groveland, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Middleton, Newbury, North Andover, precincts 2, 3, 5 and 7, Rockport, Rowley, Wenham and West Newbury, in the county of Essex; and North Reading and Wilmington, in the county of Middlesex.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I just got off the phone with MSBA Government Affairs Chairman,
Patrick Paquette who has been on the phone with politicians all day.

This is his report...

Senator O'Leary's office is giving misinformation to folks who are
calling. This means our pressure is beginning to work.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO CALL!

If told by ANY politician that the Massachusetts Division of Marine
Fisheries (MA DMF) is "On Board" with bill S529, inform that person
that the MSBA Government Affairs chair has spoken directly with MA DMF
Director, Paul Diodati today. The official position of the MA DMF is
that they have not reviewed the latest draft of S529 and have no
position at this time.


Best,
Mike Flaherty
MSBA Website Administrator

BTT

Cape Cod Times report this morning that the entire section that would allow for MPAs has been Deleted from the O'Leary legislation and will not be voted on.

The reason given was objection to MPAs by fishermen.

should be targeting the ships that are throwing dead stripers overboard as by -catch instead....

i hope the next time hundreds of floating dead striped bass are seen floating from the herring boats having caught them in their nets
the witnesses will have a camera, but will ALSO get on the radio and cell phone ( :think:@ S-B) and alert
everyone with a boat so they can come see it for themselves.

then we'll have the ammo necessary to change the law.

Raven,

Those reports on the Herring bycatch were...inaccurate...it is important that we target the correct fleet whan incidents like this happen...even with photos it is tough to get anything done with the absolute apathy most recreational fishermen display...many complained on the net about the bycatch that you are referring to, but none, zero, not one....showed up when we asked two years ago...this is why we looooooose

There was massive bycatch and guess what...it happens every year..we have been fighting it for many years but it is some Cod Draggers, some Whiting trawlers and every commercial fishery in the path oif the migration....

Offshore...do not beleive everything that you read in the paper ...two verison s of the bill ago the actual words Marine Protected Area were deleted however the language enabling the extreme version of MPA's aka No Fshing Zones was in the bill that was approved in the committee...From Section one...ask yourself how a green lawyer advising the secretary of the environment will acheive the following...

(d) It shall be the policy of the commonwealth that stewardship of the commonwealth’s ocean waters shall be carried out through an ocean management plan that protects, maintains, and restores the abundance and diversity of native species and habitats and the health and productivity of coastal and marine ecosystems in order to fulfill the ecological, economic, educational, social, cultural, nutritional, recreational, and other requirements of present and future generations in a sustainable manner.



Next...note the words Maximun Extent Possible...no fishing zones, will be on the table through the following section as they are a tool allowed under federal law...this section also is interpreted as allowing the Plan to superceed DMF regulations
(b) The geographic area subject to an ocean management plan may include any waters and associated submerged lands of the ocean, including the seabed and subsoil, lying between the low water mark and the seaward boundary of the commonwealth. An ocean management plan also may address activities in adjacent waters and, to the maximum extent consistent with federal law, shall apply to activities occurring in adjacent federal waters that are functionally connected or otherwise related to the management of resources within the ocean management planning area.


[QUOTE=Offshore]Cape Cod Times report this morning that the entire section that would allow for MPAs has been Deleted from the O'Leary legislation and will not be voted on.

Next we see some language that is sure to close more areas....it is out in the open that the scientific comunity want a no use area to determine how much "harm" is being caused by humans .... the buzzword that keys this closure is "baseline assesment"...here it is

(1) Setting a baseline assessment of the commonwealth’s ocean resources and resource use, in consultation with the ocean science advisory council, that incorporates the best available engineering applications and scientific understanding of marine and ocean resources, including the identification of special, sensitive or unique estuarine and marine life and habitats, through research, mapping, monitoring and other data, public and agency input and other relevant natural, infrastructure, social, cultural, historic and economic planning information that will serve as the basis for evaluating alternatives and choosing courses of action;

Why did the times report this sory the way that it did...because the Senator O'Leary Staffer that is pushing this bill will say anything to getr this bill through...see the message I left yesterday...they were lying to the public on the phone in an attempt to discourage us from our objections....

I will be putting out more info at the end of the week....

to all...my earlier post was only about the no fishing zones and other closed areas...HEREIS THE LANGUAGE THAT SURE LOOKS TO ME AND OTHERS TO BE THE OPEN DOOR FOR A

MA SALT WATER FISHING LICENSE

(m) The secretary, in consultation with the department of environmental protection, the department of conservation and recreation, and the division of marine fisheries, is hereby authorized and directed to examine the establishment or renegotiation of fees, licenses, permits, rents, leases and the adjustment or development of other revenue sources for the purposes of funding ocean resource enhancement or restoration through the Ocean Resources and Waterways Trust Fund.

But then again, 10 months ago Senator O'Leary looked me right in the face and told me this language would be corrected to exempt a salt water fishing license...did not happen...If I was from the Cape or Islands I would be calling and quoting this section...also, do not let the staffers tell you O'Leary will not let this happen....he will not be the one interpreting the LAw if it gets through, the Secretarty of the Environment will be. Currently the Secretary is Mr. Doug Foy, former leader of one of the big environmental groups....yeah, yeah Senator, Doug Foy will protect fishermen

for that clarification basic patrick..... i will endeavor to study it ,further.

Thanks Patrick - let us know what else we can do and let us know when any new news happens about this...

For all those that contacted their reps - thank you!

guys,,A few of us that have been in on this from day one are gathering some info/fallout from the other day and I will update as soon as we have a more clear picture as to what is next...

thanks to all that made calls