JohnR
08-03-2009, 06:51 AM
Meeting: August 12, 2009
Riverside, RI
Speaker: 7:30
Topic: Paulie Bettencourt will talk on conditions in the bay.
This meeting is open to people that MUST call in for a "reservation" 401-245-8375 in advance.
"The Bay: what it was -- what it should be -- what it can be” by Paulie Bettencourt
When Paulie Bettencourt is not on the water he can often be found in a meeting fighting for regulations needed to save the creatures he harvests. The late Senator Chafee often called on Paulie to talk on environmental issues related to the Bay.
Paulie has been a commercial fisherman for 45 years. Working within regulations on seasons, limits and sizes he catches and sells: stripers; scup; fluke; sea bass; clams and quahogs. He lives in Pawtucket and keeps his boat in a building near the upper Seekonk river.
As an environmentalist Paulie has worked closely with DEM on issues related to virtually every bay species on his list. Throughout his career as a bay ‘commercial’, Paulie has led the way on conservation issues. He is articulate, and is known for doing his homework.
Two other members of the famous Bettencourt family recently joined the East Bay Anglers: Albert and his son Kevin. He is “Uncle” Paulie to them.
Where’s the enforcement?
Being on the water so much, Paulie is witness to many instances of people abusing the bay, breaking laws, or taking fish under illegal conditions. So, it’s no surprise that one of his pet peeves is the lack of enforcement. His ‘repertoire’ of stories is full of incidents where DEM failed to enforce its own regulations.
Another by-product of his presence on the water has been his awareness of the failure of certain species. He was the first to raise the alarm over the collapse of the flounder population. He also was the first to spot the failure of horseshoe crab breeding. As is typical of these events, the biological research quickly caught up to what he could see daily.
Member of school committee
Being a ‘concerned citizen’ about bay issues has encouraged Paulie to participate in other political arenas. During the years that his daughters (3) were in school, he ran for and served on the local school committee. He was one of few members who actually went to classrooms to observe events. He became well known as someone who pulled no punches.
Helped save striped bass
However, my own appreciation of Paulie relates to his service on the striped bass issue in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. We both served on the Citizens’s Advisory Committee. In those days it was more typical of commercial fishermen being at loggerheads with recreational fishermen. Paulie was bigger than that. He was fighting for the fish itself, not for his ‘rights’ to harvest them.
Third speaker in bay series
If you’ve been paying attention, you now recognize that we’ve had three perspectives on the Bay: Save the Bay’s John Torgan, URI’s Dave Bengston have both told us what we can expect.
Now a commercial fisherman with more than 45 years of experience in all phases of marine harvesting will give us his perspective. It should be an illuminating event for everyone who cares about the conditions of the Bay.
Will Barbeau
Riverside, RI
Speaker: 7:30
Topic: Paulie Bettencourt will talk on conditions in the bay.
This meeting is open to people that MUST call in for a "reservation" 401-245-8375 in advance.
"The Bay: what it was -- what it should be -- what it can be” by Paulie Bettencourt
When Paulie Bettencourt is not on the water he can often be found in a meeting fighting for regulations needed to save the creatures he harvests. The late Senator Chafee often called on Paulie to talk on environmental issues related to the Bay.
Paulie has been a commercial fisherman for 45 years. Working within regulations on seasons, limits and sizes he catches and sells: stripers; scup; fluke; sea bass; clams and quahogs. He lives in Pawtucket and keeps his boat in a building near the upper Seekonk river.
As an environmentalist Paulie has worked closely with DEM on issues related to virtually every bay species on his list. Throughout his career as a bay ‘commercial’, Paulie has led the way on conservation issues. He is articulate, and is known for doing his homework.
Two other members of the famous Bettencourt family recently joined the East Bay Anglers: Albert and his son Kevin. He is “Uncle” Paulie to them.
Where’s the enforcement?
Being on the water so much, Paulie is witness to many instances of people abusing the bay, breaking laws, or taking fish under illegal conditions. So, it’s no surprise that one of his pet peeves is the lack of enforcement. His ‘repertoire’ of stories is full of incidents where DEM failed to enforce its own regulations.
Another by-product of his presence on the water has been his awareness of the failure of certain species. He was the first to raise the alarm over the collapse of the flounder population. He also was the first to spot the failure of horseshoe crab breeding. As is typical of these events, the biological research quickly caught up to what he could see daily.
Member of school committee
Being a ‘concerned citizen’ about bay issues has encouraged Paulie to participate in other political arenas. During the years that his daughters (3) were in school, he ran for and served on the local school committee. He was one of few members who actually went to classrooms to observe events. He became well known as someone who pulled no punches.
Helped save striped bass
However, my own appreciation of Paulie relates to his service on the striped bass issue in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. We both served on the Citizens’s Advisory Committee. In those days it was more typical of commercial fishermen being at loggerheads with recreational fishermen. Paulie was bigger than that. He was fighting for the fish itself, not for his ‘rights’ to harvest them.
Third speaker in bay series
If you’ve been paying attention, you now recognize that we’ve had three perspectives on the Bay: Save the Bay’s John Torgan, URI’s Dave Bengston have both told us what we can expect.
Now a commercial fisherman with more than 45 years of experience in all phases of marine harvesting will give us his perspective. It should be an illuminating event for everyone who cares about the conditions of the Bay.
Will Barbeau