Understood dennis, I can assure you that no blacklisting was done in the email group..There were a few emails saying that they it should be done but they were quickly shot down.A couple bad apples ,its unfortunate but people have opinions..Anyway, never did I see any RISAA board member say blacklisting was apropriate..

The only thing that was compiled was a list of who is for the bill .

I don't think whether the bait shops support or don't support the bill will have a substantive effect on the success or failure of the bill. THERE!!!

I think it could have some impact. If I was presenting against the bill I'd certainly make an emotional plea of the small business impact that passage could have.

If the majority of shops support the bill it blows this out of the water...

-spence

First -it was published on the SNESA list which is available for anyone to receive by signing up through the RISAA site. No secrets there.

Second: RISAA did compile the list of supporters and non-supporters, but it was done to research the claims made by Ark Bait's letter to the RI legislators that said RI Baitshops were against the menhaden bill. It also said that lobstermen would be hurt and stated that Ark Bait is a Rhode Island company. These points have been proven wrong or significantly misleading due to the diligent work done by RISAA volunteers.

The same hard working people that you are quick to put down - repeatedly, while admitting that you don't have any facts - that's shameful.

These are people motivated by what's best for the bay, so they work hard to get information that will let folks be knowledgable. IMO that's a good thing.

OTOH, your way - keeping information secret which leads to double dealing, back room shenanigans with cronies - represents the worst of the RI political system, and I'm against it.

So I'll continue to follow my conscience by not supporting shops that IMO don't support the health of the bay.

Its fine that you don't support the shops but to make a post on a very public forum that points the finger at certain business and portrays them as being the bad guy is NOT a good thing. I agree 100% that the bill should be passed but there has to be better ways than this. You have to look at it from their point of view. I can see where they might be coming from. Losing fresh bait would be a huge loss for many shops. But they must realize that they will be able to get bait from different sources.

I think that is one of the problems, those "other sources" don't exist as of the moment. Lots of talk about gillnetters and castnetter filling the damand of the bait shops, but no one really knows for sure yet that it will happen. Not many people have gillnet licenses in the state.

A few thoughts...
 

1. I see no problem w/publishing who is for or against the ban. If you are a shop owner and take a stand (in either direction) please have the conviction to stand behind it and deal with the repurcusions.

2. If this WAS a blacklist, which I don't think it was, THIS is not the place for it.

3. I don't give a flying f'all where bait shops will be getting there bait from IF Ark is kicked out. It is absolutely assinign(sp), to make a decision the ultimately effects the health of the bay based on the economics of a bait/tackle shop. Although I do realize $$$ talks.

4. If a void opens up regarding getting bait it will be filled. If there is $$$ in it I gaurentee someone will exploit it.

5. I'm sorry, I have no sympathy for commecial fishermen (most). I work w/ a reformed commercial dragger. The stories he tells make me ashamed to be a human being. I really have no reason the believe others are much different. Again, I am sure there are exceptions.

That was my point essentially, Mako Mike, these shops that are supposedly the bad guys are worried that they won't get bait but if the pogies were as thick as I have heard it shouldnt be too hard for anyone that is skilled with a thrownet to do a number on them. Like others have said basically the whole cape cod canal area tackle shops are supplied by two seperate one man operations. Both of these guys weapons of choice is the thrownet so it can and will be done.