ProJo Op Ed page today
 

There is an interesting article by a professor who states that the reason the bass population and fishing in general is going down hill on the Cape is because the recreational fishermen are fishing the salt marshes.
His reasoning is that the recs are taking the top of the food chain, bass and blues, and the result is the proliferation of sub-species of crabs which are killing the salt marshes.

There is no mention in his article of seals. Just us guys killing all the predators and thus killing the marshes.

Probably the most misguided article I have read yet.

Can't wait to read it
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LOL!!!!!!!!!
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Thanks Paul, I just read it. His study which is referenced at the bottom of the article is definately one I'd like to see peer reviewed by scientists. I'd be reluctant to trust an ecologist named Tyler :hs: Until he gets a full review by marine biological scientists named George, Harry or Joe. :)

His article certainly is a gross oversimplification of much of what I've read of the demise of our salt marshes and salt ponds caused by the increased infusion of disolved nitrogen.

Ed

[QUOTE=Ed B;950780]Thanks Paul, I just read it. His study which is referenced at the bottom of the article is definately one I'd like to see peer reviewed by scientists. I'd be reluctant to trust an ecologist named Tyler :hs: Until he gets a full review by marine biological scientists named George, Harry or Joe. :)

His article certainly is a gross oversimplification of much of what I've read of the demise of our salt marshes and salt ponds caused by the increased infusion of disolved nitrogen.

Agreed
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Salt marshes are dying from failed septic systems, lawn fertilizer, and in the Chesapeake, because of chicken farms' run off. Sure, fishermen are partly to blame, but we are not the primary reason.
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I'm partly to blame. I've been shooting stripers with assault rifles.

Hahaha!
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Something that doesn't get mentioned much but what considerable scientific studies have shown is the damage to estuaries and salt ponds caused by recreational boating. It's kind of politically incorrect to tell the boating industry, waterfront homeowners with docks, and boating enthusiasts that the constant churning of coastal rivers and ponds is seriously damaging the biology of the ecosystem, but the studies show it and the furthur south you go like Florida where the boating season is long, the problems become even more pronounced.

:rotflmao:

that would true if the only thing bass and blues ate were crabs
but they feed on many sources of food. Seals are destroying
water quality that washed into those rivers
and eat sub species of fish faster than fishermen
not to mention the pogie (menhaden) trawlers removing a huge
part of the food chain. He sounds like a quack.