Quote:
Originally Posted by numbskull
Does it occur to anyone that action by the Pew Trusts may actually improve the quality of our fishing?
When fishermen have depleted a public resource to the verge of collapse, fighting for the right to keep doing so is the height of stupidity and irresponsibility.
The only way to avoid environmentally mandated correction of destroyed fisheries is for fishermen to do it voluntarily and quickly. Fighting against it will destroy us. Too bad we are such fools.
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Name one stock that fishermen have depleted to the "point of collapse." One of the national standards that are supposed to govern fishery management is the economic well being of fishermen and their communities. That standard has been totally ignored over the last several years.
Look at Black Sea Bass, the stock is fully rebuilt and according to the science there are more sea bass around now than there have ever been. Yet the NMFS is going to cut recreational anglers back to a two month season. Where is the sense in that? Same goes for scup, fluke and many other species that we don't catch around here.
Maybe if you're a strictly C&R fishermen your fishing may improve, but bag limits are getting tighter and tighter for those of us who actually bring fish home for a meal. But even you are going to have a hard time fishing when all of the Bait & Tackle shops go out of business.