Quote:
Originally Posted by sokinwet
"We fully support real science based management and the conservation of our marine resources while also being able to sustain recreational and commercial fishing activities, providing locally caught seafood, sustaining small family businesses, and supporting our coastal communities"
This quote from the 1st post by MM says it all. Minimal impact within this framework should be everyones goal.
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And there is the rub. Sustaining recreational and commercial fishing activities is OUR priority.
Conservation of marine resources is PEW's priority.
The "impact" required to maintain current levels of recreational and commercial fishing activities is more than the goal of conserving marine resources can tolerate.......which is why most of the world's saltwater fisheries (both commercial and recreational are suffering).
Which goal do you think the non-fishing public will see as the more important?
If you and I want to continue to fish, we have to reduce our impact on the fish. Fighting not to do so (such as this ill-conceived march on Washington) may feel good in the short term but is likely to cost us BIG TIME in the long term. Freshwater guys figured this out decades ago and are fine with the result. Why are us saltwater guys so stupid?