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Commercial discard mortality is 1/2 of recreational? OoooooooooKKKK.
As for the recreational catch numbers, we all know they are a gross over estimate. The ASMFC technical committee knows this as well. But the ASMFC itself (with NOAA's blessing, surprise, surprise) voted not to change how recreational catch is estimated......partly since there is no other proven methodology to estimate it (the one they use is not proven either), partly because true lower recreational catch numbers would not result in a higher F and force management changes, and partly because it suits their goal of justifying a commercial fishery. A lower recreational catch would allow a higher commercial take to achieve maximal sustainable yield.....and it is no coincidence that is exactly what some on the ASMFC tried to do recently.
Under other proposed more realistic models, the commercial percentage goes up to almost 60 % of total catch. Much of the remaining recreational catch is charter boat generated. The average schmuck recreational guy gets a tiny share.
We all know this, only some like to keep spouting phony figures to justify their continued shafting of recreational schmucks. Does ANYONE on this board think the total non-charter recreational catch comes anywhere close to what was killed off Chatham this year by the commercial fleet. If so, where and when were those fish caught? Again, where and when in MA did a recreational bite happen to come anywhere close to what was taken off Chatham during the commercial slaughter this summer?
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