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Old 03-06-2009, 05:08 AM   #4
keeperreaper
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Mansfield
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If they want to absorb the quota in the USA more specifically the east coast then let recs take 3 fish and the General category unlimited fish 73" or greater. This would use up the quota, inject a lot of $$$$$$ into the local and regional economy, and keep the price of fish where it is rather than drive it down. Instead of calling in and then getting numerous call backs just email them of the catch and the vital statistics. Easier for everyone involved. To curb the so called black tuna market place huge fines that are actually imposed on both the buyer and seller. One huge fine seizure of assets or business closure and all the selling if it is going on will stop.

As a caveat to this above statement, I dont think there is any reason for recs to keep 3 fish a day other than to fill up the quota. I also believe that this is counterproductive in terms of species growth/population regeneration. Keep only what you will use and dont kill these fish for the sake of killing them. And here lies the conundrum; boost up the limits and make the quota but hurt the future stocks of the tuna or leave the limits where they are and lose the quota. Pick your poison.

Now for the larger picture, as long as commercial and recreational anglers are at odds and 2 separate entities the ICCAT folks have us where they want us; 2 factions that war with each other rather than aligned and focused on one goal. When everything is all said and done we will all be scratching our heads going/saying what happened to the fishery and how did this happen.

When all angling parties grow up and unify for the betterment of the species and fishery then we as a whole will make headway. Until then we will just keep pissing in the wind. We aren't the problem the structure and ICCAT leaders are. If ICCAT was truly concerned about the fish and the fishery rather than their coffers they would impose stricter limits and eliminate pound nets, tuna pens, et al., and the horrific Mediterranean slaughter that goes on year after year over there. They kill/harvest way more than we do and until that is realized what we do in terms of conservation measures really won't add up to much.

And then there is the foundation for propegation of these and the rest of the fish BAIT. But that is for another time.



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