Zach, I have to say that in most cases you are probably for a young guy one of the most even-handed and knowledgable editors I have ever seen write editorials in a fishing magazine. You know your subject matter from both the recreational and commercial side and do your research. And I think you also do an excellent job with the Fisherman to which I have been a subscriber for about 20 years. Butttt in this case I think you are a little off the mark for the following reasons.
The debate of who is "worthy" of having access to a certain fisheries has been going on for a long time and will continue to do so long after were gone. The groups involed might be recreational, commercial, fly-guides, charter captains, whatever. I have heard the debates from many sides of rec-comm as well as limited entry proposals. Every "click" of individuals has their seemingly strong rational, at least to themselves, as to why the only access should be for people like them and a few of their buddies. It's kind of a natural self preservation technique, where pursuing ones own self interests seems like the perfectly normal thing to do. Of course, discrimination often rears it's ugly head in these debates as well, and we see here in your writeup where you single out the most unworthy being the "short fat saggy man with the dish-pan hands"
OUCH!!! I wish you would have spared me the horror though of the visualization that this guy also had the audacity to wear "penny-loafers"
Is that the criteria we should use to pass judgement as to who the real fisherman are?
We have in this country the ability to pursue whatever career we so choose, be it doctor, lawyer, engineer, indian chief or commercial fisherman. No one can tell us that we can't apply to law school or not try to get through an engineering program, or not go to truck driving school. As you can see on page 12R in the same issue of the Fisherman as which your editorial apears, there are no less than four different schools advertising classes for which ANYONE can apply to get your Captains license. They make no demands as to required height, weight, dress code, religion, skin color, other jobs, or tax bracket. It is open to anyone and the more I hear of all these debates over the years, that's the way I think it should be with free and open competion without special protections for distinct individuals. Coastal commercial fisheries has throughout the history of this country been pursued by men and women in both full time and part time capacities. Todays commercial fisherman was likely last decades truck driver, landscaper, student or who knows what else and who knows what he will pursue in the future.
I know that some will say that the guy who has done this for decades and his family as well need special protection from the new entrees. But every small businees in America has to compete with new entrees, and a walk down any Main Street sees small businesses coming in and going out all the time. The fisherman who want to stay in business will find a way to stay in business albeit with thin profit margin in this day of quotas. That's what six of my friends do who are commercial boat owners and captains in Pt Judith, Newport, New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard and Ptown. Those who don't want to stay in business will find other pursuits. But us trying to decide who is worthy of being a fisherman and who is not, is not in the best interests of anyone.
Ed
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