Mass Saltwater Fishing License & Areas CLOSED to ALL fishing - reality - ACT TODAY

[BasicPatrick]

Offshore...do not beleive everything that you read in the paper ...two verison s of the bill ago the actual words Marine Protected Area were deleted however the language enabling the extreme version of MPA's aka No Fshing Zones was in the bill that was approved in the committee...From Section one...ask yourself how a green lawyer advising the secretary of the environment will acheive the following...

(d) It shall be the policy of the commonwealth that stewardship of the commonwealth’s ocean waters shall be carried out through an ocean management plan that protects, maintains, and restores the abundance and diversity of native species and habitats and the health and productivity of coastal and marine ecosystems in order to fulfill the ecological, economic, educational, social, cultural, nutritional, recreational, and other requirements of present and future generations in a sustainable manner.



Next...note the words Maximun Extent Possible...no fishing zones, will be on the table through the following section as they are a tool allowed under federal law...this section also is interpreted as allowing the Plan to superceed DMF regulations
(b) The geographic area subject to an ocean management plan may include any waters and associated submerged lands of the ocean, including the seabed and subsoil, lying between the low water mark and the seaward boundary of the commonwealth. An ocean management plan also may address activities in adjacent waters and, to the maximum extent consistent with federal law, shall apply to activities occurring in adjacent federal waters that are functionally connected or otherwise related to the management of resources within the ocean management planning area.


[QUOTE=Offshore]Cape Cod Times report this morning that the entire section that would allow for MPAs has been Deleted from the O'Leary legislation and will not be voted on.

Next we see some language that is sure to close more areas....it is out in the open that the scientific comunity want a no use area to determine how much "harm" is being caused by humans .... the buzzword that keys this closure is "baseline assesment"...here it is

(1) Setting a baseline assessment of the commonwealth’s ocean resources and resource use, in consultation with the ocean science advisory council, that incorporates the best available engineering applications and scientific understanding of marine and ocean resources, including the identification of special, sensitive or unique estuarine and marine life and habitats, through research, mapping, monitoring and other data, public and agency input and other relevant natural, infrastructure, social, cultural, historic and economic planning information that will serve as the basis for evaluating alternatives and choosing courses of action;

Why did the times report this sory the way that it did...because the Senator O'Leary Staffer that is pushing this bill will say anything to getr this bill through...see the message I left yesterday...they were lying to the public on the phone in an attempt to discourage us from our objections....

I will be putting out more info at the end of the week....

[BasicPatrick]

to all...my earlier post was only about the no fishing zones and other closed areas...HEREIS THE LANGUAGE THAT SURE LOOKS TO ME AND OTHERS TO BE THE OPEN DOOR FOR A

MA SALT WATER FISHING LICENSE

(m) The secretary, in consultation with the department of environmental protection, the department of conservation and recreation, and the division of marine fisheries, is hereby authorized and directed to examine the establishment or renegotiation of fees, licenses, permits, rents, leases and the adjustment or development of other revenue sources for the purposes of funding ocean resource enhancement or restoration through the Ocean Resources and Waterways Trust Fund.

But then again, 10 months ago Senator O'Leary looked me right in the face and told me this language would be corrected to exempt a salt water fishing license...did not happen...If I was from the Cape or Islands I would be calling and quoting this section...also, do not let the staffers tell you O'Leary will not let this happen....he will not be the one interpreting the LAw if it gets through, the Secretarty of the Environment will be. Currently the Secretary is Mr. Doug Foy, former leader of one of the big environmental groups....yeah, yeah Senator, Doug Foy will protect fishermen

[Raven]

for that clarification basic patrick..... i will endeavor to study it ,further.

[JohnR]

Thanks Patrick - let us know what else we can do and let us know when any new news happens about this...

For all those that contacted their reps - thank you!

[BasicPatrick]

guys,,A few of us that have been in on this from day one are gathering some info/fallout from the other day and I will update as soon as we have a more clear picture as to what is next...

thanks to all that made calls