http://mvtimes2.com/newspaper/cat/1_...ine_News5.html
Here I go again...this topic really gets me hot.
"...MA has been typically conservative with regard to SB management..MA has not always been rewarded for taking a conservative approach.."
WHY SHOULD YOU? The reward is MORE FISH! What did you expect...a thank letter and a check? There has alway been a "where's MINE" or "whats in it for me" attitude by commerical fishermen and it always bothers me.
"...Thus, fisherman in a state following more conservative fishing practices end up with a smaller piece of the resource pie"
And since we don't get rewared, screw conservitive management, take as much as we can.... I WANT MY SHARE, I DON'T WANT MY SHARE TO GO TO MY NEIGHBOR...Gimmie a break, it sounds like a couple of 6 year olds fighting about the last piece of cake for Gods sake. I find the food analogy really appropriate. They will find anyway under the sun to justify taking more. You never here them say..I suggest we reduce the take this year because there were fewer fish born this year...do you? They will take until there is a major problem and will stop only when they are forced to.
IMO MA should take more of a stance in the "state-by-state allowances” Who sets those nowadays? Probably a team of commercial fisherman from all the states. MA should lead the way to STOP commercial SB fishing PERIOD, not increase the take each year.
I wish the Fed's would step in and shut commercial fishing for SB down altogether. I would gladly not take any fish if I knew there was no commercial activity. This is a fishery run by greedy commercial types that want to take as much as possible for themselves and don't care if they leave nothing left. They have done it before and will do it again. A million #'s is WAY too much! and at 2 bucks/lb it is not worth it! MA should set the benchmark not be lured by 5 weeks of quick summer money.
I have a novel idea...HOW ABOUT REDUCING THE CATCH LIMIT, INCREASING THE LIC FEES (to $1000+) and only allowing serious commerical fishermen to obtain the license? Let me ask you, would the board EVER under ANY circumstance suggest lowering the take? If the answer is NO; I don't think we should even consider their "recommendation" for increasing it.
I think it is clear what the MA commercial fisherman motive is...quick $, screw the fish, give me my 2 bucks/lb. When they are all gone, I will fish for something else, until thats all gone. This is the commerical fishing "mantra".
1 mill #'s @ 2$/# = $2mil
for 1000-3000 MA lic's = an average of $666.67 - 2000 per lic.
Is it worth taking 1 million #'s of SB out of the reproductive cycle FOREVER for less then $2K per man.....I think not.
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