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Wow! I guess it really is winter. Lots of pent up energy being vented. I hope everyone feels better. Anyway, seems I’m definitely in the minority here (as I thought I would be). But it’s not very often that I back a commercial fishing entity so I kind of expected disagreement. I try and think of both sides of an issue even if it is mostly beneficial to me, I always want to see if there are any “hidden consequences” that might not be desirable. If my opinion got your noggins to thinking - it worked.
So here is how I figure this will pan out: Comment on this bill will include those from all sides. Bait Shops, RISAA, Save the Bay, Arc Bait, and Commercial Fishermen. The wild card will be comments from representatives from the RI Division of Fish and Wildlife and maybe the commercial fishing industry groups. Division Biologists are routinely called on to give a scientific view of whether a bill has legitimate basis for concern. In other words, do RI fisheries biologists believe that Arc Baits take of Narragansett Bay menhaden is detrimental to the health of the bay, etc? I think this will be the key. Commercial fishing organizations may also weigh in as they normally back each other. Commercial fishermen don’t want to see a “precedent” setting action go against them. I’m sure the draggers will be watching closely as they’ve been the target of talks like this before. Normally I don’t think the legislature would pass a bill that would put someone out of business, especially in the hard hit commercial fishing industry, BUT in this case it is a Massachusetts company, not from RI, so maybe they would.
Another scenario will be the legislature telling the RIMFC to broker some sort of “agreement” with Arc Bait about placing certain areas off limits or placing a quota on their take from Narragansett Bay. It will also be interesting to see if the RIMFC takes up discussion of this bill at a future hearing – and will they have to endorse it?
What would happen if this bill passes? Not really sure on this one. Arc Bait may just fold but I don’t think that will happen, especially if large menhaden are making a comeback. They’ll probably just go to other areas where it is legal to take pogies.
DZ
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Hybrid Mode
