March on washington Feb. 24th, 2010

[numbskull]

Best to be sure what IS right before you start a fight.

If you think continuing to manage fisheries the way we have been is a "right", well good luck to you.

If you think you have a "right" to fish, well maybe we agree, but you had best start thinking how you can do so without the impact on the "environment" you have been having to date........because the HUGE majority of people in this country don't believe your "right to fish" trumps their concerns about the environment.......and like it or not fish are part of the environment.

[sokinwet]

"We fully support real science based management and the conservation of our marine resources while also being able to sustain recreational and commercial fishing activities, providing locally caught seafood, sustaining small family businesses, and supporting our coastal communities"

This quote from the 1st post by MM says it all. Minimal impact within this framework should be everyones goal.

" because the HUGE majority of people in this country don't believe your "right to fish" trumps their concerns about the environment.......and like it or not fish are part of the environment"

Yikes...change a couple of words and this could be from a PETA flyer!! Only kidding......I think.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

"We fully support real science based management and the conservation of our marine resources while also being able to sustain recreational and commercial fishing activities, providing locally caught seafood, sustaining small family businesses, and supporting our coastal communities"

This quote from the 1st post by MM says it all. Minimal impact within this framework should be everyones goal.

And there is the rub. Sustaining recreational and commercial fishing activities is OUR priority.

Conservation of marine resources is PEW's priority.

The "impact" required to maintain current levels of recreational and commercial fishing activities is more than the goal of conserving marine resources can tolerate.......which is why most of the world's saltwater fisheries (both commercial and recreational are suffering).

Which goal do you think the non-fishing public will see as the more important?

If you and I want to continue to fish, we have to reduce our impact on the fish. Fighting not to do so (such as this ill-conceived march on Washington) may feel good in the short term but is likely to cost us BIG TIME in the long term. Freshwater guys figured this out decades ago and are fine with the result. Why are us saltwater guys so stupid?

[scottw]

he is correct, as constituted, a loosely affiliated and relatively small rec. fishing community splintered through various areas would have a difficult time organizing against a very practiced and organized 5 billion dollar worldwide propoganda machine...most rec. fishermen fish part time and infrequently...these guys are full time, highly funded activists


George, you act as though there is no fishery management at all, if that is true then what have all of the various agencies and organizations been doing for the past 30 years, you sound as though every fish stock is on the verge of collapse and if we don't get in line and follow along with the demonstrably radical enviro's...they'll take it all away from us...hell of a choice, dance with the devil or burn at the stake....I would argue that through the various fishing groups and clubs and organizations most fishermen are far more conceincious than they have ever been, most stick to the catch limits and I doubt that most would disagree with reduced catch limits.....have you checked the striper stock estimates 1980-late 2000's?...if what you indicate is true, you need to turn the graph upside down like the Global Warming guys do with theirs...there is already "control" of limits, sizes, seasons...just read the stories where Pew is exerting it's considerable muscle...they will find a way to get you off of the water entirely.....if you let them roll right over you