ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS ASSESSMENT SUMMARY FOR 2013

[Mr. Sandman]

I have spoken to fish counting scientists at the DMF...and asked them why were there so many more stripers around years ago and far fewer today...

Not a direct quote but I am summarizing: "That is because there were too many fish around before...there are enough around now"

I asked:
how do know there are enough around:
We have a good handle on the numbers and size of fish in the population.

I then asked...

what if you are wrong? You said the same thing about codfish stocks and now you admit you were wrong about that. wouldn't it be prudent to be more conservative with your estimation? What is your confidence in these numbers?

silence... then canned BS response about they feel good and can sleep at night. I told him I am glad someone sleeps well cause I sure as hell don't.

I have ZERO confidence in the people managing fishery resources. Technically I am sure they are brilliant people in the ranks but there are too many bureaucratic holes that allow public opinion to morph the final regulations making them meaningless.

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

I have ZERO confidence in the people managing fishery resources. Technically I am sure they are brilliant people in the ranks but there are too many bureaucratic holes that allow public opinion to morph the final regulations making them meaningless.

Prior to amendment 6, action would have been taken years ago based on a bad yoy index. Now six out of seven years of lousy yoy lead to no change because of one good year. I get so fired up at the idiots who make these rules and by the same token I wanna say fu to the guys who think it we shouldn't say anything about idiots who repeatedly kill tons of big fish in order to show their buddies in order to overcome other feelings of inadequacy. I don't care if the law says they can. The lawmakers and idiots are fing up something very important to me.