One million pound increase in Chesapeake fishery

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

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It disturbs me that you and other fishery folks don't see the benefits of gamefish status. All you have to do is look down south to see what has happened there. Why is this such a problem for you guys?

Let me ask you a question...How would game fish status hurt the SB population?

What are the "benefits"? IMHO it would hurt the management of the species. In case you haven't noticed all of the scientific efforts in this country are directed at the commercially important species, without that science we would be back to faith based fishery management. We probably wouldn't even have gotten the latest stock assessment if there wasn't a commercial value to the fish.

I'll ask you a question. Why haven't you been more proactive in making the fish a "gamefish" in your state? There is currently a bill that would do just that in your legislature, yet I have seen almost no discussion of it here on this board.

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

IMHO it would hurt the management of the species. .

That is entire idea!!!! Management has screwed this fishery up twice now IMO. The fact that is even approaching a threshold is very disturbing and the lack of action as we approached it drives me nuts, esp with all the public outcry. We need to get this out of managements hands altogether.


I was pretty active during the first SB meltdown, went to lots of meetings in several states and spoke out passionately at several public meetings. Frankly I have given up with fishery management in the US (and worldwide for that matter) as I figure by the time they fix anything I will be long gone and I would be better off just enjoying what I can from the water and not get my blood pressure any more worked up then it already is. The bottom line is public hearings are nothing more than a part of the mandated management procedure and as long as I have been around they have rarely influenced any policy. Their minds are made up as to what is going to happen loooong before any public meeting.

I try to practice good sportsmanship and conserve whenever I can. I figure if most try to do that we all would be much better off.

All they have to do is protect and grow the population...but all they have proven they have done to date is show they can decimate the population...