Quote:
Originally Posted by nightprowler
Pete,
If this is the case, how do you feel about eels?? the findings were that the overall fishery is substantial, yet, as many people have stated, the numbers of eels are way down in the north east.
Should we have strict regulation on the use of eels as bait in the northeast? Or there commercial viability??
I do not know all of the facts related to the pogies in the bay, I have read very little pertaining to them, I should read more but haven't had the time. Many of my friends work for the fisheries in woods hole and I know they do their best to keep fisheries open or propose regulations when they should be implemented.
They are all fishermen and care about the work they do, as it is not only their professional life, but it is their hobby as well.
I agree with rockhound; I tend to favor the folks who work full time at a profession whether it is a scientist or a carpenter. Thats their job and livelihood and almost every one of the scientist I know are very passionate about their work.
(as an aside, I think anything that can be done to preserve any fishery or form of wildlife is a step in the right direction, from endangered birds to menhaden.)
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I'd kind of consider eels and pogies to be apples and oranges. Eels just don't drive a fishery like menhaden do. Each species "value" is very different.
To me it's an RI inclusive issue and not fishery wide issue, the Skunk is right on in that this is a matter of protecting the home turf so it's very hard to compare to eels. RI obviously has/had a bumper crop of bunker and the goal should be to keep it that way with
proper regulation. The menhaden population was probably healthy 5 years ago too and how was the bunker population in Narragansett Bay then? It was pretty pathetic, to be honest. Interestingly enough no one really seemed to care. Another big question is
would regulation even do anything? The bunker may just decide to skip our little proposed safe haven next year.
Keeping (encouraging?) pogies in the Bay is about fueling a world class striped bass fishery. Call me greedy, but I love it. Tackle business is good, our charter trips are even easier and better, and I caught a lot of quality fish in the Bay this year. It was simply incredible out there and I'd like to see it continue for many reasons.
I think a serious issue is a lack of science, other then that the menhaden population overall is healthy. Why are there so many bunker this year in Narragansett Bay? Natural cycle? Water conditions? What will keep it this way? Who knows...
Basic Patrick is right on though. A pretty basic principle called compromise is probably the right answer.
Hybrid Mode
