March on washington Feb. 24th, 2010

[sokinwet]

"The problem isn't the Pew Trust"
Really??...an oil $$ funded NGO that provides millions of dollars to radical environ. organizations directly involved in efforts to restrict ocean access, close complete fisheries, etc.

Take a look at the MLPA info. over @ Bloody Decks and see who's responsible for the Calif. mess and take some time to review the incestuous relationships between Pew funded groups and the agencies charged with regulating and designating protected areas. People should be going to jail over there!!

Do you really think it's right for these groups to monopolize the management of our fisheries & oceans simply because they have the $$ to do so?

[numbskull]

Wake up. What you and I think is "right" DOES NOT MATTER.
What we do is what matters. If we ignore the environmental impact of our fishing (as we are want to do) we give organizations like the PEW Trusts EXACTLY what they need to convince the public (or judiciary) that we SHOULD BE IGNORED.

Fishermen need to stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution. Pretending fish stocks are in good shape and that we are not a MAJOR part of any problem we refuse to acknowledge exists...........MAKES US IRRELEVANT.

Oh sure, we can scream and shout and make lots of noise and play the pity card......but in the long run if we do not voluntarily restrain our impact on over strained fisheries WE ARE GOING TO LOSE THEM. Remember, 290 million people in this country would pick resource protection over "fishermen's rights".

Do YOU lose sleep over loggers prohibited from logging in National Parks? Do you think the public will lose sleep over fisherman shut out of Marine Parks?

I don't like this any more than anyone else, but it is going to happen....and our stupid greed and inability to curb our catch is the reason it is going to happen.

[numbskull]

Here is an interview with the head of PEW by Sport Fishing Magazine http://www.sportfishingmag.com/speci...19-page-1.html

The guy is very intelligent and level headed....and a fisherman. We change our behavior and restore our fisheries we can continue to fish. We refuse to change and want to fight, they'll be glad to fight.

[scottw]

Interview: Pew talks to Sport Fishing - Saltwater Fishing Forums

you should also read through the comments...

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by scottw

Interview: Pew talks to Sport Fishing - Saltwater Fishing Forums

you should also read through the comments...

Such as this one by the president of Florida charter captains?

".....
The takeaway is that Pew is flexible and the driver of the catch shares system, is EDF.

We cannot beat Pew in a street fight. We need to encourage Pew to continue advocating for a slow and deliberate approach to regulating and turn our focus to EDF, which is advancing the doomsday agenda."
__________________
Captain Gary S. Colecchio
Silver Dawn Charters
Bonita Beach


Pew prioritizes the environment. If recreational fishermen do the same everybody both can win. If recreational fishermen fight to do otherwise, well then we're in for a "street fight".

[scottw]

[QUOTE=numbskull;737607]Such as this one by the president of Florida charter captains?

".....
The takeaway is that Pew is flexible and the driver of the catch shares system, is EDF.

We cannot beat Pew in a street fight. We need to encourage Pew to continue advocating for a slow and deliberate approach to regulating and turn our focus to EDF, which is advancing the doomsday agenda."
__________________
Captain Gary S. Colecchio
Silver Dawn Charters
Bonita Beach


George, I though this was an interesting take on the PEW interview...it's not always what you see, or even what they show you..

You ask, why does Pew have so much influence in our society? Here's why.
Because
1. They are well organized and firmly focused.
2. They have lots of money (almost $6billion) and spend some $500million each year to get what they want (no fishing 24/7).
3. They know how to dupe or buy media . They make them Pew Fellows, call them "marine experts", grant them $150,000 to $400,000 and tell them exactly what to say - or else.
4. They are well connected all the way to the top. The former head of Pew was Bill Clinton's chief of staff and was appointed head of the CIA by Obama. The head of NOAA was a Pew Fellow and remains thisclosetoPew.
5. They are well skilled in half truths and how to sell them. Sport Fishing magazine interviewed the head of Pew's Environmental Group (June '09) who said they were "not involved in major efforts in the lower 48, except in Oregon, or Alaska [huh?]to creat reserves in U.S.coastal waters". However, the other half is that they fund others to do it for them as in California, South Carolina, Massachusetts and New York and who knows where next. Meanwhile, Pew is "absolutely transparent about our work" while fishermen are "silly", "ridiculous", under "false perceptions" and "distort what we do". Sport Fishing played right into his hand. They were out of their league, way out.
6. Pew allocated $70million to set up "umbrella" groups such as the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership to carry the ball for them. Joining that group was the peripatetic Coastal Conservation Association and the American Sportfishing Association who Pew would put out of business. What were they thinking?
Cutting to the chase -
7. The millions of fishermen and thousands of fishing associations are rarely organized and seldom focused.

[JohnR]

Flippity, Floppity, I still don't know what side of this fence I'm going to fall from.

We need better managed fisheries and science
We need better environmental controls
We need less hooks in the water from every group (yes, sucks but true).
We need less destructive commercial fishing.
We need better top to bottom management of the whole entire enchilada

We are very disorganized and spend more time battling each other than those trying take away our fisheries.
We are sitting ducks unless we do something about it but there has never been a unifying voice for saltwater recs up and down both coasts.
We don't have enough "We" where it counts.