Just in - ASMFC votes on SB comm increase

[JohnR]

I just got the message in from Basic Patrick - ASMFC has voted NOT to increase commercial quota. This is good (or more acurartely not bad).

Oddly - RI voted for increase even though it was 92.5 percent no increase - 7.5 percent increase.

Mass voted against increase - more later

thanks to Patrick on the news (and work)

Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[BigFish]

Please....let us know how the majority overwhelmingly votes no increase in RI and yet it goes through???

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by JohnR

I just got the message in from Basic Patrick - ASMFC has voted NOT to increase commercial quota. This is good (or more acurartely not bad).

Oddly - RI voted for increase even though it was 92.5 percent no increase - 7.5% increase.

Mass voted against increase - more later

thanks to Patrick on the news (and work)

Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Sorry John that doesn't make sense. What does "RI voted for increase even though it was 92.5 percent no increase - 7.5% increase." mean?

[Jackbass]

The Representative on the board obviously thinks he knows more than the public. Maybe the Rep does however if it were me in that position and it were a status quo issue not a decrease. I would think I would vote with the masses. IMHO

[Swimmer]

Huh?

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by JohnR

I just got the message in from Basic Patrick - ASMFC has voted NOT to increase commercial quota. This is good (or more acurartely not bad).

Oddly - RI voted for increase even though it was 92.5 percent no increase - 7.5% increase.

Mass voted against increase - more later

thanks to Patrick on the news (and work)

Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

John, did you text this while driving?

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

John, did you text this while driving?

Never driving but typing on phone

in RI - 92.5 % wanted status quo - 7.5 % wanted commeridal increase - RI rep voted for increase
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Never driving but typing on phone

in RI - 92.5 % wanted status quo - 7.5 % wanted commeridal increase - RI rep voted for increase
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I bet its based on the economy. RI is hit hard, if approved would allow for some extra $ for comms. Short sighted but I bets thats why.

[Redsoxticket]

I interpret it as 7.5% of the total votes favored an increase. If each vote was equally weighted it appears that there were 40 votes casted of which three wanted a increase.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[inTHERAPY]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Never driving but typing on phone

in RI - 92.5 % wanted status quo - 7.5 % wanted commeridal increase - RI rep voted for increase
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I sorry I do not have the email reply to reference but, as clarified by Steve Medeiros, pres. RISAA, when I asked him why RI was in favor of the increase (ammendment ii to article 6) there was more to the story than just in favor or not.
even I'm confused reading what I just wrote

[RIJIMMY]

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and their meeting this morning, voted NO to the proposal to increase the coastal commercial quota of striped bass.

Of the Northeast states, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Maine voted NO to the proposed increase. Sorry to report, that New York and Rhode Island voted YES to the increase.

The final vote was 6 in favor, 9 opposed.

Complete information on the meeting will be posted as it is made available to the public at a later date.

[BigFish]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Never driving but typing on phone

in RI - 92.5 % wanted status quo - 7.5 % wanted commeridal increase - RI rep voted for increase
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

And you wonder why I don't bother folks???? Think what you want......it doesn't matter what the masses want or vote for.....the elected "Screw Ups" (for lack of the ability to post a 4 letter word here) vote what ever they want regardless!!!!!

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by BigFish

And you wonder why I don't bother folks???? Think what you want......it doesn't matter what the masses want or vote for.....the elected "Screw Ups" (for lack of the ability to post a 4 letter word here) vote what ever they want regardless!!!!!

Oust Augustine in NY that would help out. The vote to bring the Addendum to public comment was obviously in favor so somebody changed their mind due to public comment.

[BigFish]

I love how they dangle the opportunity for folks to vote and make it appear as though we might actually have a say in what goes on in this country and then some Politician takes the democracy and tosses it out the window and does just exactly as he likes!!!! Its beyond me how this is allowed to happen but there needs to be some serious changes in the system!!!!

[Jackbass]

That is a conversation I try to avoid because I go on for hours. I am from Mass, we poke ourselves in the eye every election day and forgot how much it hurt the last time.

[BigFish]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

That is a conversation I try to avoid because I go on for hours. I am from Mass, we poke ourselves in the eye every election day and forgot how much it hurt the last time.

Ain't that the truth JB....thats funny!

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

That is a conversation I try to avoid because I go on for hours. I am from Mass, we poke ourselves in the eye every election day and forgot how much it hurt the last time.

I'm from Mass but live in RI now. We double dog dare you to let us poke you in the eye every election year.

[Jackbass]

This is great news though and I am glad they voted for the Quota to remain status quo.

[BasicPatrick]

ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board Report

On Tuesday November 9 2010 I attended the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Management Board meeting held in Charleston South Carolina. The Board was scheduled to take action (discuss and vote) on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 6 of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Plan. Addendum II was scheduled for action because the mandatory public comment period that consists of both hearings and the opportunity for submission of correspondence had ended.

There were two main issues in the draft or proposed regulation. Issue number 1 was a proposal to increase the commercial quota of Striped Bass. There was a presentation by the Striped Bass Technical Committee (TC) which is the group of scientists that gather, analyze and advise the ASMFC regarding Striped Bass. There was also a presentation by the Striped Bass Advisory Panel (AP) which met in Rhode Island and voted against the increase but was split on the issue according to the community (recreational or commercial) that the individual members represented. It is important to note that there are openings on the Striped Bass AP including two seats from MA.

The ASMFC discussion boiled down to a few key opinions. Proponents of the increase felt that over many years as the recreational catch has increased dramatically the commercial catch has not and this inequity should be corrected. Supporters also acknowledge there is likely to be some bad news about the stock coming in the near future but felt that the current science clearly allows for an increase in catch that will not adversely effect the stock. By far the loudest commissioner that actually fought very hard for the increase were Commissioners Pat Augustine of NY and Dr. Michelle Duval of NC.

Opponents referred to overwhelming pubic opinion against the proposed increase and took turns citing well known concerns about poaching, myobacteriosis, truncating range, and poor young of year index data that are all currently being studied and in the near future are likely to result in a need for an overall mortality reduction or cutback.

There was much discussion about fisheries managers not being representatives and not having to follow the popular opinion but rather being managers and that following science is their charge. Of course, as is always the case these days, there was conflicting science and a great need for more science, thus following science is not quite as clear as one might hope or expect.

There were a series of motions and votes that attempted to set a commercial increase at various percentages or contained language to set in stone that if bad news comes in the future the commercial quota will be reduced. Each and every one of these motions resulted in the exact same vote or 5-10-0 and the votes were cast as follows: ME-no NH-no MA-no RI-yes CT-no NY-yes NJ-no DE-yes MD-no PA-no VA-yes NC-yes Potomac Region Fisheries Council-yes District of Columbia-absent National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-no US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)-no

The vote to maintain status quo had some voters change their votes (this is usually the case) and passed 11-1-1. To be accurate in reporting, the vote to maintain status quo went as follows: ME-yes NH-yes MA-yes RI-no CT-yes NY-no NJ-yes DE-no MD-yes PA-yes VA-yes NC-yes Potomac Region Fisheries Council-abstain District of Columbia-absent National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-yes US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)-yes

I feel the need to report that there were two state whose votes caught me by surprise. Maryland broke from the mid Atlantic block of states voting for the increase and voted against the increase was one of these and the other is Rhode Island whose support for the increase in commercial quota continues to baffle me.

Issue number two which was a proposal by the Striped Bass Technical Committee to make an adjustment to the way certain data is analyzed and makes the data more standard passed unanimously.


Capt. Patrick Paquette
Recreational Fishing Community Advocate
Massachusetts Striped Bass Association; Gov't Affairs Officer
MA Beach Buggy Association; Vice President Elect
Recreational Fishing Alliance; Acting MA State Chair

[inTHERAPY]

RI DEM Director Sullivan supported the commercial increase and expressed that view to Rhode Island's three commissioners which likely had an effect on the state's vote. Bob Ballou cast the vote for RI.

I hear it all the time in my shop from the comms. that it doesn't matter what you want or say, the meeting is just the horse and pony show because they have to have them. As evident in this case, the letters, e-mails, and meetings meant NOTHING!

thanks RI

[MikeToole]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Never driving but typing on phone

in RI - 92.5 % wanted status quo - 7.5 % wanted commeridal increase - RI rep voted for increase

Problem is that 92.5% represents only 37 people. Out of the whole state of RI only 37 people took the time to come out to the hearing or send a letter against the increase. Not much of a mandate from the public.