MENHADEN ADVISORY PANEL MEETING

[RIJIMMY]

Guys - I never chime in on these threads because Im one of the folks Clammer is reffering to. What I dont know is, what is my argument on this? Would I stand up and say -
"Im a guy who fishes a few times a week, likes to live line bunker and hates searching all over the bay for them"
So what? Is that an argument against guys trying to earn a living? i would think the argument would be that taking the bunker is hurting the bass population, but I cant say that it is.
nothing make my fishing days happier and more productive than a billion bunker loaded in wickford harbor, but I have a hard time arguing in my favor.

[afterhours]

where are all the peanuts? been three years since i've seen a decent amount... as long as there's one pogey left i'm sure that arc will be trying to net it. just being there to show support for the pogeys is a great help, we're not all orators. personally i don't use bait at all, but i've noticed a direct coralation between pogey stocks and the condition of our fisheries. remember the pogey stocks of the 70's? acres upon acres....

[zacs]

one thing I never understood, if you don't get up and speak your piece, how does anyone that matters know who or what you are supporting. I never understood the "just go to show support."

And I saw more peanuts all late summer and early fall in New Bedford. Way up to 195. My office was right on the water and it was insane watching them all day. so thick you could walk on them. hadn't seen something like that in RI in several years... there for weeks.

[afterhours]

zac...i guess all is well with the peanuts, they just moved to new bedford. i'm glad people who attended civil right rallies and anti war rallies did'nt have your mindset- i believe most attended to show support.

[zacs]

Originally Posted by afterhours

zac...i guess all is well with the peanuts, they just moved to new bedford. i'm glad people who attended civil right rallies and anti war rallies did'nt have your mindset- i believe most attended to show support.

don, you misunderstood my point. (both of them actually)

At a meeting like this, you can attend to show support for either side, right? so... how does the advisory panel know you are there to support decreased menhaden take in the bay vs. a comm guy there to support increased take in the bay??

Or is it just Ark against everyone else, and anyone there is assumed against the take of pogies in the bay?

I am not against going to the meetings, I just never understood how they judge the "attendance" off the meeting if those in attendance don't speak up...

and my point was about how there were a complete lack of peanuts in the bay (where the pogie boats have been vacuuming out adult pogies every summer for the last three years), but in other areas in MA where they are not completely raping the resource there is an abundance of peanunts.......

[Clammer]

Zac,

@ the initial meetings / there is a sign in sheet ; which is open to everyone .
& anyone who chooses to speak has a opportunity ;

I believe you may not sign in at this meeting but you can voice you opinion ;;

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by zacs

one thing I never understood, if you don't get up and speak your piece, how does anyone that matters know who or what you are supporting. I never understood the "just go to show support."

It's like people that don't vote and then try to complain to me about the government. I tell them, if you won't make the effort when your opinion counts (whether I agree with it or not) then you're not allowed an opinion at all.

I can't go, so I'll send an email and try to make a phone call.

[afterhours]

this meeting was to review both arc's and the club federations proposals for the purpose of determining which if any proposals would be brought to the fisheries council meeting on feb. 22.

random observations.

nobody can agree where the menhaden actually spawn. some say the bay, others say the open ocean. this is a biggie.

arc bait being a small private entity sure has a lot of influence. they seem to be in a postion to play give and take with the state?????

a few members of the advicsory council cared only about how many menhaden they could kill per day if certain restrictions were approved. and arc seemed to be angling toward a monopoly. seemed like many at the main table were only concerned about what they could harvest...not the well being of the stock.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by afterhours

a few members of the advicsory council cared only about how many menhaden they could kill per day if certain restrictions were approved. and arc seemed to be angling toward a monopoly. seemed like many at the main table were only concerned about what they could harvest...not the well being of the stock.

For a surprising amount of people, that is all that counts. How many can we take.

I don't think economically sustainable fishery and a healthy fishery are one of the same.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by afterhours

nobody can agree where the menhaden actually spawn. some say the bay, others say the open ocean. this is a biggie.
.

As I said on the other site, this is a no brainer. Just ask the scientists. The life cycle of the menhaden is well known and fully documented. Just go to the ASMFC website.

[afterhours]

some scientists say they spawn in the ocean and the larve drifts into bays and they work their way up toward brackish water to beef up then drop out in the fall. others claim they they also spawn in the bays and estuaries.

some of us caught back then, granted the bass were way off because of over harvest but we had blues and giant squeteaque.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by afterhours

where are all the peanuts? been three years since i've seen a decent amount... as long as there's one pogey left i'm sure that arc will be trying to net it. just being there to show support for the pogeys is a great help, we're not all orators. personally i don't use bait at all, but i've noticed a direct coralation between pogey stocks and the condition of our fisheries. remember the pogey stocks of the 70's? acres upon acres....

Yeah, and remember the striped bass fishing in the 70s? Nada, that's when the limits went to 36 inches and some states had moratoriums. I wouldn't use that argument.