Friday, January 20, 2012

NMFS Pleased With Court Ruling Re: Sealions

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"We are certainly most sympathetic to the plight of fishermen in these trying times," Alaska Fisheries Science Center Director Doug DeMaster added. "A healthy ecosystem is in the long-term interest of fishermen, who depend more than most industries on natural resources. We are looking forward to working with our partners and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to maintain healthy, robust ecosystems for the long-term economic benefit of fishers in Alaska."

Perhaps.  As a sealion, I am pleased, but the reality is that industry has too much sway over the decisions regarding the protection of the ecosystem and that threatens all of us in fishing for the long haul.  For ecosystem protection, the extreme bycatch of draggers in the GOA and elsewhere must be reined in, period.  Were it so easy to protect the resources...ha!...when the NPFMC refuses to protect those species deemed Prohibited Species like halibut, king salmon and crab.  'Best science' becomes a club to slug us over the head with when we demand protection and the draggers cry foul over not having enough good data and then drag their feet when good data collection is suggested.  Catch -22.

Keep yer flipper wet.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Observers on all boats outside 3 miles IFQ and open access. Then it will be known that observer coverage, not private ownership of the resource, is responsible for reduced discards in rationalized fisheries. Anyone who supports IFQs is just in it for the money or to exact more power in closing down the fishery. Good data helps everyone, except the cheaters and greenies.

Anonymous said...

http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/AJOC-January-22-2012/COMMENTARY-Several-factors-at-play-as-NPFMC-addresses-halibut-bycatch/

Almost believed this article myself. Then I remembered the deckloads of legal halibut shoveled over with no observer on. And the 1 hour tow made a few days later to cover it up. Wonder how many hours Mr. Burden has spent on a trawl deck?
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Anonymous said...

viva la revolution

Anonymous said...

The good news for now is that the southern Bering Sea is too frozen for the TRAWLERS, LONGLINERS, CRABBERS, CDQ INTERCEPTORS. INSTANT MORATORIUM FOR THEIR GREED. I hope this will continue for a few years & will help build back a healthy number of species they been tossing overboard or giving away to food banks and effects those that depend on healthy return of ANADROMOUS FISH for economic displaced people of Alaska residents.

Anonymous said...

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SHOOT A HOSTAGE.

Wiglaf said...

"Shooting a hostage..."
You, sir, are a fucking idiot.

Anonymous said...

Won't argue