While it is troubling that two local draggers cooperatively ran down and shot the buoys of another fisherman; there is a deeper issue here, and that is the profound lack of respect Kodiak draggers have for other fishermen and by extension, the resources we all depend upon for our livelihoods.
'Talk's cheap' and its corollary 'actions speak louder than words," are perfectly illustrated by this willfull destruction of another fisherman's property. All the well tuned phrases about advocating for fishermen to work together to assure their economic survival seems to have gone overboard since the draggers are now fairly certain of their share of the Gulf of Alaska fisheries resources through sector splits and the 'tools' they hope to secure through NPFMC action beginning in October. Now that their slice of the fish pie is assured, and apparently the 'restructured' observer program will not increase the coverage of this the dirtiest and most destructive gear type or put an end to the rampant cheating on bycatch, high grading, PSC overages, and waste by the dragger fleet; draggers now feel they can maliciously and brazenly destroy others' property and livelihoods. Actions do speak louder than words.
At the Council meeting in Anchorage, we will hear the arguments, the assurances, the promises, the 'boot strap' statistics, and the good and righteous testimony by the advocates of economic growth and stability, all couched in such earnest and heartfelt words, while on the fishing grounds, far from the prying eyes of neutral witnesses, the drag fleet will pursue their destructive behaviors against the resources and now, apparently, other people's gear.
The only assurance that will protect Gulf of Alaska fisheries resources is 24/7 observation of Kodiak's drag fleet. Nothing less will do, especially when the Council is now going to give the resource to them, lock, stock and smoking barrel. Add this latest witnessed behavior to a long and tired litany of abuses by the drag fleet, and you have the inevitable destruction of our livelihoods, which the Council steadfastly refuses to recognize.
Pay to play. Either afford the 24/7 observer coverage on the draggers which we need to be assured that compliance to law, reason, and civilized behavior are followed, or turn that destructive gear type into one which has healthier long term consequences. Anything less spells the end of us who depend upon the health of the oceans.
Keep yer head down and yer flippers wet.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
BINGO!!!
There is no other way.
two seasons ago the drag fleet fishing shelikof pollack gunned down three of our pots that were in the vicinity of there path of travel. I actually found a .22 cal bullet in one of our bouys to confirm our suspition. This sort of disrespect has gone on to long and we refuse to stoop to these levels of childish behavor.
A person paid to be an observer wanting even more observer coverage? Conflict of interest? Since the disrespect in the fisheries is so rampant, and by the way, the cheating crosses all the fisheries (not just trawlers), then I advocate 100% observer coverage on ALL types of commercial fishing to ensure that there is no waste. One lapse in judgement on the part of one crew member does not make the entire trawling fleet dirty.
There are observers and observers, some paid and some just watch. Pull yer head out.
Well in canada they use cameras, cameras dont care if they lose their job because they reported too much bycatch. The observer program is just as corrupted as the npfmc.....
If the pot fisherman took cash from the vessel who shot at their buoys, as an "among fishermen" means of settling the matter, it raises a legal question, or two. Wasn't shooting at buoys a federal crime? Wasn't taking cash to let the crooks get away with it then an illegal cover-up of a federal crime? By what right does the buoy owner whose property was destroyed while engaging in a federal fishery gain the legal capacity to not report the crime? Is that aiding and abetting? Is it interference with the evidence of a crime? Or is it simply another reminder of the cowardice of fishermen to take personal responsibility for laws governing our fisheries?
It would depend entirely upon the discretion of the US Attorney. Could be seen simply as an out of court settlement. Fact that the Alaska State Troopers either heard the exchange and ignored it and/or the USCG overheard the exchange and did not take action makes it likely that they would like to let sleeping dogs lie. It does not inspire confidence in the law enforcement types.
all you guys are so jealous of the trawl fleets ability to stick together and get their own catch share plans enacted, and keep fishing thru the last of November into Oct. with 100 PERCENT observer coverage... going on RIGHT NOW>> OMG,, no one comments on that?? why not.. you only like to get all fired up at negative things, and NEVER notice positive changes that are being tried by the trawlers. I laugh when I read all your comments..your blinded by your rage.
"all you guys'"
You see, the whole problem revolves around the secrecy under which the trawlers operate. Secret meetings, secret fishing, secret destruction of other's gear, secret agreements.
Openness would expose the smell infesting your operations and the air could be cleared. Those operators who do fish relatively cleanly could be clear of accusations. The dirt bags could be removed, culled, from the fleet.
Was 09:39 suggesting that good fishermen were jealous they could not blatantly break the law and get away with millions? Jealous of oxycodon abuse? Jealous of drag fags nailing observers aboard for meager price of getting high? Jealous of missing teeth from methamphetamine use? Or what.
I think the word you were looking for was not jealous but disgusted.
Post a Comment