The Virginian-Pilot
©
OUTER BANKS, N.C.
Two powerful environmental groups are calling on state fisheries officials to prohibit commercial trawl boats from catching striped bass - also called rockfish - until a new management plan is put in place to curb wasteful practices.
The Southern Environmental Law Center and Defenders of Wildlife sent a joint letter Thursday to North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel and Marine Fisheries Commission Chairman Robert Bizzell. The letter requests that the division and commission take action to prevent the commercial sector from discarding thousands of dead fish in a single incident, as has been documented several times off the coast of the Outer Banks since mid-January.
"These events are appalling and unacceptable and evidence failed management and regulation," the letter reads. "The excessive mortality from trawling this winter may adversely affect the continued recovery of the striped bass population."
Commercial trawling practices have been the subject of heated debate among members of the fishing community since a video was posted on YouTube showing hundreds of dead striped bass floating off the coast near Nags Head on Jan. 15. More photographs of dead fish began circulating on the Internet after a similar incident earlier this month.
Trawl boats, which drag a large net that can catch thousands of fish in one haul, have been blamed each time.
Both commercial and recreational fishermen place part of the blame on regulators, though state fisheries officials did change some rules after the Jan. 15 incident to discourage waste.
The Marine Fisheries Commission convened a public meeting yesterday in Pine Knoll Shores. The meeting continued today. On the agenda is discussion of the striped bass trawl fishery and the division's response to the controversy.
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abuse of the" Equal Access to Justice Act" It's all about money
As a lifelong recreational fisherman I an appaled by the fish kill,but I assure you that DOW & SELC involvment will only make things worse.According to Justia.com DOW has sued the Fed. Gov. more than 100 times for procedural errors or not reacting quick enough to their demands.This one will be easy money(your tax dollars).Bob Dreher,who oversees the Marine Resources section of the U.S.Dept. of Justice happens to be a former lawyer for DOW. For the truth about DOW and other groups like them, Search "Western Legacy Alliance" Equal access to justice or Wyoming lawyer Karen Budd-Falen.
Envirowackos
Here we go again...management by lawsuit. These eco-fanatics get rich by harassing honest folks trying to ply the trade of their ancestors. Pretty soon we will need a permission slip from Carter and Goodman just to breathe on the Outer Banks.
The Eco-Bozos Should Focus on Omega Protein/Menhaden
Enough focus has been laid on the OBX by those believing they have better ideas how to enjoy the resources along Carolina's coast. Find those engaging in that wasteful practice and pull their licenses for a season or two. Try not to impose additional and needless regulations upon those that ply their chosen trade responsibly. Those seeking eco-change should refocus their attention on the primary forage-food for the stripers, the menhaden of the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters. Coastal stripers summer up back waters of Va. and NC eatin' menhaden. The supposed eco-types really need to go after Omega Protein and the Va. legislature to force fisheries management over to the VMRC. On that, Va. and NC would be the winners on that eco-attack.
The striped bass should be
The striped bass should be made a game fish and all commercial fishing for it should be banned.
I'm shocked at some of these
I'm shocked at some of these charter boat captains,who have deep roots in commercial fishing.They should be siding with the trawlers and bashing DMF regulations.
I personally think this is all about self interest.Many of these captains possess a valid commercial license and would benefit from a hook and line commercial fishery.Every Tom,Dick and Harry,who knows someone with a commercial license will participate in the fishery,MARK MY WORDS!I can't believe the hypocrisy!This isn't about the resource,it's all about "ME".
If they do make a hook and line fishery legal,I hope it only applies to full time commercial fisherman.
Broken
It is obvious that the current regulations are broken, and commercial striper fishing should be suspended until they are fixed. Who out there supports a system that results in hundreds of dead fish on the beach? Get input from everyone involved.
are they lobbyist or not
Can we please make up our collective mind - is the term "strong environmental groups" a code word for LOBBYIST?
Could it be that getting information from the EXPERTS in the field is a good thing?
Good for the groups raising awareness and INFORMATION!
Trawling Is Not The Problem!
The problem is DMF regulations!A "fill it and kill it" quota would eliminate almost all of the waste associated with the trawl fishery.Why don't they address this?The season could be opened one day per week if necessary,until the quota is filled.
You full time commercial fisherman better wake up and speak up!
Well said
Fix the regulations--don't shut down a fishery.
The last thing we want is these two actors involved. They have already shut down our beaches and if they get their hooks into fishery management you won't be able to fish for drum, striper, trout or harvest scallops, clams, oysters, etc. We have been told by the environmental groups that all fish stocks are over fished and the response is more and more limits most of which result in anglers (recreational or commercial) having to throw back dead fish.
Common sense put senators
Common sense put senators and congressmen and women is office who will stand up to the these environmental nuts who file these lawsuits and make them pay. First they close the beaches now they want to close the waters to fishing. Next you wont be able to breath without their stupid permission.