Last Chance Before they Take Away Our Freedom AGAIN!!

[Lido-Gambler]

Comment period extended to 10/31

The Gambler is vehemently opposed to the idea of further speed restrictions on the Atlantic because of the extremely slight chance of striking a right whale. In this day and age I guess whales are more important than people and their livelihoods.

After years of dictating where and when we can sail to provide entertainment for our customers through fisheries management, they are now in the process of creating rules to govern how fast we can go at sea. NOAA is engaged in an all new and fresh “Save the Whales” initiative, which in their own words, and according to their own data would cause a 25.6% loss in revenues for passenger carrying vessels, with no plan to compensate any effected business for an estimated 46 million dollars in losses. These losses will devastate local business, not to mention slow the delivery of cargo and commercial goods into our ports.

We ask that you assist us in providing public comment and feedback to NOAA before the September 30th deadline.

To leave a public comment they make it much harder to access. You must go this page https://www.regulations.gov/and search for NOAA-NMFS-2022-0022

Once located scroll down to the proposed rule.

Chris

Gerry here. I wanted to provide a update

Here is a direct link to submit comments https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2022-0022-0005 they are due by 9/30

The people I know that are close to this think this is going to get pushed through and will happen. Two things we can do when we write comments is to suggest that they
1) Extend their decision
2) Separate recreational fishing vessels from commercial shipping boats since recreational boats are more maneuverable and can avoid strikes. Recreation rules should be something sensible along the lines of a 25 knot daytime speed limit from sunrise to sunset, must have a look out standing by with operator. Sunset to daybreak it goes back to 10 knots.

[Capt. Debbie]

The rule is ludicrous. But how are they going to enforce it?

[hammer4reel]

The rule is ludicrous. But how are they going to enforce it?


Current administration will hire another 69000 agents and buy 11,500 boats to patrol around the clock .
.
Or demand every boat is fitted with AIS .


32-34’ boats going to be triple in price .

.

[bulletbob]

I have no numbers in front of me, I am NOT an expert or even learned in this area, but I would bet money, a lot of it, on the assumption that for every Right Whale, [or any other large whale] that is killed by a "speeding boat" 100 or MORE are killed by entanglement in commercial fishing gear.. THAT is what kills sea life of all kinds... Want to reduce whale mortality??. Get rid of the damn nets, thats where the death resides.... bob

[togzilla]

I have no numbers in front of me, I am NOT an expert or even learned in this area, but I would bet money, a lot of it, on the assumption that for every Right Whale, [or any other large whale] that is killed by a "speeding boat" 100 or MORE are killed by entanglement in commercial fishing gear.. THAT is what kills sea life of all kinds... Want to reduce whale mortality??. Get rid of the damn nets, thats where the death resides.... bob

Spot On!!!!! But this is not about facts or science, this is about money and politics. Commercial guys have the money to buy the politicians off from the ultimate intent of govt. control and to get rid of the recreational fisherman. If they mandate AIS then they won't even need boats to enforce the laws and will be able to track every boat from the internet and mail out fines from a cushy desk.
From a previous post, the link below provides assumed Right Whale deaths but any of the deaths from unknown reasons I'm willing to bet is from entanglement in commercial nets. Doesn't matter because this is not about common sense or saving the right whales.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/2017-2022-north-atlantic-right-whale-unusual-mortality-event

[Meat Hunter]

It has nothing to do with whales. Period. Wake up!!! Each Blue State Governor appoints to the NMFS. Even PA. It's about getting rid of recreational boating, just look what's going down in California.

It's the Governors that need the pressure put on them.


Meat Hunter

[Keyport Sea Hawk]

It has nothing to do with whales. Period. Wake up!!! Each Blue State Governor appoints to the NMFS. Even PA. It's about getting rid of recreational boating, just look what's going down in California.

It's the Governors that need the pressure put on them.


Meat Hunter

well spoken

[togzilla]

The Gambler is vehemently opposed to the idea of further speed restrictions on the Atlantic because of the extremely slight chance of striking a right whale. In this day and age I guess whales are more important than people and their livelihoods.

After years of dictating where and when we can sail to provide entertainment for our customers through fisheries management, they are now in the process of creating rules to govern how fast we can go at sea. NOAA is engaged in an all new and fresh “Save the Whales” initiative, which in their own words, and according to their own data would cause a 25.6% loss in revenues for passenger carrying vessels, with no plan to compensate any effected business for an estimated 46 million dollars in losses. These losses will devastate local business, not to mention slow the delivery of cargo and commercial goods into our ports.

We ask that you assist us in providing public comment and feedback to NOAA before the September 30th deadline.

To leave a public comment they make it much harder to access. You must go this page https://www.regulations.gov/and search for NOAA-NMFS-2022-0022

Once located scroll down to the proposed rule.

Chris

I submitted a comment on NOAA but let's see if they post it on their website. Currently being reviewed but I would be surprised if they posted it as it is not politically correct

[Bluefish]

how many boats/ships of any size have hit whales in the area between ;sandy hook to Cape May and Rockaway Jetty To Montauk Point , I dont recall reading about any.

[Skolmann]

First 5 comments I read were all in favor of this (stopped after that). Unfrocking believable.

[AndyS]

Don't look now, Omega Protein fleet currently off Wildwood NJ and making way North. They emptied out the Chesapeake of Menhaden so now to deplete New Jerseys waters and export the profits to Canada.

[Lido-Gambler]

Bump- The speed will be tracked through AIS. Automatic Identification System which many larger vessels are required to use.

Please comment. CL

[Gerry Zagorski]

First 5 comments I read were all in favor of this (stopped after that). Unfrocking believable.

Yes and seems to me that the people in favor of this rule are much more organized and vocal.

If people want to express their opinions, we need to do it before 9/30 and the clock is ticking.....

https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2022-0022-0005

[Jigman13]

Comment submitted. This is horse crap...

[shrimpman steve]

I have been on a boat (35) Viking when we hit a whale. Don’t know what kind and don’t know if we injured it but it did bend the prop shaft.

I’m not saying I agree with another rule law or regulations. But it does happen. Thank goodness not often.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Time to be blunt here and state what I hope is very obvious. When is the last time you or anyone you know of were on 35+ foot boat out fishing and hit a whale?

Yes, there are more whales in our area now but we have more deer too. Do you want the government telling you they need to lower speed limits for cars now too?

No difference here and it's a slippery slope when government over site interferes with common sense.

Besides, aren't their more important issues the government should be dealing with??

[Chrisper4694]

any time the government or any entity of them tries to make a new mandate or law or tries to increase it's control or power in even the smallest margin, the rule of thumb is to oppose it...EVERY TIME. If you haven't learned that, by now, as an adult, there is no helping you.

[shrimpman steve]

any time the government or any entity of them tries to make a new mandate or law or tries to increase it's control or power in even the smallest margin, the rule of thumb is to oppose it...EVERY TIME. If you haven't learned that, by now, as an adult, there is no helping you.

I could not agree more

[Gerry Zagorski]

More on this from the RFA https://joinrfa.org/action-alert-10-knot-restrictions-threaten-your-freedom-to-fish-entire-marine-industry/

[TomKaye]

Yes and seems to me that the people in favor of this rule are much more organized and vocal.

If people want to express their opinions, we need to do it before 9/30 and the clock is ticking.....

https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2022-0022-0005

Have commented to NOAA as well as written to my rep in Congress.
Could not agree more with comments from many on here, especially Chris and Shrimpman above.
Rather than bee-otching on internet forums, I hope many more will write to NOAA as well as Congress.
Our heirs demand we speak out. Thanks.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Have commented to NOAA as well as written to my rep in Congress.
Could not agree more with comments from many on here, especially Chris and Shrimpman above.
Rather than bee-otching on internet forums, I hope many more will write to NOAA as well as Congress.
Our heirs demand we speak out. Thanks.

Yes sir Tom..... This could be one of the most far reaching and detrimental changes not only for us recreational fishermen but to entire maritime industry!

I can't even imagine how it got this far :mad:

[tautog]

I have to believe that most whale mortality from ship strikes has to be from larger vessels.

[CaptMarc]

Hope the map they are showing is correct. I thought they wanted it to extend out to 75 miles. Trips are going to half the day travelling to fishing spots and less time to fish. 8 hour trips are now 4 hours to travel and 4 hours to fish.

[Gumada]

Interesting development, they are getting ready to approve wind turbines 25 miles off the coast of Ocean City. They will need to blast the ocean floor and drive piles for many months. Then plow a trench from the winD turbines to the Ocean City connection hub. Somehow with all the seismic surveying, blasting and driving piles it won’t will affect a plethora of marine life. Guess the whales will BE safe....NOT . follow the money !

[Gumada]

It’s like I read their minds, looks like BPU cut them in. NOAA sounds like they are willing to lose a few whales to better the environment....


We released a joint strategy with NOAA Fisheries Service to protect and promote the recovery of North Atlantic right whales while responsibly developing offshore wind energy. Details: http://ow.ly/qwwu50LhXa8

We’re seeking open and honest feedback on this strategy. You can submit comments until December 4, 2022. Visit http://ow.ly/kK3b50LhXa7 for information on how to comment.

The draft strategy provides a clear path forward to expand existing efforts to understand, mitigate, and monitor potential impacts. Additionally, the draft strategy provides a long-term approach to adaptive management by integrating new information as it becomes available.

The draft strategy also identifies how we will work with NOAA Fisheries to improve the necessary science, information, and traditional knowledge to develop offshore wind while protecting biodiversity and promoting ocean co-use.

Our work with NOAA allows us to leverage the resources and expertise to collect information to inform our future decisions.

[TomKaye]

Anybody else get an e-mail recently from RFA with a form letter urging one
to send it on to their congressman on this issue ??

I got the RFA form letter yesterday and sent it on to my congress rep AGAIN !
I hope someone reads it in DC.
What a BS proposal this is .
I remember reading or hearing a news blurb somewhere that there have been
only four (4) right whale strikes off the East Coast from MA to FL in the last 2-3 years !!
Is that correct ?? Where can I verify that ?
WTF are these bureaucrats doing in Washington ??
What are these "progressives" smoking ?
Don't they realize the economic catastrophe they will cause if this goes thru ?
God Help Us.

[AndyS]

Interesting development, they are getting ready to approve wind turbines 25 miles off the coast of Ocean City. They will need to blast the ocean floor and drive piles for many months. Then plow a trench from the winD turbines to the Ocean City connection hub. Somehow with all the seismic surveying, blasting and driving piles it won’t will affect a plethora of marine life. Guess the whales will BE safe....NOT . follow the money !

EXACTLY !!

[Capt Sal]

Do you think we need a new ADMINISTRATION FROM TOP TO BOTTOM?

[NoLimit]

Its amazing that people are complaining "This Makes no Sense" , "Doesnt the Govt realize what they are doing?", etc. What many do not understand is that it makes perfect sense....if the govt wants to destroy the fabric of American society. The new program is for everyone to eat out of a box from the Box store. We will all be renters, and relying on mass transit. You will schedule medical appointments 3 mos in advance, eat bugs, and like it while you watch latest drag queen in church. So forget about the Individual who works hard all week to spend a weekend filling the freezer - or does their own home improvements or works on their own car to save money. These will be things of the past.

[bulletbob]

Its amazing that people are complaining "This Makes no Sense" , "Doesnt the Govt realize what they are doing?", etc. What many do not understand is that it makes perfect sense....if the govt wants to destroy the fabric of American society. The new program is for everyone to eat out of a box from the Box store. We will all be renters, and relying on mass transit. You will schedule medical appointments 3 mos in advance, eat bugs, and like it while you watch latest drag queen in church. So forget about the Individual who works hard all week to spend a weekend filling the freezer - or does their own home improvements or works on their own car to save money. These will be things of the past.

This IS the government our fellow citizens demanded.
We simply got what we asked for.. Just look at Venezuela.
They demanded tyranny, and simply got exactly what they voted for.
No difference here in the states.. You and I may not want tyranny, but lets face facts, the majority of our fellow citizens are demanding it.. Its the fault of NO one, except the citizenry of the US.

[Gerry Zagorski]

This is Government Oversight and Special Interest Groups and exactly what you get when the 2 are forces are combined and it's a very slippery slope!

NOAA has a 7 BILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL BUDGET they want to keep. I don't know about the rest of you but that sounds like a lot to me. I guess with all that money they look for things to focus on to keep that funding going. Don't we have more important problems our government should be working on? 10 years ago whales were hardly ever spotted in our waters. Now there are so many, we have a bunch of thriving whale watching tour businesses all up and down the NE coast. Even Sea Streak here in NJ has whale watching tours.

Google "Save the Whales" and you'll see all the organizations and money behind it. The search results go on forever. Do you think they have some money and influence to throw at this? They certainly do...

So what's next? I don't know the numbers but I would image 10s of thousands of deer are killed each year by cars and trucks just in the US... If all a sudden some special interest deer group gets the ear of the government are they going to want to decrease our speed limits?

This needs to be stopped in it's tracks and we all need to take a stand now!

[Meat Hunter]

This IS the government our fellow citizens demanded.
We simply got what we asked for.. Just look at Venezuela.
They demanded tyranny, and simply got exactly what they voted for.
No difference here in the states.. You and I may not want tyranny, but lets face facts, the majority of our fellow citizens are demanding it.. Its the fault of NO one, except the citizenry of the US.

You got it. It's very sad when you have to open borders to win elections. Sad. Venezuela is coming here in short order. The media only airs what supports the party. Did you ever see anything about our dollar being replaced with controls attached to it? NO! Executive order signed in March, digital dollar rolled out 3 weeks ago by New York Fed. Don't worry about whales, there's much bigger fish to fry!!!

Meat Hunter

[bulletbob]

I am soon to be 69, and look, I know that every day above ground from this point,is gravy.. Lots more days behind me, than before me.. I have seen some great times... It just makes me sad that my grandkids will live in a world where their government basically tells them what they can do, when, where, and how often..We have today what looks like a majority of US citizens DEMANDING tighter and tighter control of every aspect of life from cradle to grave..

Its just part of the human condition.

I won't get overly religious and tell you every aspect of my faith on these pages, but this example of human nature should be of interest.

God delivered the children of Israel from severe oppression and slavery, with miracle after miracle.. As soon as they had thier freedom, the first thing they did was make a golden calf to worship, instead of the God that freed them... Later on when they reached the Promised Land, they demanded a king to rule them, instead of enjoying the freedom the God gave them, and simply worshiping Him...
For whatever reason, it seems we as a species reject freedom and want to be controlled.. We have been doing it for thousands of years, and its worse now then ever.

[bulletbob]

....

[NJ219bands]

I am soon to be 69, and look, I know that every day above ground from this point,is gravy.. Lots more days behind me, than before me.. I have seen some great times... It just makes me sad that my grandkids will live in a world where their government basically tells them what they can do, when, where, and how often..We have today what looks like a majority of US citizens DEMANDING tighter and tighter control of every aspect of life from cradle to grave..

Its just part of the human condition.

I won't get overly religious and tell you every aspect of my faith on these pages, but this example of human nature should be of interest.

God delivered the children of Israel from severe oppression and slavery, with miracle after miracle.. As soon as they had thier freedom, the first thing they did was make a golden calf to worship, instead of the God that freed them... Later on when they reached the Promised Land, they demanded a king to rule them, instead of enjoying the freedom the God gave them, and simply worshiping Him...
For whatever reason, it seems we as a species reject freedom and want to be controlled.. We have been doing it for thousands of years, and its worse now then ever.
AMEN!!!

[bulletbob]

The thing that makes me the most sad, is the fact that if this passes, there will be boaters, fishermen and other "sportsmen" that will instantly get hull numbers and report and "violators" to the state Marine Police, County Marine patrols, US Coast Guard, or even municipal marine patrols, because "illegal",,
Yeah however, just because something is "the law" does not mean its right.

On these very pages I have seen guys raging against guys keeping a 17 inch fluke, perhaps that was gill hooked and bleeding badly. Drop a dime on that SOB in a second because "illegal".. Yeah might be, but that doesn't mean wasting that fish is the right thing to. As a society, we have become a huge flock of thoughtless, docile sheep..... bob

[hammer4reel]

The thing that makes me the most sad, is the fact that if this passes, there will be boaters, fishermen and other "sportsmen" that will instantly get hull numbers and report and "violators" to the state Marine Police, County Marine patrols, US Coast Guard, or even municipal marine patrols, because "illegal",,
Yeah however, just because something is "the law" does not mean its right.

On these very pages I have seen guys raging against guys keeping a 17 inch fluke, perhaps that was gill hooked and bleeding badly. Drop a dime on that SOB in a second because "illegal".. Yeah might be, but that doesn't mean wasting that fish is the right thing to. As a society, we have become a huge flock of thoughtless, docile sheep..... bob


Only way they can enforce it would be to make any boat over 35’ have to use AIS at all times .
Tickets would come from a computer .
.
One look on any marine site shows our entire area having that speed limit . So will def effect us .

[Gerry Zagorski]

A big part of the issue here is Apathy... People just give up because they think their voice doesn't matter because it won't change anything. This might not turn out the way we all want it to but I can guarantee one thing, it certainly won't go our way if we don't speak up and push back.

The good news here is there are a lot of people I know who are not into fishing and got wind of this and I feel like we have a fighting chance.

[hammer4reel]

A big part of the issue here is Apathy... People just give up because they think their voice doesn't matter because it won't change anything. This might not turn out the way we all want it to but I can guarantee one thing, it certainly won't go our way if we don't speak up and push back.

The good news here is there are a lot of people I know who are not into fishing and got wind of this and I feel like we have a fighting chance.

Comes down to guys getting off their ass and taking just a few minutes to help their causes.
Guys with smaller boats need to realize they are next .
They aren’t going to let a 27’ boat do 50 after forcing a 35’ to do 10 .

The tree huggers are having everyone they know fill out these questioners , many that don’t even live in our state .

.