Chico
01-08-2010, 06:34 PM
I got this email from Cat. Monty Hawkins or Morningstar Fishing in Maryland:
The Science & Statistical and Joint Monitoring Committees met today via 'webinar'.
After several hours of evidence from the Joint Monitoring Committee and several more hours of debate by the Science and Statistical Committee, it was decided to recommend a large black sea bass quota increase to NOAA's Regional Administrator, Pat Kurkel.
It is possible that we will regain some of our sea bass season - pending action by Ms. Kurkel.
The exact quota recommended is unknown at this time. Further off still are any adjustments to our season.
My thanks to all who lobbied on fishers behalf, who wrote letters crying injustice, who would not let data-poor fisheries science destroy the last vestiges of saltwater recreational fishing's partyboat roots. My sincerest thanks to all in the fisheries community that risked perhaps even their careers to help make this day possible.
Last year's sea bass season was stolen - first by the size limit increase, then by 'emergency shutdown' when a discredited & now discontinued catch estimating system, MRFSS, calculated northern states had caught the whole coast's quota.. Perhaps I now know what a prisoner feels like on hearing that he has been exonerated by DNA evidence - but hasn't yet heard the judge's decision.
My sense is we'll still be under house arrest - that we won't get all our sea bass season back.
The Science & Statistical and Joint Monitoring Committees met today via 'webinar'.
After several hours of evidence from the Joint Monitoring Committee and several more hours of debate by the Science and Statistical Committee, it was decided to recommend a large black sea bass quota increase to NOAA's Regional Administrator, Pat Kurkel.
It is possible that we will regain some of our sea bass season - pending action by Ms. Kurkel.
The exact quota recommended is unknown at this time. Further off still are any adjustments to our season.
My thanks to all who lobbied on fishers behalf, who wrote letters crying injustice, who would not let data-poor fisheries science destroy the last vestiges of saltwater recreational fishing's partyboat roots. My sincerest thanks to all in the fisheries community that risked perhaps even their careers to help make this day possible.
Last year's sea bass season was stolen - first by the size limit increase, then by 'emergency shutdown' when a discredited & now discontinued catch estimating system, MRFSS, calculated northern states had caught the whole coast's quota.. Perhaps I now know what a prisoner feels like on hearing that he has been exonerated by DNA evidence - but hasn't yet heard the judge's decision.
My sense is we'll still be under house arrest - that we won't get all our sea bass season back.