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I know I shouldn't post this here, but this video is intentioned to make any uninformed people on this website realize in a basic sense what the allowance of this type of fishing, commercial dragging, can do to the fluke, the fishery, and the environment/local ocean ecosystem(s).

Ben

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqfC_TjEvIM

Don't understand how any person, commercial or otherwise, can justify the amount of waste and carnage to secondary species that takes place to keep a few hundred pounds of the targeted fluke. That's an absolute sin not to mention the impact it has on the ecosystem. I understand it's someone's occupation but with the devastating impact to by catch it's a wonder there's anything left swimming in the ocean.

Dakota

Damn! The tackle shops have been selling me hundreds of bucktails all these years in all the hottest colors.... and all I really needed was ONE BIG NET!!! What a shame!!:(

Thank you for posting this video. I can't agree more with the previous post from Dakota also. Thanks.

This type of "fishing" is worse than HORRIBLE! :mad: The by-catch is one thing - a subject all unto itself (horrible). But for the recreational fisherman to be handcuffed to the legal restrictions of size, number and season while this type of boat can drag 500 pounds of fluke starting at 14 inches (I believe) is ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS!

Yes, I know these people must work for a living and Yes, I know the seafood markets and restaurants around the world love our fluke and Yes, I know that the economics of 'supply and demand' dictate the harvest. But come on people - open your eyes!

If true environmentalists (you know, the people who care enough to sacrifice their personal time for the betterment of the greater good) ever went out on these boats and witnessed the madness that is commercial "fishing" then something might actually be done about it. However, it's so labor intensive, smelly and undesirable that only a select few people on the planet are willing and able to do such work. At the head of the dragon is BIG BUSINESS once again - the driving force to environmental destruction - and the little guys (recreational fisherman) are easily stepped on.

All I can say is WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY??????

Disgusting! Breaks my heart. Can you imagine how many would be around if this type of fishing was band?

So the guy is out making a living..............and you want to falt them for that?

I blame the government / fisheries management more than these guys. They make regulations very lax for them but hassle us . Then they try to say the recreational fisherman are more responsible for shortages! I don't blame these guys for making a living, the government needs to get a bit tighter on these guys and hassle the rec. fisherman less!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishingphysician

Agreed!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Cav

So the guy is out making a living..............and you want to falt them for that?

It's that attitude that creates the problem. You're opinion couldn't be any more myopic. It's like saying "A guy can make a living robbing houses, you fault him for that!" I don't think you will find a person on this board or anywhere who has a problem with someone working for a living. It's honorable, more people should try it. But we're talking about a public resource which by right should be shared by everyone. The age old problem is time and time again commercial fishing has not only decimated stocks but in certain cases have completely wiped them out. That can't be argued! In addition, look at the impact it has not just on the ecosystem but on species not targeted. How many skates were in that trawl? How many short fluke were in that trawl? Whether they went back or not is another story they were killed for what?

The issue here is a small group of businesses are exploiting the public resource at the detriment to all others. And in the process of doing so they are doing irreparable damage to an ecosystem with their equipment. If you can't see that you're blind! If commercial guys want to make a living, let them pick up a rod and reel like the rest of us but allow them to sell their catch back at the dock.

I wouldn't consider myself to be an environmentalist but to look at that video and see the amount of waste is pathetic. And anyone who doesn't feel it I feel sorry for. Can't tell you how many times I've seen acres of floating spike whiting in the mud hole over the years and now they're gone. It's nothing more than a few business who could care less about any other resource other then the species they"re targeting. And the resources they're killing belongs to all of us. It's a shame to say the least.

Tony if your house gets robbed tonight guess what "The guy was just trying to make a living!"

Dakota

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishingphysician

Don't disagree that the government is the ONLY authority who can do something about changing the laws to prevent this but the government and in this case big business are synonymous. One lines the others pockets! Again are these guys breaking the law....no. Are they for that reason entitled to do what they do...unfortunately yes. The laws need to be changed but at the same time that doesn't mean any of us have to endorse what takes place every day. It's disgusting to see such a beautiful resource destroyed the way it is. The ecosystem in our oceans is no different than anywhere else. There's a balance that has to exist. These commercial techniques obliterate that balance!

Dakota