Originally Posted by dakota560
Didn't wait for the feds to call me, I called them. They have my material and quite frankly could care less. In '19 and '20, I had probably a dozen calls with high level people and arguably 40 - 50 email exchanges with the Commission, Council, North East Science Center "NESC" Woods Hole, Technical Committee and Advisory Panel Members including the lead scientist overseeing this fishery. Names aren't important but state representatives were included from every state in the Mid-Atlantic and the highest ranking Members of Marine Fisheries, the Commission and Council were included in all correspondence. End result is it all falls on deaf ears.
Our problem as a sector is we have no voice. Recreational is fragmented, not organized, and no funding or true lobbying effort. It takes money, commitment, resources for change to happen. Many don't know the commercial sector over the years has successfully sued the federal government regarding increased quotas. If your interested in a good read, search for "The Summer Flounder Chronicles: Science, Politics and Litigation 1975 - 2000 written by Mark Terceiro, lead scientist at NMFS, NESC.
If we're hanging our hats on MSA and MRIP reform, I think we're going to be disappointed in what the future holds. If MSA and subsequent reauthorizations haven't helped in almost 50 years, I'm not holding out hope they will in the near future. Also don't believe Washington will allow their multi-million investment in MRIP go by the wayside. I do however believe there's potential room arguing NMFS and the Commerce Department are in violation of MSA National Standards 4 – “Allocations” as well as FMP 9.2.1.4 (A), (B) and (C) “regarding non-discriminatory measures between fisherman of all states”, “fair and equitable allocation of the resources” “carried out in such a manner not to prejudice any individual, corporation or other entity acquiring excessive shares of such privileges”.
Problem we have starting that fight, funding. My opinion, the parties benefiting from recreational spend should be approached to fund such a campaign. Bait and tackle industry, rod and reel manufacturers, boat dealers or manufacturers etc. Sycamore Partners who owns Pure Fishing who owns Berkley should fund the initiative alone based on the profits they make in one year from Gulp. If they refuse, don't use their product and I'm sure we'd have their attention. If the recreational sector can't figure out a way to organize as commercial has and litigate current legislation on the books to get our fair share of the resource, than I'm afraid we're destined to the same fate of getting the proverbial short end of the stick from here on out. Don't mean to be the wet blanket in all this or throw in the towel but we're David fighting Goliath and we don't even have the benefit of a sling shot this time around.
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