Where's The Support?

[Leif]

Points taken on both sides. Not productive though. Let's focus on the issue...

Protect the ability to continue to fish recreationally and run successful businesses associated with the fisheries in question while maintaining a sustainable fishery.

What can we do to help that is the question.

Give us a list of what we can do to help this effort.


Leif

[CaptTB]

screwed up post....see below

[CaptTB]

Originally Posted by Leif

What can we do to help that is the question.

Give us a list of what we can do to help this effort.


Leif

In the very short term, support the RFA, United Boatmen, MTA, etc. in their lawsuit against the closure and on the larger front what it represents to ALL fishermen, not just those who fish for Sea Bass.

In the longer term, prepare for the massive battle that must take place in D.C.

Without a fundamental change in the MSA we are finished. If we cannot successfully show our Congressmen and Senators the disaster that is the re-authorized Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Catastrophe that disaster will become if the issues aren't dealt with (specifically the rigid re-building time-frames from the SFA, the unprecedented authority without oversight of the SSC and the ACLs and AMs from the recent re-authorization) then we
are truly screwed.

Closer to home, the support of (are you listening Anthony?) ALL the groups from NJ as well as our state legislators sending their support of our cause to D.C. and our FEDERAL Legislators, since THEY are the ones who currently hold our collective fates in their hands.

[CaptTB]

I'd like to add something:

While "unity" is a word that has been tossed around a lot, and quite a lot lately, there is one thing I have seen before, many many times before, and am seeing again already.

Groups taking "other approaches" to dealing with the same problem.

THAT my friends is NOT unity!

What is, however, is groups SUPPORTING the "other approaches" of those fighting a given battle. No one said there was only one way to skin this cat, but when EACH GROUP takes their own path WITHOUT supporting others fighting the same fight it is more of the SAME OLD SAME OLD we have seen for years in recreational fisheries.

If different groups have different spheres of influence or different areas of expertise then lets SUPPORT THE ACTIONS of those groups while SIMULTANEOUSLY working in our own way to achieve the same goal!!

To say "we are taking a different approach" may mean you or he or she is working on the issue, but not in a UNIFIED WAY!

Work on the problem as you see fit and in a way you think YOU can best deal with the issue at hand. But, why do that WITHOUT supporting others working on the same issue?

I never questioned anyone's approach to dealing with this issue since to date, no one else has even offered a "different approach" to dealing with it! What I DID DO is question the LACK of support from others of those already fighting this fight and the efforts they are making, the measures they have already taken.

Together we stand, divided we FAIL.

Enough said.

[Got Em On]

Donation to RFA Seabass Fund sent yesterday. Hope others follow suit.