1) The Magnuson act mandates that our government take drastic short-term measures to protect any fish stocks that are threatend. Seems like a good law right? I don't think any of us has an issue with protecting any fishery that is in serious danger.... However anyone who fishes for Fluke on a regular basis knows that the fishery is in far better shape then it's ever been. The problem here is that the science and methodology used to determine Fluke stocks is seriously flawed. The SSFFF hired Mark Maunder, PHD who is a nationally recognized Marine Scientist. He is being retained to review the methodology used for accessing Fluke stocks and to represent our interest at the upcoming 2008 Stock Assessment Workshop.
2) Since the goverment has to protect the fishery by law (Magnuson Act) they have no wiggle room to provide any sensability. That's why the SSFFF is also supporting Bill HR5425. It's a emergency legislative intervention meant to enable stock managers a reasonable level of flexibility to enforce the current laws. Like anything else that happens in politics, HR5425 needs the support of politicians to be considered and passed. SSFFF intends to use funds to hire Lobbyist to represent our best interest to these politicians and to combine the funds with other like minded organizations where it makes sense.
I'm convinced now more then ever that the steps being taken by the SSFFF are spot on…. You have to fight science with science and politics with politics.
As far as I see it you have 2 choices:
1) You can throw up your hands and watch the flawed science take it's coarse and threaten our Fluke fishery, or
2) You can support a well organized group that has a definitive strategy and action plan to make sure our interests are protected.
In other words, you can do nothing and be part of the problem, or do something and become part of the solution.
If you haven't already, please check out
www.ssfff.net and consider getting involved and becoming part of the solution.
Post edited by: BIGHOUSEHOOKS, at: 2008/04/14 23:10
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