Live Reports from NMFS HMS meetings!

[Ron.38 Special]

Busy right now guys, but the buzz in the rec community is the EFP applications for PLL's in the closed zone.

We have been lobbying hard for the last two hours and we have great support from our other recs to try to halt this joke of a research project.

Jim Donofrio with RFA has promised his hard support for the protection of our closed zone.

Of course we can count on TBF and IGFA as we expected.

Back to business, I'll update more later.

Ron

[Gaitor]

Thanks Ron!

[WhItEoUt 23]

Thank's ron keep fighting for all of us

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TIGHT LINES AND SHARP HOOK'S

[quack quack]

Thanks Ron

[Fishalways]

Thanks for the hard work Ron.

[PURPLE FEVER]

Thanks Ron.

[Disco Lady]

Thanks Ron.

[miamiangler1]

Thanks Ron ..Great work ... if there`s anything we can do ..all ready sent e-mails ...I`ll be glad to help ... glad I joined RFA

[Colonel Klink]

Thanks Ron! See you early Thursday morning.

[Skip Smith]

Here is what Mike Leech (past IGFA President) wrote to me:

To all swordfish interests: HERE WE GO AGAIN

In spite of the so called "revitalization" of the longline industry by NMFS, nobody believes the new relaxed regulations will allow the longliners to meet their sword quota. This includes the longline industry, NMFS and anyone else that has been paying attention to what is going on.
They know in order to catch the US quota the only way is to fish in the spawning grounds/nursery area that is currently closed. If they (longliners) thought they could catch their quota in other areas they would not be so persistent in trying to get back to slaughtering the babies as they did in the 1970s and 80s. Remember they wiped out the recreational fishery in about 3 years back then. It took 20 years, a law suite and a closed area before it was worth fishing with rod and reel again. If the longliners get back in, even if it is north of Ft Pierce, history will repeat itself. It's unbelievable how NMFS can't seem to stand a healthy fishery. All they want to do is start depleting it again.
Some of us on the HMS Advisory Panel have been kicked off. Possibly because we refused to compromise on the closed areas. Now that they have some nubies on the panel they will try to get the newcomers to agree to some kind of deal where the longlines will be allowed back. Just because they are over the horizon doesn't mean longlines aren't killing the babies that are the future of the fishery. I hope the new panel members will stand fast.
The so called "research" by longliners that "proved" circle hooks reduced the bycatch of undersized swords, turtles, sharks, etc., has never been available to the public, or for that matter even those of us on the HMS AP. Neither would NMFS give us the names of the people that made up the peer review panel. To the best of my knowledge, the research has never even been published. I asked for it but couldn't get it. I strongly suspect the circle hooks that were used in the research were either non offset or offset only 5 degrees. However, when the new rules allowing longlining were published, the longliners were allowed to offset hooks 10 degrees. The reason for this, according to NMFS, was because longliners couldn't bait their hooks if they weren't offset 10 degrees. BS !!! Scientist generally agree this eliminates the benefits of circle hooks. This would make the whole research effort bogus. I call on NMFS to publish and make this research publicly available. After all, taxpayer money paid for it. Longlines have repeatedly held out this research as proof that longlining is a clean fishery. In reality, it is one of the dirtiest fisheries known to man, and specifically impacts billfish, juvenile swords, sharks, endangered turtles and some marine mammals. Why would NMFS want to revitalize this relatively low value industry at the expense of the highly valuable offshore fishing industry?
If they allow 13 longline vessels in the closed area, it will be the kiss of death and the beginning of the end for recreational swordfishing as we know it. They will once again come up with some "proof" that they can operate a clean fishery which we all know is impossible for indiscriminate longline hooks, circle or not. There is absolutely no reason they can't do their research in the Gulf Of Mexico or any other place. The baby swords aren't limited to the Florida Straights.
I was shocked to learn at the club meeting the other night that Ollie has somehow finagled his way into being allowed to buoy fish on an industrial scale in the closed area. I guess the writing was on the wall when NMFS allowed up to 35 buoys, when only about 10 to 12 can be worked in a somewhat conservative manner. This will undoubtedly result in many undersized swords being thrown back dead. Don't expect to ever see the results of his activities published anywhere either. I would love to see some dedicated sport boat follow him from a distance when he pulls the buoys and photograph the results. That is about the only way we will ever find out how bad the results will be. As usual, The whole operation was kept under wraps so the public wouldn't know in advance what is happening. Another closed door operation by NMFS.
Rest assured, the longliner buoy gear operation is simply a prototype for future longliners to come in with industrial scale buoy gear, knowing the closed area is their only hope of catching their quota.
Everyone needs to get involved in this if you want to protect the future health of swordfish. Those of you who weren't around in the late 1970s and early 80s don't realize how quickly a fishery can be decimated.

Mike Leech

Tournament Director
2118 NE 14 Court
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
home 954-566-2813
cell 954-812-4842
E-mail igfapres@aol.com
Fax (954) 566-3059

[WhItEoUt 23]

100% RIGHT

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TIGHT LINES AND SHARP HOOK'S

[Skip Smith]

One of my problems with Mr Leech's statement is where was all this information at the Swordfish club the other night, in his articles in Marlin Mag. and other medias.

I will ask the TBF and the RFA if this is true. (about the circle hook data not being released to the public)

In your emails to NMFS ask for this info!

Skip

[wacker]

It was very nice of Mike to offer the gulf of mexico Opening any closed zone to PLL is not an option.

[pelagic predator]

where can I send e-mails to NMFS?

[miamiangler1]

Originally Posted by Skip Smith

One of my problems with Mr Leech's statement is where was all this information at the Swordfish club the other night, in his articles in Marlin Mag. and other medias.

I will ask the TBF and the RFA if this is true. (about the circle hook data not being released to the public)

In your emails to NMFS ask for this info!

Skip

Hi Skip, I did sent the e-mails as you posted , but the one for Randy came back ... and got I e-mail from Bill Hogarth that he wont be back in the office until the 19th ... I just hope they read them before Thursday!

[Captain Ollie]

UM......just to clear things up.......I think Mike Leech is talking about Captain Ally on the Kristin Lee and their "bouy research project." We are not the same person and I can understand the confusion with the names.

I have nothing to do with what I consider to be a seriously flawed reserch project.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING RON.

[Beerman]

Originally Posted by pelagic predator

where can I send e-mails to NMFS?

SF1.030107C@noaa.gov

inlude in the subject line the following identifier

I.D.030107C

[Ron.38 Special]

Ollie,

We know the difference, don't worry.

BTW this morning is predominately shark issues. Bluefin tuna this afternoon, and tomorrow we tackle circle hooks and swordfish issues. That is when the EFP's will be discussed.

We are also going to bring up a request for an immediate halt to any new permits entering our area for bouy gear. Its obvious that NMFS did not expect the run on permits to our area and we have their attention on this issue.

If I understant you guys, we can live with the bouys out there now, we just don't want anymore. One option may be for a new definition of the permit requirements for bouy gear and limit it to handgear permits only. This proposal would be made with any existing bouys with directed permits, to be allowed a one time shot at converting the permit to handgear and keep fishing bouys. We are trying to come up with a compromise that will allow the current bouys to stay, and not let anymore in. Of particular concern is the horsepower upgrade for direct permits which could allow more bouys to enter our fishery.

PS, we are going to have to come up with some compromises over time.

I also am doing my best to stop the flawed bouy gear research that is planned with a longline vessel. I think all will agree that we can live with real science, lets just not be forced to live with BS research.

Of course the EFP for PLL's are going to be a hot issue tomorrow.

I'l check in later, I'm missing some good shark stuff......


Ron

[quack quack]

Go get um Ron

[Square Grouper]

Thanks for the update Ron. Keep up the good work