by John T. Koegler
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association - November 1996 Newspaper)
On September 16th, 1996 Bill Hogarth asked for comments about proposed major management changes in the Bluefin tuna fishery. The Federal Registry supporting notice raised a lot of issues that needed to be answered. If the recreational community does not take this to heart and respond, it will lose a golden opportunity. Also missed by most was the unusual fact that the Federal Registry portion went out over Rolland Schmitten's name.
In the same notice it was stated that; "The establishment of specific management measures for yellowfin tuna." Could be decided at this years ICCAT meeting. Currently, yellowfin has been THE single tuna that has totally supported the Northeast rod and reel fishing fleet. If yellowfin tuna is managed either internationally or domestically like the bluefin tuna, the rod and reel fleet can just about "Kiss their tuna fishing good bye".
It is accepted scientifically that recreational rod and reel fishermen have NEVER decimated any saltwater fishery by their efforts. Is there a need for Federal Atlantic tuna permitting of all recreational fishermen? United States rod and reel tuna catches have a tiny impact on the ocean wide catches. Permits, fees, mandatory phone reporting, closed seasons, and area closures all combine to greatly reduce any sport or pleasure derived from recreational tuna fishing.
Let National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) use their scarce federal dollar resources to better regulate, control, and monitor the nets and long lines who have a documented history of decimating the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) resources. Eliminate entirely all proposed NEW HMS regulations, permits, fees and reports for rod and reel fishermen. Why create a costly bureaucratic system to monitor catches that have been officially reported to ICCAT as insignificant or "Zero" ? No other country in the world reports any HMS catch by their recreational fishermen ! Why should NMFS single out ONLY United States rod and reel fishermen for strict regulations ? Why spend large amounts of NMFS funds to monitor and control a fishery that NMFS officially reports to ICCAT as one that does not catch any fish ?
NMFS has already supported this approach by reporting that the United States rod and reel catches of swordfish, sharks and blackfin tuna are "Zero". NMFS reports rod and reel catches of albacore, big eye tuna, skipjack and Atlantic bonito are insignificant at 22.85, 19.85,20.69, and 11.41 metric tons respectively. If our catches are reported as "Zero" or insignificant, Where, Why and How can there be any need for regulation ?
It is time to free United States rod and reel fishermen from proposed unnecessary and current un-needed regulations. Even recreational catches of yellowfin tuna reported to ICCAT as 4,024.74 metric tons in 1995 qualify for a De Minimus listing under ICCAT regulations. Spending large sums of scarce federal dollars documenting insignificant or "Zero" recreational catches is totally and absolutely absurd ! Return the "SPORT" to saltwater sport fishing with a De Minimus classification for all non-sold Highly Migratory Species caught in United States waters.
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