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Highly Migratory Species Report
by John T. Koegler
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association February 1994 Newsletter)
JCAA made its first foray into Pennsylvania with a booth at the Philadelphia Boat Show, at my suggestion. There are many active saltwater fishermen and some key clubs that do the majority of their fishing from New Jersey ports, so it seemed like a natural.
The JCAA booth was well received by the boating and fishing public attending the show. Unfortunately, show restrictions prevented us from selling raffle tickets, so JCAA was unable to make the show a money maker. As a public relations effort, it went very well. We received positive response to the Sunday clamming petition and the National Fishing Association "Special Management Zones" petition, gathering over 8,000 signatures between them. We learned that giving something away gets the attention of show goers.
Dick Stone, Director of Highly Migratory Species, and his office at NMFS, are in high gear. New rules for the coming year are flowing out so rapidly it is difficult to keep track of what must be followed, understood and commented on by JCAA's club members. Currently under consideration are:
1. Swordfish "Second Harvest" Plan for longliners.
2. NFA "Special Management Zones" petition.
3. Bluefin Tuna Plan for 1994 [similar to 1993].
4. Atlantic Billfishes - A full review + bycatch + scoping meetings.
5. NMFS EIS review of bluefin tuna participants and their economic input.
6. New changes to the shark plan
Slowly, the recreational fishing industry is realizing that without fish to catch, they do not have a viable business. Most rules and regulations currently in force for highly migratory species favor those who have done the most damage to the resource.
Although this continues to be the standard method of establishing allotments and quotas, there is little evidence to show it is the effective when applied to tunas and sharks.
The present bluefin tuna plan is a perfect example. After 11 years of strict controls, primarily on recreational anglers. the population of adult fish is at only 10% of the 1970 figures. The adult fish are primarily targeted by commercial fishing interests. In short, the bluefin tuna is headed for extinction under the management of ICCATT and NMFS unless recreational fishing interests and the recreational fishing industry unite and force a change. The commercial industry and the intense political pressure they put on NMFS is simply too great for a small effort to make any difference in the "business as usual" attitude of governmental agencies involved in fisheries management. The bottom line is if commercial effort and bycatch are not sharply reduced, and soon, the decline will continue and any recovery of this great recreational fishery is doomed.
If we do not unite into a cohesive group dedicated to changing the blatantly unsuccessful way regulatory agencies manage highly migratory species, there will be no future for these fish. Many offshore organizations watch while our oceans are being decimated. We owe it to our children to mandate change so they too can enjoy sport fishing for these magnificent fish.
John Koegler is President of Thousand Fathom Club - South Jersey and a Chairman of the JCAA Bluefin Tuna Committee. Contact him at 215-687-2208.