tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896836091935734799.post4428641015218490552..comments2024-03-15T08:52:03.058-04:00Comments on ONE ANGLER'S VOYAGE: ABANDONING SUCCESSCharles Witekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16752632941300366580noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896836091935734799.post-10366314719398586252016-03-05T14:52:31.239-05:002016-03-05T14:52:31.239-05:00Greg--
As always, I appreciate your thoughts.
...Greg--<br /><br />As always, I appreciate your thoughts. <br /><br />On the other hand, I have to admit that I'm one of those folks who believes that once you find a formula that works, you should only change if there is a compelling reason. <br /><br />In the three years that the GRAs have been in place, the scup biomass has rebounded to truly spectacular levels; given the striped bass decline, likely 2016 regulations on black sea bass and the recent poor summer flounder spawns, scup are likely to become even more important to the recreational fishing industry in the northeast than they have been in the last few years. In addition, as you know, the commercial market is expanding, giving fishermen the ability to bring more to the dock without depressing the price to prohibitively low levels. That means that recreational and commercial landings are likely to increase. In such a situation, it is unwise to change a successful management formula.<br /><br />In the past 15 years, the GRAs have restricted the squid fishery somewhat. However, as far as I know, squid fishermen have been making money throughout that time, and from what I understand, the price has even increased nicely over the past decade or so. If that is the case, there seems no compelling reason to change the current GRAs.<br /><br />However, I do like to keep an open mind. My understanding is that we will be provided with data on the impacts of the GRAs (particularly the southern GRA, where the changes are being suggested). Should the biologists come back and tell us that, since 2000, some areas of the GRA aren't needed because there are few if any juvenile scup still found there, I would agree that an opening could be considered; however, in conjunction with any such change, I would also (if I had any say) insist on extending the GRA to the area where significant juvenile scup bycatch still occurs.Charles Witekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16752632941300366580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896836091935734799.post-18526877979303194512016-03-04T09:09:27.869-05:002016-03-04T09:09:27.869-05:00Charlie...
Our request to modify the boundary is n...Charlie...<br />Our request to modify the boundary is not intended to abandon successful management.<br />One alternative is a slight change to the eastern boundary of the souther GRA to allow a portion of the bank to be opened to target squid.<br />A few things have happened over the years the GRA was in place.<br />The Scup resource has moved from the area to an extent that we beleive that scup discards will be minimal.<br />The Scup resource has recovered to a great extent and believe me we are grateful for that and do not want to diminish its success.<br />As for discards some of what is in the analysis is regulatory discards in the directed fishery for scup that were not changed as the resource increased. <br />As you know the specs setting process reduces the OFL on scup by 13% to account for scientific uncertainty and another 5 million pounds is deducted to account for discards.<br />What we are asking for is to realize the buffers that are in place on the scup stock and make a change to the regulations that allows us access to the productive squid area without harming the scup recovery and the successful management.<br />I am speaking generally about these issues and I realize they are more complex than I am saying...<br />I am more than happy and would jump at the chance to discuss this with you and your members in an open setting in the hope of creating an outcome that is good for all involved.<br />Thanks<br />Greg DiDomenico<br />Garden State Seafood AssociationGDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16668921750019015609noreply@blogger.com