Quote:
Originally Posted by Scup  Bob and Mag,
Your numbers are probably questionable as well. Connecticut, is a non commercial state as far as striped bass are concerned. I do catch quite a few bass each year, but I am going out as recreational fisherman, not a commercial fisherman. I think what may have you upset is the horrible flick we saw concerning massive seining operations on the outer banks. Even our local neighboring states that allow commercial striper fishing have to tag the fish they bring into CT and have strict guidelines and quotas to follow. A Connecticut wholesaler cannot accept an untagged bass. That 73% number is going to go all over the place depending on what state we are talking about. Here in Connecticut there is nothing that I know of that we can do about the questionable laws our southern neighbors have. As far as only one fluke in 25 not making it when tossed back, well I think that is a low number as well. I would wonder how the DEP came up with that number? A pin fisherman is basically a rod reel guy anyway so it simply does not matter to the fluke being tossed back who caught him. The mortality rate is not determined by who caught the fish, but by the method used to catch the fish. This is where the commercial guys get into trouble with drag operations and gill nets as no one is going to argue with you over the mortality rate here. However, the statement made that rod and reel people cannot keep the commercial industry going is also very true too. |
Now gill nets is a whole nother story. They should be wiped out immediately and with impunity. A very destructive fishing method unless fishing for bunker or small baitfish with very small mesh. Even responsible gillers who stay at their gear and tend it quickly kill far too many other creatures when fishing with larger gill sizes, and alot of gillers do not become vigilant.
Roller gear is very destructive to ocean bottom in some fisheries, but not in all. Bottom draggers do not typically run over areas where they are going to hang a net. many fish can simply get out of the way in many dragging operations, especially the larger fish like dolphin, whales, and shark...
Purse seining for anything other than menhaden should be stopped altogether, and the menhaden reduction fishery should be wiped out as well. Mid water trawling, don't even think for a scond it is not the most destructive force in the ocean in impact terms fisheries wide....
Potting is a clean form of fishing, but has its abuses as well, and also creates difficulties in that if pot effort were to be increased, the recreational fleet would be shut out of many areas draggers couln't even think of fishing, due to all the gear interference...
Pin Hookers are a very clean form of commercial fishing, but alas the dollars and cents(and sense) of this world mandates that we keep up with the rest of the world in order to not become economically beholden to others for our fish needs....the rest of the world would get an even larger share of the pie, and force all of the pin hookers out eventually as well......We must focus on protectiong and flourishment of or fish here in US waters, instead of fighting about who gets what.....
Long Line gear should be outlawed forever, of any kind, trot lines maybe they are okay, no real data to prove otherwise.
Spearfishing, very clean, but cmon, lets be realistic....
Where does that leave us other than with the current method of dragging and pin hooking? We should be focusing a cooperative effort between AQUACULTURE and the commercial industry, but currently they have different practices and philosophies that do not jive.
Think a bit about the overall commercial fishing community, and how small it is in comparison to the recreatuional sector, both legal responsible recs, as well as the pirates out there, then refactor your own estimates based on a multiplication factor of say jus your daily catch, and release mortality in terms of the above mentioned rec sector..... Go much higher on your release mortality, as many of these fish die well after you have stopped your efforts and gone home.
I hope you guys become a bit more involved, because the charter fleet is your only voice at the local and federal levels. The average rec guy could care less about fisheries meetings and fisheries study.