Don't shut down healthy fisheries, SAFMC!
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, NOAA, NMFS
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Sponsored By:
recreational, for-hire and commercial anglers of the South Atlantic region, related businesses and those concerned about the long-term health of our fisheries -
More Info at:
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, please don't shut down healthy fisheries.
We, the undersigned, strongly urge the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) to remember: 1) in a petition, over 10,000 local citizens and business owners formally opposed the emergency red snapper closure, which the SAFMC ultimately approved with a 7-6 vote, and 2) that many state and local governments have since voted unanimously in favor of resolutions formally opposing large area closures to bottom fishing as part of the SAFMCs 17A proposals to rebuild red snapper stocks. These were the results of a true grass roots effort for the truth to be known and the public to sustain as little harm from draconian and unwarranted management measures as possible.
We, the undersigned, strongly urge the SAFMC to take an even more deliberate approach to its selection of an alternative for Amendment 17A because of the woeful inadequacy of SEDAR 15, the last South Atlantic red snapper stock assessment. SEDAR 15 does not include the best available data or science, and it is clear that SEDAR 15 was manipulated to fit into an agenda that includes major restriction of fishing effort and de facto marine protected areas whereby fishing would be prohibited. This agenda is not founded in science but instead a misinformed ideological belief that fishing effort must be curtailed or fish stocks will be ruined. The facts surrounding red snapper disagree with this agenda as well as the misinformed and myopic ideological beliefs supporting it.
As the current preferred alternative of the SAFMC for 17A is for slightly more than 6,000 square miles of some of the most popular area off our coast to be closed to diving and bottom fishing, we, the undersigned, strongly urge the SAFMC to consider the full facts surrounding this issue. These include not only the findings of the new benchmark red snapper re-assessment, SEDAR 24, that will be reported later this year prior to the interim rule red snapper closure expiring, but also logical and common sense evidence of how badly the preconceptions that motivated SEDAR 15 disagree with reality.
We, the undersigned, also strongly urge the SAFMC to consider the entirety of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which, among other things, proscribes that economic as well as biological realities be considered when selecting rebuilding plans for fisheries.
Members of the SAFMC were appointed to serve as public servants, and as such, they will be held accountable for their decisions. We do not feel this petition is undue as public servants necessarily serve the public, and we are representatives of the public. We have continuously offered constructive advice, data and arguments to the SAFMC on this matter, and we feel that for this petition to be dismissed as merely a complaint would be extremely detrimental to all stakeholders in this process.
Finally, we, the undersigned, acknowledge and appreciate members of the SAFMCs unique and difficult position at this time, and we would like to extend our full support to the members and staff of the SAFMC as they decide what is right not just for our fisheries and communities but our entire South Atlantic region.
We, the undersigned, strongly urge the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) to remember: 1) in a petition, over 10,000 local citizens and business owners formally opposed the emergency red snapper closure, which the SAFMC ultimately approved with a 7-6 vote, and 2) that many state and local governments have since voted unanimously in favor of resolutions formally opposing large area closures to bottom fishing as part of the SAFMCs 17A proposals to rebuild red snapper stocks. These were the results of a true grass roots effort for the truth to be known and the public to sustain as little harm from draconian and unwarranted management measures as possible.
We, the undersigned, strongly urge the SAFMC to take an even more deliberate approach to its selection of an alternative for Amendment 17A because of the woeful inadequacy of SEDAR 15, the last South Atlantic red snapper stock assessment. SEDAR 15 does not include the best available data or science, and it is clear that SEDAR 15 was manipulated to fit into an agenda that includes major restriction of fishing effort and de facto marine protected areas whereby fishing would be prohibited. This agenda is not founded in science but instead a misinformed ideological belief that fishing effort must be curtailed or fish stocks will be ruined. The facts surrounding red snapper disagree with this agenda as well as the misinformed and myopic ideological beliefs supporting it.
As the current preferred alternative of the SAFMC for 17A is for slightly more than 6,000 square miles of some of the most popular area off our coast to be closed to diving and bottom fishing, we, the undersigned, strongly urge the SAFMC to consider the full facts surrounding this issue. These include not only the findings of the new benchmark red snapper re-assessment, SEDAR 24, that will be reported later this year prior to the interim rule red snapper closure expiring, but also logical and common sense evidence of how badly the preconceptions that motivated SEDAR 15 disagree with reality.
We, the undersigned, also strongly urge the SAFMC to consider the entirety of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which, among other things, proscribes that economic as well as biological realities be considered when selecting rebuilding plans for fisheries.
Members of the SAFMC were appointed to serve as public servants, and as such, they will be held accountable for their decisions. We do not feel this petition is undue as public servants necessarily serve the public, and we are representatives of the public. We have continuously offered constructive advice, data and arguments to the SAFMC on this matter, and we feel that for this petition to be dismissed as merely a complaint would be extremely detrimental to all stakeholders in this process.
Finally, we, the undersigned, acknowledge and appreciate members of the SAFMCs unique and difficult position at this time, and we would like to extend our full support to the members and staff of the SAFMC as they decide what is right not just for our fisheries and communities but our entire South Atlantic region.
2754 Signatures
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Wes Covington
- City, State
- Charleston, SC
- Business Name
- RECREATIONAL FISHING ALLIANCE - SOUTH CAROLINA
- Comments
- This petition will only run for a few days, so please share it with as many people as you can a.s.a.p.! SAFMC meets to vote on this June 7-11 in Orlando.
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Russell Hudson
- City, State
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Business Name
- Directed Sustainable Fisheries, Inc.
- Comments
- NMFS & the SAFMC need to wait until after the SEDAR 24 assessment public comment concludes during September 2010 and then consider their Amendment 17-A options.
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Martin Lynn McDowell, Jr.
- City, State
- Goose Creek, SC
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Jason Ward
- City, State
- Charleston, SC
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Mel Gibson
- City, State
- Summerville, SC
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john hoagland
- City, State
- North Charleston, South Carolina
- Comments
- It is a true shame that it has come to this protecting viable fisheries from fanatics that have embeded themselves in these organizations!
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Marsha E Hass
- City, State
- Charleston, SC
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Sandra Carvalho
- City, State
- Summerville, SC
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Jimmy Hull
- City, State
- Ormond Beach, Florida
- Business Name
- Southeastern Fisheries Association (SFA) East Coast Fisheries Section (ECFS)
- Comments
- Amendment 17-A needs to be put on hold until after the SEDAR 24 assessment results are known publicly.
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Adam Sereika
- City, State
- Summerville, SC
- Business Name
- В
- Comments
- В
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john polston
- City, State
- ponce inlet florida
- Business Name
- kings seafood
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Eric Wells
- City, State
- Charleston, SC
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Ron Rincones
- City, State
- Grant Valkaria, Fl
- Comments
- Completely distorted release mortality figures are NO basis for your proposed reef closure!!!
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Justin Frichtel
- City, State
- Charleston, SC
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jeff oden
- City, State
- hatteras n.c.
- Business Name
- slash creek water works
- Comments
- the fishermens insight might be anecdotal, but it sure is one hell of a lot closer to the facts than anything this council seeks.....because after all, agendas don't seek the truth
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michael nelson
- City, State
- port orange fla
- Business Name
- knot on duty fishing charters
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Joseph B Smith
- City, State
- Moncks Corner SC
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Paul Jesuino
- City, State
- Bluffton,South Carolina
- Comments
- With good management there is no need to close a healthy fishery i have seen more ARS in the last 2 years then in years prior IT MAKES NO SENSE TO SHUT IT DOWN.
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James A. Gibbs
- City, State
- West Columbia, SC 29169
- Business Name
- Carolina Custom Angler
- Comments
- As a custom rod builder, charter captain and marine electronics installer I am taking a direct hit to my business opportunities from decisions based on flawed research and "science". There has to be a more rational approach than banning large areas of the ocean to recreational fishing. I believe that accurate research needs to be conducted prior to implementing such draconian measures as MPAs.
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david grubbs
- City, State
- port orange ,fl
- Business Name
- heavy hitter charters / commercial
- Comments
- safmc should wait until results of sedar 24 comes out and make a decision on more sound data than sedar 15
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Russ Broward
- City, State
- Charleston, SC
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Charles Shores
- City, State
- Charleston SC
- Business Name
- FINZ LLC
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Anne Coker
- City, State
- Georgetown, SC
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charlie schammel
- City, State
- ponce inlet ,florida
- Business Name
- ocean entertainment inc.
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RICK BARNHARDT
- City, State
- SUPPLY,NC
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Erin Martin
- City, State
- Olive Branch, MS
- Comments
- Do not close the healthy fisheries!!!!!
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Capt Tad Grubbs
- City, State
- Key Colony Beach Fl
- Business Name
- Tad's Place
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Don Seib
- City, State
- Cocoa Beach FL
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Jason Knight
- City, State
- Charleston, SC
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Capt. Mark Brown
- City, State
- Mount Pleasant, SC
- Business Name
- Charter Boat Teaser, Inc.
- Comments
- Please do not shut down fisheries that are sustainable!
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Jeremy Burnham
- City, State
- Mt. Pleasant, SC
- Business Name
- Atlantic Game and Tackle
- Comments
- If you shut down the fisheries you shut down my store!!!!! I have 2 kids to feed
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edward j arahill
- City, State
- Ridgeville, S.C.
- Business Name
- Blue Mule Trucking Inc.
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Tim Garrett
- City, State
- Ponce Inlet, Fl
- Business Name
- Waterproof Charters,Inc
- Comments
- The insuffficient data used to create these restrictions has caused a loss to my business. These restrictions should be lifted until accurate data can be shown.
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William Morrill
- City, State
- Charleston, SC
- Comments
- Red Snapper are overpopulated
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Lisa Garrett
- City, State
- Daytona Beach, FL
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John and Donna Curry
- City, State
- key colony beach fl.
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Lori Spielman
- City, State
- Glendale, WI
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Wesley Smith
- City, State
- Greenville, SC
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Kyra Gibson
- City, State
- Summerville, SC
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Kyle Alexander Lowe
- City, State
- goose creek, SC
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Thomas Lilly
- City, State
- Hudson, Ohio
- Business Name
- Lilly Co.
- Comments
- Personal experience IS REAL science. All the fisherman know from personal experience that there are more red snapper and grouper than there has been in many years. If you care about the economy of Florida and Georgia at least keep half of the key fishing area open for fishing and let the the other half populate. Don't wait till 'better' science gives you a better reading of the total population and then reopen . You do not want to force an entire industry out of business on at best suspect science.
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Nancy Cleary
- City, State
- Clinton, Ohio
- Business Name
- Xango
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George Buckingham
- City, State
- Delaware, Ohio
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james Busse
- City, State
- cape canaveral, florida
- Business Name
- seafood atlantic
- Comments
- We drove to charleston s.c. last week for the sedar 24 workshop. We were impressed by the acceptance, or welcome we felt by the scientific community ...let there be no mistake, the agenda driven SAFMC members were in the shadows, in the back, DRIVING THE BUS. I sign this petition as a board member of SFA East Coast Fishing Section. In all my years in the business of fish, i have not been this disgusted with the miserable direction we are headed.
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Lee Martines
- City, State
- Merritt Island, FL
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Richard Stoll
- City, State
- Ohio
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nicholas hill
- City, State
- grant florida
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Charles Shaffer
- City, State
- Merritt Island, Fl 32952
- Business Name
- Marine Mammal Tours, Inc.
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joanne anthony
- City, State
- pt orange fl
- Business Name
- central recvoery
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William Harmon
- City, State
- Goose Creek, SC
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2754
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