Conservation
Maintain a level playing field when assessing fishing impacts.
Just Not Right RIP CUNNINGHAM
Every now and then, I see something that catches my attention. Sometimes I think, Aha, that’s a great idea, and sometimes I think, That’s just not right. Whether I agree or not, the writer has peaked my interest. A recent article in Charleston, South Carolina’s Post and Courier had that effect.
The article was titled “High-tech advances in fishing gear threaten fish stocks off South Carolina and worldwide.” One might think of trawlers sweeping the ocean clean, but the gist of the article is that modern electronics allow recreational anglers to target deepwater snapper and grouper with such efficiency that they are negatively impacting the sustainability of these fish. The article inferred this was happening all over the world, but the specific information was local. “Rapidly advancing technology is raking the ocean clean as conservationists and regulators plug in to keep up the chase.” It would be hard to disagree, but when it is directed at recreational anglers, we move toward disagreement. Technology gives all fishery users the upper hand. So, why direct this criticism at the recreational sector?
The author goes on to point out that there are almost half a million saltwater licenses in South Carolina, and a substantial percent of those have center-consoles, which can run offshore and target a variety of fish, most importantly, prize snapper and grouper. I assume the folks at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources have a handle on the number of licenses and registered boats. But I do not agree that “hundreds of thousands of them own boats capable of cruising out of sight of land” means that hundreds of thousands actually do head offshore. Nor do I believe that more than a small percentage have the sophisticated and expensive electronics that the author speculates. If
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electronics are a problem, then let’s eliminate them for all users, both commercial and recreational, to even the playing field.
The concern is that 500,000 coolers can take home a lot of fish. What does the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) or the SC-DNR data show? If anglers target offshore species in the numbers claimed, the MRIP catch data would show the increase in overall catch. That data would be used by the states and the councils to set catch limits. Good management would set those limits and seasons to minimize the catch rates. It is also inferred in the article that most anglers are scofflaws, since they do not have to report their catches in the same manner as commercial users. I will admit that some anglers cheat, but the majority adhere to the rules.
Bottom-tending mobile gear or longlines can also put a lot of fish in the hold of commercial boats. But the author does not seem to think they are a problem because they have to report their fish. Well, Carlos Rafael, a commercial fishing operator out of New Bedford, Massachusetts, proved that real reporting can be circumvented in numbers so staggering, they are being held by the courts that put him in jail.
Yes, the recreational fishing industry needs to do a better job of catch reporting, but this article assumes that every angler going out will illegally fill his cooler(s). Show me the noncompliance stats. If there are overfishing problems shown to be caused by the recreational users, then change the regulations to sustainably manage the fish.
One of the organizations quoted in the article is the South Carolina-based Council for Sustainable Fishing, which says it supports both recreational and commercial interests.
This old scribe did a little look-see around its website to learn more. It is always good to have more advocates for the fish, but it quickly became evident that we disagreed on a number of its supported issues. One of them says a lot to me. The council supports legislation to reopen a nearshore shrimp fishery. Even though it has gotten better, shrimping is one of the highest bycatch fisheries, not to mention the habitat destruction it causes. Most of what shrimping culls out as dead are juvenile fish recreational anglers would like to catch.
So, what this comes down to is a sentiment that thinks recreational use of electronics is bad and the impacts from shrimp fishing is OK. Hmm—is that right?
If there are problems caused by recreational users, change the regulations.