Say Good Bye to Bass and Bunker

[finchaser]

Get Ready for an increase in Netting of striped bass and Bunker ETC


-----Original Message-----
From: Collins, Kathy <kcollins1@mafmc.org>
To: Collins, Kathy <kcollins1@mafmc.org>
Sent: Mon, Jul 30, 2012 10:03 am
Subject: MAFMC- Visioning Stakeholder Report

Council Releases Stakeholder Report and Launches Strategic Planning Process

DOVER, DE—The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has released a final report summarizing the ideas, concerns, and recommendations from more than 1,500 individuals who provided input for the Visioning and Strategic Planning Project.

The Stakeholder Input Report outlines 55 themes/concerns and 123 recommendations from three of the Council’s primary stakeholder groups—the commercial industry, the recreational sector, and the environmental community. Participants commented on topics ranging from decision-making and communication procedures to management strategies for specific fisheries.

Outreach and data gathering for the report occurred over a five month period beginning in September 2011. Online and mail surveys were available to anyone interested in providing input on fisheries management, and council members and staff met with more than 200 individuals in 20 locations throughout the Northeast region in roundtable sessions. Organizations also had the opportunity to submit position letters describing their concerns and priorities for Mid-Atlantic fisheries.

“The Council has a diverse constituency, and we recognize that effective fisheries management must include meaningful stakeholder participation,” said Council Chairman Rick Robins. “We have a history of successful stock rebuilding, but we continue to struggle with maintaining full stakeholder engagement. This report and the forthcoming strategic plan will enable the Council to make decisions that are more accurately informed by stakeholder perspectives.”

Report Highlights

The Stakeholder Input Report, which is available on the Council’s website, is organized in to three sections—Themes and Recommendations, Stakeholder Visions, and Fishery-Specific Themes. Themes and Recommendations are further organized in to six categories, including Information and Data, Management Strategies, Economic Challenges, Communication and Participation, Governance and Ecosystems.

Although stakeholder perspectives are often characterized as inherently conflicting, a number of common themes were identified by members of the commercial fishing industry, the recreational fishing sector, environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), and the general public. These themes included:
v There is a lack of confidence in the data that drive fishery management decisions.
v Stakeholders are not as involved in the Council process as they can and should be.
v Different jurisdictions and regulations among the many fishery management organizations result in complexity and inconsistency.
v There is a need for increased transparency and clearer communications in fisheries management.
v The dynamics of the ecosystem and food web should be considered to a greater extent in fisheries management decisions.
v Stakeholders are not adequately represented on the Council.
v Pollution is negatively affecting the health of fish stocks.

In addition to voicing concerns and providing recommendations, stakeholders identified elements of a “Vision” for successful fisheries and fisheries management in the Mid-Atlantic. Five common characteristics of a vision were identified across all stakeholder groups, including:
v Fish populations are thriving and are harvested at sustainable levels.
v Management decisions are based on sound data and science.
v There is equitable consideration of the needs of diverse stakeholder groups; the interest of no one stakeholder group outweighs another.
v There is little waste in the fisheries, and regulatory discards are minimal.
v More stakeholders are involved in the management process.

Next Steps

The report will play a critical role in the Council’s strategic planning process, scheduled to begin next month when the newly-established Visioning and Strategic Planning Working Group meets for the first time. The working group, comprising approximately 25 Council members and stakeholders, will draft a Vision, Goal Statement, and 10-year Strategic Plan to guide the Council’s management decisions and priorities.

“This report is the product of the largest outreach and data gathering initiative the Council has ever undertaken. There is a sincere commitment among Council members to integrate stakeholder input in to the strategic plan as much as possible,” said Chairman Robins. “We are grateful to the 1,500 stakeholders who took the time to share their concerns and ideas with us, and the vision and strategic plan will reflect their input.”

The full report and additional information about the project are available at:
http://www.mafmc.org/vision. To download the report directly, click here.

Additional details about the strategic planning process and opportunities for involvement will be posted in August.

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**This press release will be available on our website in a downloadable PDF format in the coming days. Please visit: http://www.mafmc.org/press
NOTICE: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council maintains an e-mail directory of constituents that have specifically requested receiving communications from the Council electronically. Such requests can be made by sending an e-mail message to info1@mafmc.org, or by phone, fax, or letter directed to the contact listed below.
Messages sent to the entire e-mail directory will be limited to press releases which announce upcoming meetings, or describe actions the Council is considering or has taken. Typically they will not exceed 2 transmissions per month.
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Mid-Atlantic Council's E-Mail list, simply REPLY to this message and type UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line. If you would also like to be removed from the Council's address list to receive communications via US Mail, please type 'UNSUBSCRIBE and Remove from Mailing List' in the subject line.

Kathy Collins
Kathy Collins
Public Affairs Specialist
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Council
800 N. State Street, Suite 201
Dover, DE 19901-3901
PHONE: 302-674-2331 EXT: 253
FAX: 302-674-5399
Email: Kcollins1@mafmc.org OR Kathy.Collins@noaa.gov

[buckethead]

v The dynamics of the ecosystem and food web should be considered to a greater extent in fisheries management decisions.

Sounds to me like they are saying people all over the country should be allowed to eat stripers. Thats a commercial argument, no?

[finchaser]

Yes they are and Tom Fote of the JCAA spoke against a 1 fish limit which gave the commercials 3 months to get there ducks in a row. He was also the deciding vote that stopped save the bunker. Kathy is with NOAA which is headed by Lubchenco and overseen by Nobama.

[cowherder]

Well if the 1 fish limit is a good thing as some of you say it will save the bass what exactly is the hold up?
Why can't Tom Fote or the JCAA get on board and try to do something about this situation?

[storminsteve]

I don't understand all of this. I do think these groups should get their agendas all lined up together and not have this back room stuff going on. Pretty soon we will be fishing for sea robins skates and dogfish because the commercial guys will have wiped everything else out.

[buckethead]

^ x2.

[surfstix1963]

This will never end it has become too much of a political issue,the Govt. don't give a happy rats A$$ about the people just their own agendas.The sad truth is the fish cannot survive this they cannot reproduce and grow fast enough extinction is inevitable will I see it in my lifetime IDK but it will happen,I've loved fishing since I was 3 y/o I've done everything in my eyes that I saw fit to save the fish and try to teach others along the way. I've met some good people in the last 30 years some crazy bassturds too LOL I've had a lot of twists and turns the last 3 years in my life and I have made the decision to call it quits due to injuries. I've faced the fact it is not in the cards for me any longer my first rod is leaving the basement today and will be given to my Nephew my plugs are put away except for some special ones by Speedy.I'll poke around here you can't get rid of me that easy,it is time to move on so Tight Lines & Screaming Drags to you all...BTW Sorry to hijack the thread.

[DarkSkies]

2 Part Public Listening Session Aug 14....
Sent in by OGB, thanks....

Mid-Atlantic Council to Host Two-Part Public Listening Session on August 14

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) Meeting

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 5:00 pm

Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown, 21 N. Juniper St., Philadelphia, PA 19107

And Via the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org/

Part 1: MAFMC Strategic Planning- Purpose, Process, and Expected Outcomes
On Monday, August 13, the Council’s Visioning and Strategic Planning Working Group will convene for the first in a series of meetings to develop a 10-year strategic plan. Since the public has asked a number of questions and expressed an interest in the strategic planning process, Council staff will present a strategic planning overview during the August 14 listening session and will answer some of the most frequently asked questions such as:

• Why does the Council need a strategic plan when the legal mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provide very specific guidelines for fisheries management?
• What kinds of changes could occur as a result of the strategic plan?
• What role will the Stakeholder Input Report play in the planning process, and how will the concerns and interests of stakeholders be taken in to consideration?

Attend the listening session and get the answers to these questions and more!

Part 2: Meet John Bullard, the New NMFS Regional Administrator
John K. Bullard, former mayor of New Bedford, began work August 6 as the new Regional Administrator of NOAA’s Northeast Regional Office. John will spend much of his time over the next several months meeting with stakeholders and asking two key questions:

• What are your one or two most important issues?
• What would success look like related to fisheries in the Northeast Region?

During this informal listening session, Mr. Bullard will be available to hear your answers to these questions and answer any questions that you may have for him.

You can attend in person in Philadelphia or via the internet. For online webinar access register at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/836113225 or just click this link at the time of the meeting.

Please contact Jason Didden at jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5254 if you have any questions regarding the listening session process or if you would like to confirm that your computer is set up to access the webinar. The webinar works for most computers, but sometimes there are technical problems with remote voice communication from online participants. In such cases, participants may still use a chat feature in the webinar to submit their comments or questions.

[DarkSkies]

The sad truth is the fish cannot survive this they cannot reproduce and grow fast enough extinction is inevitable will I see it in my lifetime IDK but it will happen,I've loved fishing since I was 3 y/o I've done everything in my eyes that I saw fit to save the fish and try to teach others along the way. I've met some good people in the last 30 years some crazy bassturds too LOL I've had a lot of twists and turns the last 3 years in my life and I have made the decision to call it quits due to injuries.

Surfstix...thanks for your perspective.....

some folks don't want to agree with the words you posted above....but more and more I'm finding it to be the case....
I have adapted my fishing now to go to insane lengths to get bass. These bass, although small schoolies, used to be so easy to find....and now I'm finding one and two at a time.





Some blame the summer weather and temps...but it's been hot before and we still had fish...

Some blame the "bunker shortage" and say we must focus on saving the bunker...while all this year we had more bunker 1/2 mile off many of our beaches, in come cases stretching up to 20 miles.....and not many fish to be found under them...

Some blame the commercial striped bass netters...when the truth, backed by stats, is that the Recs now catch more fish than ever before while the Comm catch has leveled off. Even if you add in the "shadow" catches by Commercial poachers, it does not approach the numbers of bass taken by the Recreational Industry, in aggregate numbers.....

And rather than getting involved, taking a stand, lettting their voices be heard, a large % of Recreational Anglers have cut down on their fishing.......


So, my friend, I don't see your words as a rant, but as the frustration of the small % of folks who have given much effort to try to make a difference.....against a larger % of Anglers who are wallowing in a Sea of Apathy.....




Granted, these meetings are extremely boring, about as exciting as watching paint dry...
But it is our fishing futures (collectively) we are talking about......and the sad thing to me is that although there are guys out there still fighting and getting involved......a larger % has given up or has the attitude "let Jim do it....."

[surfstix1963]

It may seem that I'm bailing on this whole issue( I would say at this point, yes I'm tired as hell of banging my head against a wall) but I have 4 great kids and I'm not getting any younger I don't see them much and that is my intent to pursue some quality time with them before I die.I've done my time in hell as far as I see it the writing is on the wall.So I guess Jim has to step up to the plate when something you've done for so long is not enjoyable any longer.For me I don't need anymore depression in my life and even before I got hurt I found myself dragging my butt out there to fish, that started the wheels turning.All of you are great people and I think your exceptional for what you are doing but all good things must come to a end.I'm quite limited at what I can do now physically so that is why I made my decision all I can say is Thank God I have a right side of my body because the left is shot. lol