The Fishing Rights Alliance, a non-profit fishing conservation organization, filed a lawsuit this week against the National Marine Fisheries Service alleging that the federal agency responsible for managing grouper stocks violated the law by using questionable data gathered by the Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey, a system the organization considers fatally flawed.
"This lawsuit was made necessary because NMFS failed to respect the Congressional mandate to base its decisions on scientifically valid information. The MRFSS program has been recognized as fatally flawed for a number of years," said FRA executive director Dennis O'Hern. "We hope this lawsuit will provide the councils and NMFS with reasonable, logical decision-making tools unconstrained by immeasurable, unachievable targets. Given the economic and social value of recreational fishing, we have grave concerns over unnecessarily restrictive fishing regulations."
O'Hern and the FRA maintain that the recent changes to grouper regulations have had a severe economic and social impact on Gulf Coast residents and tourists alike.
"Current MRFSS estimates say that recreational anglers have been fishing in the Gulf at near-record levels since 2006," O'Hern said. "This is contradicted by all economic indicators, from boat sales to bait
and tackle sales to foreclosure and unemployment rates, yet MRFSS figures will be used as best available science. This cannot be allowed to continue."
O'Hern can be reached at (727) 692-6902 or via email at dennis@thefra.org.
Looking for a great day hike for your toddler? How about a romantic paddle to a barrier island with your sweetheart? Planning to buy a backpacking tent but don't know where to start? Find the answers to these and other questions when you take a walk on the "Wild Side" with St. Petersburg Times Outdoors Editor Terry Tomalin, who has traveled the globe for the past 20 years looking for adventure.
I have been fishing the gulf starting 1973 except for a couple years ago due to red tide the Grouper fishing has remained the same. I catch just as many as ever, day for day, year to year.But today they gotta be 22 inch.It is for the most part BS.The only change i see is Jew fish and i would like to see them gone.the only good thing about them is they are big.The meat is ok for chowder but not great table fare.If legal and i caught one i would drop it off to a soup kitchen.And the only fish that does seem in less supply is scamp,i still catch them 1 every 2 trips where as used to get 3 or 4 every trip.But Gag and Red eat much better for me.Anyway the Feds and the state has knocked the crap out of the fun with fishing. Like betty Davis said about Joan Crawford i wouldn't piss on any of them if they were on fire.
Posted by: BILLIE BOB | July 03, 2009 at 06:56 PM