Please look into this.

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Reel Geezer
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Please look into this.

Post by Reel Geezer »

Your government is apparently considering taking over all rules and regulations for coastal and inland waters such as the Great Lakes, and working with the UN on regulating our waters. A committee set up by whoever is now running our government has been working on federal legislation to this effect. They are not listening to the sports fishermen or the sports fishing industry at all. You might want to read the information on this website, and contact your federal representatives.
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Steve
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Post by Steve »

My government already has plenty of rules and regulations for coastal and inland waters such as the Great Lakes. Most of what this task force is doing is trying to coordinate regulation among a gazillion agencies and interest groups. If sports anglers haven't been heard, it may be because they haven't provided input.

From pg 30 of the Interim Report:
2. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: Implement comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based coastal and marine spatial planning and management in the United States.
Obstacles and Opportunities
The ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes are host to countless commercial, recreational, scientific, energy, and security activities, which often occur in or near areas set aside and managed for conservation and resource protection goals. Overlapping uses and differing views about what activities should occur and where can generate conflicts and misunderstandings. Coastal and marine spatial planning that fully incorporates the principles of ecosystem-based management will provide a means to objectively and transparently guide and balance allocation decisions for use of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters and resources. It will allow for the reduction of cumulative impacts from human uses on marine ecosystems, provide greater certainty for the public and private sector in planning new investments, and reduce conflicts among uses and, between using and preserving the environment to sustain critical ecological, economic, and cultural services for this and future generations.
Read the report: http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/docume ... FINAL2.pdf

Comment on the report: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administratio ... rimreport/

Consider checking another website or two.
Reel Geezer
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Post by Reel Geezer »

You should try reading a different opinion. I note your websites are those of the US government task force. You believe them? Anglers and sport fishing industry have been trying to talk to them - as usual, your government doesn't listen.
FEDS TO 60 MILLION AMERICAN ANGLERS:
WE DON’T NEED YOU

IRVINE, Calif. USA – October 5, 2009 – A recently published administration document outlines a structure that could result in closures of sport fishing in salt and freshwater areas across America. The White House created an Interagency Oceans Policy Task Force in June and gave them only 90 days to develop a comprehensive federal policy for all U.S. coastal, ocean and Great Lakes waters. Under the guise of ‘protecting’ these areas, the current second phase of the Task Force direction is to develop zoning which may permanently close vast areas of fishing waters nationwide. This is to be completed by December 9, 2009.

Dave Pfeiffer, President of Shimano American Corporation explained, “In spite of extensive submissions from the recreational fishing community to the Task Force in person and in writing, they failed to include any mention of the over one million jobs or the 6o million anglers which may be affected by the new policies coast to coast. Input from the environmental groups who want to put us off the water was adopted into the report verbatim – the key points we submitted as an industry were ignored.”

Recreational fishing generates a $125 billion annual economy in the United States and supports jobs in every state according to government figures. Through the Sport Fish Restoration program, anglers have provided more than $5 billion through excise taxes on fishing tackle to fishery conservation and education for decades.

In addition to the economic aspects, anglers lead the nation in volunteer conservation efforts on behalf of improving fish habitat, water quality and related environmental areas. “There was no mention of the fishery conservation efforts which anglers have led for over 50 years in every state – an environmental success story that has no equal in the world”, said Phil Morlock, Director, Environmental Affairs for Shimano. “The Task Force did not make any distinction between the dramatic differences between harmful commercial fishing harvest methods and recreational fishing, even though we spelled it out for them in detail,” added Morlock.

Claiming to be the result of a public consultation process the report states, “Having considered a broad range of public comments, this report reflects the requests and concerns of all interested parties.”

The original White House memo and not surprisingly the Task Force report contains multiple references to developing a national policy where Great Lakes and coastal regions are managed, “consistent with international law, including customary international law as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” - a 300-page treaty the U.S. has never ratified.

“We question what implications there will be for state authority and jurisdiction in the Great Lakes and coastal regions if the U.S. adopts the U.N. Treaty,” said Pfeiffer.

The report makes it clear that future authority for implementing the policy for coastal and inland waters will fall under White House jurisdiction with a new National Ocean Council comprised of over 20 federal agencies at Cabinet Secretary or Deputy Secretary level. No reference to Congressional jurisdiction is indicated.

“This significant change in U.S. policy direction is the result of a 90-day fire drill process as ordered by the President that, not surprisingly, lacks balance, clarity and quality in the end product,” said Morlock. “People who simply want to take their kids fishing on public waters deserve better from their government,” he added.
Shimano is joining with other members of the recreational fishing industry to urge anglers to contact their members of Congress and the administration to request this process be required to adopt the economic, conservation and social contributions of recreational fishing as key elements of the policy. It is critical that we ensure Congressional oversight and state jurisdiction and management continues.
Steve, I've no desire to argue with you about this. The readers of this site can make up their own minds as to who's serving their interests.
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Brian F.
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Post by Brian F. »

There is a concern that this is purely a move to do away with local input on fisheries and go back to a top down management system. Hawaii and the other Pacific Island regions were going to be left out of the comment gathering procedure. The new NOAA leadership chose to by pass us for meetings held around the country, in spite of the unique cultures and ecosystems that exist within each region. A last minute meeting was held only after a very loud objection was made by both fishermen and environmentalists. Many do not agree that control should be re-centralized as it's been shown that one-size-fits-all management does not consider or understand aspects and conditions that are unique to where we live.
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Post by Roger Schulz »

I checked the American Sportfishing Association's website and they have several news releases on the subject. They are concerned also. They are apparently talking to the NOAA Administrator about NOAA not listening to the recreational fishing community and the preservation attitude of the report. They have invited the Administrator to a meeting in October to discuss the report with many of the tackle manufactures.

I will make copies of the information from the website Phil identified and the ASA website and include a note and send to several friends who will be developing and approving the FWS comments on the report. Historically, the FWS has always listened to the American Sportfishing Association. I will remind them that if the sportfishing community is upset, this report could come back and bite them.

Phil and I have talked several times about the changing view towards fishing and hunting in this country. A preservationist view is growing and many people don't realize that hunting and fishing is a management tool that is needed to ensure sustainable populations of fish and wildlife. In the long term this even impacts ORCA. If fewer and fewer people fish, you will see less and less tackle out there for our collectors of the future.

Roger Schulz (FWS-Retired)
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