First public meeting

Snakebite · 08-05-2002, 10:23 PM

O.K.
Mark Mc, Sturgeon and a couple of others actually showed up today to voice their opinions trying to protect YOUR interests.

Mark deserves BIG kudos for his efforts to put the sport fishing interest into focus here.

He even provided an overhead that lined out what his interest group was concerned about, and some alternatives were. This is EXACTLY what the council needs to hear about YOUR concerns.
In this process, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

The trawl fishery was miserably absent. And the other groundfish fishers were too. A couple of, and I mean 3, showed up and made comments. That was good. I was very dissapointed, as I had sent meeting notices out to nearly 1500 addresses last week( sure, there are more meetings in Astoria, Brookings, and Coos Bay). The sport fishers who did show up, were great and did their homework!

Sadly, the commercial side of the intended process consisted of a small handful of commercial fishers who blamed the process on the "agenda" of regulators for ignoring their concerns.

Hey folks! That's not how it works! Scream and yell! Show some reason why they(PFMC) need to consider how they act in these matters!

You sport folks are doing very good in how you feel (and present) things should be.

I pray that the commercial fishery folks would do the same. Then, the council would have a much better handle on the outcome of their decisions.

Yanno, if the commercial side of this had a web site devoted to the concerns of their livelyhood, I'd be blasting them for NOT being there. I do sincelely respect and appauld the few who were there, but the industry needs to get get on the right track here! Point being is that They are the potentially most affected group. This WILL affect the economy of the coastal communities to a great degree.

These are comments ONLY of my own. These are comments NOT related to anything related to my job. I am making these comments on my own computer at my home. I have to state this, because I stand to get in trouble otherwise. BUT, I refuse to be snubbed of my own personable opinion in this forum by laws that could get me or the folks I work for, in trouble. Get it? My personable opinion!!

Deepslayer · 08-05-2002, 11:05 PM

Nice to meet you and Dockrat at the meeting Snakebite. I think Janice? did a nice job of representing the sport fishers too. I don't know what happened to the others that were going to show up? I was kind of suprised I have known Mark Mc for many years and didn't even know he was a fisherman, much less an ex charter boat captain.

,Ed

Fishplay · 08-06-2002, 01:49 AM

My thanks to those who represented us at the meeting. I was unfortunately called in to work early.

Ohhh!! Its gonna be long day!!!!! :depressed:

Pilar · 08-06-2002, 04:53 AM

Well I get one more chance at Astoria. I was set to go and had my priorities changed at the last minute. Teenagers have a way of doing that.

Thanks for representing the sport fishers, Mark and company. I have to do another startup today and hope to get free tomorrow afternoon for the Astoria show.

Kudos friends and thank you for your free time.

seasquid · 08-06-2002, 07:28 AM

Great job last night Mark and Janice....

Geez, it's a wonder anything gets done. The commercial guys are shooting in 100 different directions -- no wonder it takes so long to wade through the issues.

From the trawlers --
"Your trawl net was flawed in your study, we'll fish at night to avoid depleted species, we're screwed anyway, that's why nobody shows up, how are we going to enforce the no-fish zones?, it tough for commercial guys to come across the bridge to the meetings (whaaaaat!), you're not holding the meetings on our time schedule, maybe we should just be bought out, the lingcod are the problem -- the wolves of the ocean, etc, etc., etc. The one that really amused me is, "we're" going to spend $800 an hour on a plane, and that's only for a plane, no administrative costs included, to patrol the ocean so the few trawlers who are out there are fishing in the open zones -- well, that makes a lot of sense. One council member, I forget his name right now, made a great point -- basically he said I think we need to imply that you guys (commercials) are honest enough to fish the open zones and that we don't have to chase one or two boats around the ocean to
further waste funds.

I don't know, I don't want the commercials to lose the way of lives, but the writing has been on the wall for quite a few years now. It seemed the three or four trawlers who were there last night really have the best interests for the group as a whole, but I'm not sure the rest of the commercial industry really gives a damn, or at this point even cares.

Anyway, gotta run....I hope some of you can make the next few meetings --- last night's turn out was pretty disappointing from all perspectives.

ss

Snakebite · 08-06-2002, 04:11 PM

You gotta understand one thing about the trawlers. the government subsidised them for years, and then wwhen they started to regulate them, they felt they had been betrayed. My personal opinion of how NMFS goes about their concept of management is skeptical at best. But they hold most of the purse strings, and dole out money for research in an extremely arbitrary way. Frustrating. I'll fight to the death, or at least until I'm out of a job, to achieve sustainable harvest. Well, it's off too Astoria tomorrow. Who knows what will happen there. I suspect it will be civil though. Coos bay will be the scary one. Brookings might be pretty interesting. Lots of nearshore commercial and Rereational interests there.

sturgn · 08-06-2002, 04:25 PM

It was nice to meet all that showed up for the meeteing. I only have one question after the meeting "Where the hell was everybody?" I was totally amazed that only 5 or 6 sportfisherman showed up, and alot dissaponted! I expected us to flood the room and to let them know how we feel! I did'nt get up speak myself, but was very impressed with the ones who did, you guys where well thought out and direct! Oh well I guess we only have ourselves to blame when its gone, you can be sure I will be at every meeting I can swing in the future! Corvallis next! Maybe we should call a flotilla???

corrirod · 08-06-2002, 05:42 PM

I'll try to make the meeting tomorrow in Astoria. I haven't been fishing the Oregon waters for very long so I'm not aware of a lot of the history but if it helps to have me there, I'll be there. Is anyone else going tomorrow? Do we attend the whole 3pm-9pm deal or just part?

black magic · 08-06-2002, 05:51 PM

I am going to attend the Astoria meeting tomorrow. I am going to attend the whole thing to learn as much as possible as I am thoroughly confused by the many details of this issue. The second part of the meeting is listed as being for commercial and recreational fishers and for their input. It is from 6-9 pm I believe.

[ 08-06-2002, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: black magic ]

corrirod · 08-06-2002, 07:28 PM

Black Magic, I'll be there for the whole thing to then. I'll be in a tan Ford Excursion. I'll be wearing a white hat with a Ducks Unlimited patch. Possibly there with a friend to. See ya there.

black magic · 08-06-2002, 07:36 PM

corrirod,
Glad you can make it. If you look for a short guy in his fifties with a gray beard it will probably be me.

Mark Mc · 08-06-2002, 08:14 PM

Yes, more sportfishers in attendence would always be welcome. There are many good reasons why folks can't attend one meeting or another. But there is one thing that everyone can and must do, meetings or not: WRITE LETTERS. The panel stated this again. All it takes is an old-fashioned letter or an e-mail, to the PFMC, to give them your opinions about sportfishers rights in general, or specific comments on the proposals, or your alternative ideas. There is still time, but the clock is ticking!

drillman · 08-06-2002, 08:40 PM

please give us the e-mail add once more. for PFMC
I for one work long hours and almost never get home befor 7:oo pm. they seam to always place the time for these meeting during working man hours. and thanks [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

[ 08-06-2002, 09:41 PM: Message edited by: drillman ]

Pilar · 08-06-2002, 08:46 PM

I am for the meeting in Astoria tomorrow as well. I will have to drive from Lyons and should get there in time for the 6pm. Hope to see you there.

Deepslayer · 08-06-2002, 09:23 PM

drillman, here's the contact #'s they gave us at the meeting:
Email - pfmc.comments@noaa.gov
Phone - (866) 806-7204 (toll call)
Adress - Pacific Fishery Management Council
7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97220-1384
Like Mark Mc says - write those e-mails and send those letters!
,Ed

Mark Mc · 08-06-2002, 11:51 PM

Hello All, thanks for the kind words, and Kudos to you all too. It was good to meet some of you. What a strange feeling seeing Ed, and thinking "what are you doing here?" Ed and I work for the same company, but have never talked fish!! Seasquid, this is not fair - I still don't know what you look like! "Sturgeon" (John Y), was good to meet you too. And "Snakebite", thanks for your help last night, and thanks for sticking your neck out & letting us know your personal opinions.

I really want to acknowledge Janice Green here. The meeting conversation very quickly narrowed down to trawl-related subjects, and after 20 or 30 minutes of banter between some strong personalities & the panel, Janice tactfully chimed in, and steered the conversation to sport interests. She stated the concerns very well, and none of the commercial guys (or their angry wives) seemed to mind. I am convinced that Janice will serve us very well as the primary rep on the Developmental Fisheries Board, as well as any other venue. Inside that trojan-horse demure appearance is a very fiesty, articulate, and tactful debater who knows how to work this kind of crowd.

A lot of information & ideas were exchanged, too much to list. But here are a few more tidbits, in addition to what was stated above:

(1) good reaction by the panel to our request for a nearshore plan;

(2) good reaction to request to consider other options. I suggested that rather than shut down 20 - 50 fathoms to all sport except salmon trolling, we put a gear restriction in place such as max 8 ounce weight, & max hook size, for drift fishing (to allow salmon mooching & midwater rockfishing). A charterboat operator named Dan Snell expressed similar concerns and he liked my idea. I told the panel that there are maybe 10 days a year when there is zero wind AND zero current such that a small mooching weight can hit & stay on bottom in 200 ft of water. You could see the lightbulbs go off over a few panel members, like "why didn't we think of that?" So they are really interested in this dialogue about compromises by sportfishers that will allow us to have MORE fishing opportunities, not less.

A personal learning for me was that it worked out much better to listen for 2 hours, and speak near the end. I picked up a couple of concerns by the commercials that cross right over to us: the need for better data, and the flexibility to try different gear. So when I asked for these things for us, I was able to say "just like the commmercial concerns" which for a brief moment brought us together. There was absolutely no finger pointing or negative comments between commercial & sport, which was great. The only downright nastiness was between one or two of the commercials' wives & the panel.

I look forward to continuing this momentum, working with our new friends, and making a difference.

Thanks, Mark Mc

RFA Janice · 08-07-2002, 01:03 PM

Sorry to be so late reporting on the first meeting on 2003 regulations in Newport. Snakebite did a good job, though. It was very surprising that not many commercials showed up--maybe three. Maybe they have given up on regular groundfishing. That is what one of them said.

Mark did a real good job of presenting some requests and ideas. And we definitely got on the flip chart, which is what will be written up.
Hope other meetings go as well.

August 9: Commission meeting, Ramada Inn/OCallahan's, 1550 NW 9th St., Corvallis. Show up after lunch, as there are many wildlife issues on agenda first.

They will take info about the results of 2003 meetings, and nearshore commercial limited entry (basic part of nearshore plan).

August 12: Newport public meeting concerning the draft Dev. Fish. Board plan for limiting commercial entry in the nearshore.
(This is a new one, and shows that they are serious about this draft plan.)

RFA Janice

OceanBlue · 08-07-2002, 01:13 PM

Excellent! Glad to hear positive feedback about the meeting, participation, etc. I'm so sorry I had to miss it!

Don't forget the meetings this afternoon/evening in Astoria - 3-5pm & 6-9pm Duncan Law Seafood Consumers Center
2001 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR

See you all in Corvallis!