People popping off with no idea

[Albacore Tuna Captain]

We often see or hear of information and we react to it. It is of utmost importance that when we are talking about something that effects so many other people, we have some knowledge of what we are talking about and are accurate.

I have learned of some interesting information about people making comments at the last ODFW meeting and being responded on. I learned who made the comment alluded to by Pilar and here's what I'm talking about;

Quote by Pilar from a previous thread.

"Some of the Charter boat guys were grumbling that they were unable to fill the holds on their boats during the recent season. They returned to dock with 6 of 20 possible fish."

Now the problem with this statement is that the person making it was;

1. Not a charter boat captain, crew member, or customer.

2. This person doesn't work for any of the charter offices.

3. This person can't even go out on the ocean without getting seasick.

4. This person knows absolutely nothing about the halibut fishery and has never caught a halibut.

5. This person doesn't talk to any of the charterboat captains except one so has absolutely no idea of what she was talking about.

6. This person ON HER OWN decided to be present at this meeting to represent one of the charter boats. She was not asked to represent anyone, just took it on her own.

7. Everything she said was totally inaccurate.

Again I think it is so important that we have exchange of ideas and information. But that information must be accurate.

I think in the future, that a person who wants to make an imput, identify themselves and give their relationship to what they want to talk about.

[Fshklr]

Quote
"I think in the future, that a person who wants to make an imput, identify themselves and give their relationship to what they want to talk about."

If she was the only 1 to represent via, her own statistics or not she was at least there..can't complain or ask for opinions from those not there or not wanting to set it straight. Just my .02

[Pilar]

Easy there, ATC. She said what she said, I simply reported it. I have no idea who she is but she sat in with a group of charter boat operators and owners next to a guy who was agreeing with her as she commented.

At these meetings the people running them are taking public comments. You don't need much except something to say to be heard. There is no intelligence test, truth test, experience test or whiz quiz before you speak. The key is you have to be there to be heard. You can write and submit a statement and many people here have done that for various concerns but showing up has the biggest impact.

I look forward to seeing you Mike, at some of the future meetings that decide how the Catch share plan gets adjusted to deal with the increasing IPHC quota and impacts due to the problems with rockfish closures. Your opinions at such meetings would be invaluable since you own and operate an excellent boat and you are articulate and care about the industry and you care about the fishery.

[Albacore Tuna Captain]

Originally posted by Fshklr:
[

If she was the only 1 to represent via, her own statistics or not she was at least there..can't complain or ask for opinions from those not there or not wanting to set it straight. Just my .02 [/QB]

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">You're absolutely correct in that being there is important and those who are present have a right to voice their opinion. This was the first halibut meetinging that I've missed in ten years due to the need to finish a project on the Sea Venture. I could not be there. My problem is that if someone is going to speak up and make a point as though they were representing a group, that person needs to get their facts straight. This person was not representing me or the charters in Newport but it sounds as if she was. She was inaccurate and I felt it necessary to make that point.

And I'm not coming down on anyone for reporting what was said, only commenting on the inaccuracies. Sometimes the way things are written don't accurately give a sense of the emotional.

That's the point I was trying to make. Didn't want to wake someone and I apologize if I did. :smile:

[Pilar]

You've sure been to more of them than I have ATC. I did not realize until recently that the public had so much access to ODFW policy and decision making. This is not the case in some other states.

The rockfish problems and the changing rules for fishing offshore require all of us who fish the ocean to be involved. Newport is a pretty long drive for a meeting but I will go to them when I can because I want to know what is happening with the rules.

Have you checked out the 40 fathom line they came up with?

[Albacore Tuna Captain]

Originally posted by Pilar:

The rockfish problems and the changing rules for fishing offshore require all of us who fish the ocean to be involved. Newport is a pretty long drive for a meeting but I will go to them when I can because I want to know what is happening with the rules.

Have you checked out the 40 fathom line they came up with?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Yes, I have but it doesn't change much really except for halibut if we are allowed to fish for them inside. There are a few spots outside of the 30 fathom curve that have held more butts in the past.

I have always felt that the inside 30 fathom fishery did not produce much and seriously questioned the numbers of fish reportedly caught by the public. I'm sure there are some spots but the number of fish just didn't jive. I suspect many fish were being caught outside (like the rockpile) and the fishermen were reporting they caught them inside. OSP has not been enforcing this much for several years because the fish just came off the quota. But this year they will be out in force due to the sever restrictions and I think some folks are going to be pinched.

So the 40 fathom curve will give us more oppertunities for halibut, but won't help us any on the bottom fish.

[CAPT KUJO]

Seems to me I attended a ODFW halibut meeting in Tillamook and heard the same testimony from a female sitting with a group from Garibaldi.