A Promise Broken

Chugger

Nice article in this issue about how the FWC no longer can say it won't support no fishing zones unless first there is a proven basis for it. The FWC seems more interested in helping the diving industry instead of fishermen which is a joke because (help me here) divers don't contribute ONE CENT to the FWC with no license requirement like I have and millions more like me in Florida. They need to quit following the feds with their anti fishing campaign to take over our coastal waters (excuse me, except for divers). Come on FWC, get back on our side.

Jack Hexter

Excuse me, I don't dive at all, but, I do know one DOES need a license to take a fish when diving

Chugger

Excuse me, but significant damage is caused by diving impacts to corals. Try googling that and you'll learn about it. The point is that a "damage allowance" is given for unlimited numbers of divers to mingle in areas supposedly set aside from human impacts such as fishing and diving. Divers are biasing fish behavior just by their presence. However, it's hypocritical to ban us fishermen who pay millions per year to the FWC for the privilege of fishing when divers pay NOTHING as a license fee to the state to dive ANYWHERE. It's not just about extraction. Meanwhile we can't even catch and release a bonefish in the Looe Key zone that runs right to the shoreline while people jet ski through it. But the main point of Kelly's article is that the FWC broke a decades old promise and don't earn our trust now unless they change their ways about partnering with the feds on divers in, anglers out zones that apparently you like.