Proposed No Take Areas - IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Intheslot

Everyone should know that the Our Florida Reefs organization has many proposals to our regulatory agencies that if passed will severely infringe upon our usage rights to the resource and our rights to consumptive fishing!

First, I am not an expert on any of this, I'm only passing on information that I discovered on another forum. And I'm only letting everyone know because well it is really important.

What little I do know is that of the many proposals, there are ones for large no-take areas. There is a huge one from around the Juno Pier all the way past Jupiter inlet!

This is just more of the same old bs based upon non-science and our rights and our kids rights are under fire.

There's already a ton written about it on Spearboard linked as - http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=187071

Whether or not you appreciate spearfishing is completely irrelevant, do not let that sidetrack you from the real issues here - they want to destroy all our rights. Everyone must stick together if any are to win.

There are public meetings and we all need to attend and voice our concerns.

I would say though it would be important if you show up to have the goal of being constructive rather than seeing how many cuss words can be strung together in one sentence.

I don't really know how much support or traction the proposals do have or the political will. All I know is that I'd regret standing by doing nothing at all if it does happen.

Intheslot

So an update, went to one of the public meetings last night.

Our Florida Reefs organization is a "community action group" that has drafted some 68 proposals to present to lawmakers and agencies.

The map that I saw previously that seemed to blockout a huge swath of bottom from Juno pier past Jupiter inlet actually only represents a an "area of interest" and from that are a much smaller are would be selected for protected no take area. If the proposal was adopted then my understanding is that up to 25% of the area could be restricted from all activity, fishing, anchoring, lobstering, etc. Their pitch was the net effect was more yield. I don't know what to think or believe about that but that's what it is.

Some of their proposals were geared towards pollution control and the like. Some seemed like they were good, some not so much.

So they say they are looking for public input on the proposals, which can be done on their website. I don't know the link it surely it could be googled.

JIMinPB

It's been my experience, that once government takes control of a small part of something, that control will only continue to grow as time progresses. Something like this is best off nipped in the bud.

The original federal income tax was found to be unconstitutional by the SCOTUS & scrapped. Shortly thereafter, in 1913 Congress enacted a new law with a top rate of 7 percent and a high exemption that spared all but 2 percent of the country's households entirely. This got through, because not enough people were affected to mount enough of an argument against it. Just five years later, the top rate was 11 times higher. I think that we all know where the tax code has gone from there.

I would like to know who is in that "community action group". I would like to know if they are actually a bunch of shills.

The fishing bans in Biscayne Bay got pushed through with a bunch of questionable "science" & an endorsement from Bouncer Smith. Bouncer seemed to be there to make it look like the action had public support behind it. I saw the "scientific" presentation. Questions about it from me & several other people were ignored. I was there when Bouncer spoke on the subject. I don't ever want to hear another word that he has to say for the rest of my life.

NiceSpread

attended the meeting in Palm Beach Gardens yesterday. Yes their intentions are good on many issues BUT as fishermen we need to speak up that we are against an MPA (marine protected area aka NO TAKE ZONE) Once an MPA is put into effect its T H A T much easier to expand that zone and increase is size. There are other methods to address these issues versus just shutting an area down altogether.

Visit their website and participate in the conversations.
http://ourfloridareefs.org/place-based/

[email protected] Special

Divers are gonna love the proposals to lower lobster limits during mini season and ban spearfishing with scuba!

However, being in the industry, there are many very good proposals that need traction.

Flight Risk

JIMinPB wrote: »

I would like to know who is in that "community action group". I would like to know if they are actually a bunch of shills.

The fishing bans in Biscayne Bay got pushed through with a bunch of questionable "science" & an endorsement from Bouncer Smith. Bouncer seemed to be there to make it look like the action had public support behind it. I saw the "scientific" presentation. Questions about it from me & several other people were ignored. I was there when Bouncer spoke on the subject. I don't ever want to hear another word that he has to say for the rest of my life.

:Agree

Someone told me a long time ago, Jim. NEVER trust a fat man... :wink

JIMinPB

NiceSpread wrote: »

Visit their website and participate in the conversations.
http://ourfloridareefs.org/place-based/

That's a pretty slick looking website for a community action group. I wonder how it got funded?

JIMinPB

Wow, just about every spot I currently fish is in one of the areas they want to shut down.

I'd like to know where they got their topographical mapping. They have access to better bottom contour info than I do.

gerrys

This is a gov't initiative - even though it sounds like a volunteer effort. Started by Clinton and has developed tentacles into environmental groups.

It basically is an organization founded by the government that give a neighborhood, looks-good, feels-good twist for more government control - say EPA on steroids. They have focus groups, public input, etc. and then write the laws they want.

ControlledChaos

I am all about protecting fish and the reefs but just like most things that the government is involved with this will go from a small no fishing, anchoring, take zone to all of the coast over time. We are told one thing then next thing you know its implemented on a much larger scale. This will negatively impact our economy by local fishing and dive stores loosing revenue. To show there level of disconnect with the reality of our problems on the McCarther park plan it states they are going to help improve water quality by less impact from humans and boats. How about they start off by focusing on the lake run off that made our waters like chocolate milk for 6-8 weeks last year and harmed many of the reefs I dive from low salinity and lack of sunlight. This has significantly more impact on our reefs and fish populations than we do.

Osprey45

9 most terrifying words in the english language.

" I'm from the government and I'm here to help"

Ronald Reagan

Ejazzle

Remember you are paying for all this when you buy stuff from the fishing/sporting goods department at walmart.

http://www.independentsentinel.com/fishing-cap-trade-corruption-is-reaching-new-heights-thank-you-walmart/

linesliderRyro

http://www.floridasportsman.com/2016/01/28/fishing-rights-attack-southeast-florida/

R Days

So that I understand this correctly. One of the things they want to do is protect the St. Lucie Inlet State Park up to bathtub reef from water quality issues. Billions of gallons of freshwater are dumped out of this inlet routinely and they want to protect the area from water quality issues? Oh yeah this is definitely a government operation.

JIMinPB

ControlledChaos wrote: »

I am all about protecting fish and the reefs but just like most things that the government is involved with this will go from a small no fishing, anchoring, take zone to all of the coast over time. We are told one thing then next thing you know its implemented on a much larger scale. This will negatively impact our economy by local fishing and dive stores loosing revenue. To show there level of disconnect with the reality of our problems on the McCarther park plan it states they are going to help improve water quality by less impact from humans and boats. How about they start off by focusing on the lake run off that made our waters like chocolate milk for 6-8 weeks last year and harmed many of the reefs I dive from low salinity and lack of sunlight. This has significantly more impact on our reefs and fish populations than we do.

Well said.

J-Sea

There is no scientific data that proves MPA increase fish stocks in nearby areas 'recruitment'. The summary of this current groups MPA proposal even states this. When the Environmental Defense Fund is listed as a partner you should be worried.
The Occulina Coral MPA was 'Experimental' but has been here since the early 90's. It's tens of square miles and covers areas from north of ft pierce to north of Sebastian inlet. no bottom fishing or possession of bottom fish. Be warned. These are environmentalists seeking to keep you from using a public resource.