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Gary S. Colecchio
Posts: 24,905 AG
They are back.
Gary S. Colecchio
Posts: 24,905 AG
CCA FLORIDA CONFRONTS THE LATEST ATTEMPT BY COMMERCIAL NETTERS TO CIRCUMVENT THE GILL NET BAN
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Once again a small group of commercial netters are trying to get the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to allow larger mesh sizes in nets so they can be used as gill nets. The netters are now going to local county commissions and asking them to approve resolutions to the FWC urging them to increase the allowable mesh size. The netting group is not telling the whole story.
“CCA Florida has sent letters to the Governor’s Office and to all coastal County Commissioners providing information regarding the prohibition on the use of gill nets”, said Jeff Miller, CCA Florida Chairman of the Board. “We are concerned that Collier and other county commissions are not familiar with the history of FWC actions and the legal findings of fact in the previous lawsuits, so we have prepared a package of information on the past decisions that we have sent to the coastal County Commissions”.
The measures being pushed by the netting group include a resolution which would allow net fishers to use a larger size mesh in their nets. However; all the current and best scientific information and testimony indicates that marine nets with mesh sizes exceeding two inches are gill nets. The critical factor in determining whether a net is a seine net or a gill net is mesh size. Modifying regulations to allow nets which exceed two inches stretched mesh would not be allowed by the net limitation amendment. Net studies, expert testimony and all court cases agree on that point.
In November 1994 an overwhelming 72 percent of Florida’s voters said yes to the constitutional amendment limiting marine net fishing. The amendment includes both a prohibition on the use of gill and entangling nets in all state waters and a size limit on other nets. Although the restrictions have been in place for nearly 16 years, there are still factions within the commercial industry who refuse to accept the legal reality that the constitutional prohibition on gill nets means no gill nets.
The last time the netting group went to the FWC in 2008 their request to increase the mesh sizes was again rejected by the Commission. Here are two of the strong comments made by Commissioners at that meeting.
“This is not a science question, the resource has rebounded. This constitutional amendment passed by a remarkable margin and our predecessors created a bright line definition, done objectively, and upheld in litigation,” said FWC Commissioner Ken Wright. “I am adamantly in favor of keeping the current two inch regulation. We are Trustees of a decision and bound to follow the will of the people”.
“Going to a larger mesh size has the intent of creating a gill net. We can’t point to a dog and call it a cat,” said FWC Commissioner Brian Yablonski. “We are bound by duty to the law and must respect the rule of law”.
Since 1994, there have been numerous lawsuits, attempts to create enforcement loopholes, and outright scams all designed to invalidate or circumvent provisions of the constitutional amendment. All have failed. The Florida Legislature, Florida Courts, and state agencies have upheld the clear intent of Florida voters.
“CCA Florida will continue to be the outspoken advocate and protector of the Constitutional Amendment which prohibits the use of gill nets and other damaging nets” said CCA Florida Chairman Jeff Miller.
I saw the letter from the Collier County Commission recommending an increase in the mesh size at the Naples CCA banquet on Saturday.
_____________________________
Once again a small group of commercial netters are trying to get the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to allow larger mesh sizes in nets so they can be used as gill nets. The netters are now going to local county commissions and asking them to approve resolutions to the FWC urging them to increase the allowable mesh size. The netting group is not telling the whole story.
“CCA Florida has sent letters to the Governor’s Office and to all coastal County Commissioners providing information regarding the prohibition on the use of gill nets”, said Jeff Miller, CCA Florida Chairman of the Board. “We are concerned that Collier and other county commissions are not familiar with the history of FWC actions and the legal findings of fact in the previous lawsuits, so we have prepared a package of information on the past decisions that we have sent to the coastal County Commissions”.
The measures being pushed by the netting group include a resolution which would allow net fishers to use a larger size mesh in their nets. However; all the current and best scientific information and testimony indicates that marine nets with mesh sizes exceeding two inches are gill nets. The critical factor in determining whether a net is a seine net or a gill net is mesh size. Modifying regulations to allow nets which exceed two inches stretched mesh would not be allowed by the net limitation amendment. Net studies, expert testimony and all court cases agree on that point.
In November 1994 an overwhelming 72 percent of Florida’s voters said yes to the constitutional amendment limiting marine net fishing. The amendment includes both a prohibition on the use of gill and entangling nets in all state waters and a size limit on other nets. Although the restrictions have been in place for nearly 16 years, there are still factions within the commercial industry who refuse to accept the legal reality that the constitutional prohibition on gill nets means no gill nets.
The last time the netting group went to the FWC in 2008 their request to increase the mesh sizes was again rejected by the Commission. Here are two of the strong comments made by Commissioners at that meeting.
“This is not a science question, the resource has rebounded. This constitutional amendment passed by a remarkable margin and our predecessors created a bright line definition, done objectively, and upheld in litigation,” said FWC Commissioner Ken Wright. “I am adamantly in favor of keeping the current two inch regulation. We are Trustees of a decision and bound to follow the will of the people”.
“Going to a larger mesh size has the intent of creating a gill net. We can’t point to a dog and call it a cat,” said FWC Commissioner Brian Yablonski. “We are bound by duty to the law and must respect the rule of law”.
Since 1994, there have been numerous lawsuits, attempts to create enforcement loopholes, and outright scams all designed to invalidate or circumvent provisions of the constitutional amendment. All have failed. The Florida Legislature, Florida Courts, and state agencies have upheld the clear intent of Florida voters.
“CCA Florida will continue to be the outspoken advocate and protector of the Constitutional Amendment which prohibits the use of gill nets and other damaging nets” said CCA Florida Chairman Jeff Miller.
I saw the letter from the Collier County Commission recommending an increase in the mesh size at the Naples CCA banquet on Saturday.
"If I can't win, I won't play." - Doris Colecchio.
"Well Gary, the easiest way to look tall is to stand in a room full of short people." - Curtis Bostick
"All these forums, with barely any activity, are like a neglected old cemetery that no one visits anymore."- anonymouse
"Well Gary, the easiest way to look tall is to stand in a room full of short people." - Curtis Bostick
"All these forums, with barely any activity, are like a neglected old cemetery that no one visits anymore."- anonymouse
Replies
I bet the commissioners bought the line, "the larger mesh will allow all those little ones to escape". Or else they're in cahoots with commercials.
"Well Gary, the easiest way to look tall is to stand in a room full of short people." - Curtis Bostick
"All these forums, with barely any activity, are like a neglected old cemetery that no one visits anymore."- anonymouse
PS: As for the comment by the idiot commissioner, just what does he think happens to the small fish when they hit the small mesh of the current nets?
I don't care about the dirt bag chuckleheads drug-abusing. wife-beating, incestuous Commercial Rapists. They don't love Sportsmen either so we are even. That is the line in the sand. It isn't about making it better for commercial dirtbags. It is about taking away what they think is their right to ruin our fisheries. Screw em.
I hope I made my self clear. they can be reformed...they could work at Wal-mart with their skill sets...till they get caught stealing there too.
There is a series of lies relentlessly forwarded annually which you as an FS moderator should be ashamed to repeat, much less advance. The first one is insulting our intelligence with the "you don't understand that the larger mesh size is better for the fish" nonsense. The most insulting is that that our "hatred" of these people is driving us to drive them out of their traditional livelihood. The last lie is that all the FWC guys think that increasing the net size is a good idea. I know a bunch of them and have never heard any of them say anything like that at all.
The net limitation ban has proven to be the most beneficial tool ever employed to recover inshore fisheries enacted by the state and enforced by the will of the overwhelming majority of the people of Florida, who have voiced no regrets in the 18 years that have passed since then.
The use of those nets was directly responsible for the reduction of inshore fish stocks. The people employing them were directly responsible for that reduction have they should not have the ability to do that again.
You need to reconsider your standing as a representative of this site.
"Well Gary, the easiest way to look tall is to stand in a room full of short people." - Curtis Bostick
"All these forums, with barely any activity, are like a neglected old cemetery that no one visits anymore."- anonymouse
Yes, Please don't let the truth get in the way of the company line:)
"Well Gary, the easiest way to look tall is to stand in a room full of short people." - Curtis Bostick
"All these forums, with barely any activity, are like a neglected old cemetery that no one visits anymore."- anonymouse
2: Where did I say that you are driving them from their livelihood "get yer facts strait Gary"!
3: I said the FWC guys that have gone out with them! I doubt those that you know would be willing or able to go out on one of their boats!!
4: Before you start calling me a liar, you best get your facts in order !!
The only thing that you said above that has any resemblance to the truth is that the ban did help the fisheries! The changing of the mesh size will in no way hurt anything "except maybe yer feelings" and will allow most juvenile fish to pass through the net, instead of getting tangled in it "as they do now" and dying!!!!!
PS: You know who to talk to, if you want me gone!! GO FOR IT
What you are trying to say is: We are tired of catching all these male fish that are worth less money. We only want the really big ones that are full of eggs. Thats where the money is at.
If you want to stop getting mullet gilled in your nets maybe the size should be changed to 1.5" or 1", that would take care of the problem wouldn't it?
Matt
A 1" mesh will catch what size fish?
Small fish and some large fish!A 3" mesh will catch what size fish?
Large fish, while allowing small fish to swim thru it!
It aint rocket science fellas
The argument for the larger mesh size is that all the little fish can swim through it and be free! Which is nonsense. The other argument is that the net size now forces them to kill fish. Which is totally absurd.
I'm not calling you a liar. I'm calling you ignorant. Which is something you seem to enjoy celebrating.
"Well Gary, the easiest way to look tall is to stand in a room full of short people." - Curtis Bostick
"All these forums, with barely any activity, are like a neglected old cemetery that no one visits anymore."- anonymouse
Matt
How many mullet fishers do you personally know?
Tell us "O" wise one. What makes you qualified to call me ignorant? Cause in doing so, you imply a great knowledge on the subject.
Matt
Most of our mullet up here in NW Florida is caught in 6 foot or less of water!
And finger mullet don't school with adult, roe-bearing female mullet. Thus, the real reason why netters want a larger mesh - not to "save the lives" of fish they'll never target or incidentally catch, but to gill those larger roe mullet. Big, easy money, and as pointed out above, constitutionally outlawed.
In fact in my opinion, the net ban didn't go far enough. But that's another thread.
X2
I guess it's just like the statements that we've heard about increasing the mess size on Fish Traps, since they will let the small ones go and can be designed not to let Red Snapper in.
Rob
Hero's Don't Wear Capes....They Wear Dog Tags.
Fish do not often engage those nets perpendiculary but obliquely and will turn when they find an opening. Then they can get stuck in it. If the mesh size was smaller this would not happen.
So maybe you would feel more comfortable here: http://fishingforfreedom.net ? You can ask Dave if he has a moderator's job open. Or you could write an article about what evil Godless bastards Wickstrom, Forsgren and Colecchio are!
Commercial Netters Want Larger Net Size
If you were at the Florida Guides Association meeting on Sunday March 4, you heard FGA Captain and Board Member Gary Colecchio identify a new threat to the fishing resource. Some commercial netters are attempting to persuade the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions to allow larger mesh nets. Recreational anglers view this a way to work around the gill net ban.
CCA Florida has put out a call to action alerting the public to this issue. In their release CCA explains that a small group of commercial netters are going to county commissions and asking them to approve resolutions to the FWC urging them to increase the allowable mesh size. According to CCA, the netting group is not telling the whole story.
- Captain Ron Presely
"Well Gary, the easiest way to look tall is to stand in a room full of short people." - Curtis Bostick
"All these forums, with barely any activity, are like a neglected old cemetery that no one visits anymore."- anonymouse
Gary, I like to see how a cast net can be tied to circumvent the law, They are measured differently than a seine, 14' from the horn to the leadline no matter how much bunt or the mesh size. Know why? Because they are hand thrown.
That is the law.
Don't post CCA B.S.as fact.
yeah you must've been. some people are kArazy. the nets destroyed the mackerel for several years and the mullet as well. dweebs.
When I do I'll tell you. I wasn't talking about the cast net variation. And don't presume to lecture me on the law , if you please.
"Well Gary, the easiest way to look tall is to stand in a room full of short people." - Curtis Bostick
"All these forums, with barely any activity, are like a neglected old cemetery that no one visits anymore."- anonymouse