What do we say!
Please let the commission know how you feel.
The commission has decided that the welfare of a few lobster trappers is more important than our recreational divers who just want to catch a few bugs when they go out.
Click Here for my notes from the meeting
Breaking NEWS. They changed the meeting dates at the last minute. I had rearranged my appointment so that I could attend, and now I am screwed. Someone needs to video tape the rubberstamping of the commercial fishing industry plan to take the last lobster at any cost. Who wants to go to the keys every year and dive a barren reef?
I would love to be there, but I have an appointment that I can't miss. It doesn't matter, as the back room deals have already been made and the closed door decisions are already decided. To be there is something that everyone should see at least once. Take a video camera and tape recorder, I'll post the transcript if you record the meeting. Let me know if you can make the trip.
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Lobster trappers want to use illegal lobster for bait. Should we use short snook for bait, or short trout. This is a joke that is going to pass on through because none of you would write the legislators. I wrote them. These guys want more and more, even after they all received a huge government handout of $8000.00 each. How much more do you need to hear before you get angry and tell these folks that you are sick and tired of the way they pander to these commercial fishermen. Commissioners, Governor of Florida, South Atlantic Council, Gulf Council
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Commercial fishermen to be allowed a path to sell lobster all year long. This is almost criminal how the government allows the commercial fishermen Carte Blanche to write laws that benefit themselves. Now they can harvest lobster all year long for commercial sale, and the government won't have a way to stop them. The trappers have lost most of their landings to the commercial divers working illegally, and the government answer is to give the trappers a handout, and more unfair advantages to try and catch what is remaining. Commissioners, Governor of Florida, South Atlantic Council, Gulf Council
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Commercial fishermen want to be allowed to continue overharvesting red grouper while the recreational fisherman suffers closed seasons. This is happening right now in the Gulf of Mexico off the west coast of Florida, and I fear that those poor recreational fishermen over there don't know what is about to happen. Longliners and commercial spearfishermen are the biggest threat to the red grouper, and the government wants to stop the recreational fisherman from being allowed to take any. This is another example of how corrupt the decision making process has become. God help the family that wants to head offshore to get anything to eat over there. Commissioners, Governor of Florida, South Atlantic Council, Gulf Council
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The state wants to eliminate recreational lobster diving. The council has deferred this issue once again. This issue was a smokescreen, to keep us from noticing what other lobster regulations they were trying to alter.This issue has been raised because a few wealthy homeowners want to keep all of us out of their playground. The commercial fishing industry has fallen inline with the wealthy homeowners because they see the opportunity to increase their profits by getting rid of the families and friends who like to dive recreationally for lobster. The commercial divers are wiping out the lobster populations in the Keys, in violation of the Code of Federal Regulations title 46-197. Write letters now, the meeting is on April 5th. Commissioners, Governor of Florida, South Atlantic Council, Gulf Council, and all your friends who would like their children to ever get to see the splendor of the Keys before the traps hit the water.
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The commercial scallop industry has kept us out for long enough. The total landings of calico scallops on the Atlantic coast are staggering, yet we aren't allowed to put a few in our dive bags? I think we should be allowed to fill a bag while diving if they can scoop them up by the millions of pounds. What do you think? Click here to see that everyone who makes the rules governing calico scallops profits from the sale of scallops. Commissioners, Governor of Florida, South Atlantic Council, Gulf Council
Commissioners
- Florida Fish and Wildlife
Governor
of Florida - Jeb Bush
Council
- South Atlantic Fisheries Mis-Management Council
Council
-Gulf of Mexico Fishery Mis-Management
Council
Sample Letter
My
name is Eric Colley II. I am a registered voter in Longwood Florida. I
can be reached at 407-461-7467 if you wish further explanation
of this letter.
Dear Jeb Bush,
Please
don’t let the state take away my past time of diving for lobster in
the Keys.
Your
people are pandering to the commercial fishing industry, and hurting a
large portion of citizens.
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Please stop the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission from attempting to eliminate the sport season. The commercial fishing lobby is attempting to keep me from putting 6 lobster per day for two days in my cooler while they are taking more and more. The hurried frenzy to be able to get a few bugs before the commercial strip mining process begins could be stretched out to 14 days, thus eliminating most of the problems associated with massive crowds descending on the Keys in such a short period of time. The Keys are best remembered as a tourist haven where you can relax and slow down to the speed of enjoyment. Please remember that tourism and recreational interest would like to enjoy the Keys as it is meant to be, and the commercial fishermen need to be aware that they will not always have the right to take what is not theirs away from the rest of us. When they tell you that divers are taking too many lobster, make sure to subtract the commercial divers landings from the recreational landings. Commercial divers are the problem if landings are the argument. These guys are in violation of Title 46-197 in the Code of Federal Regulations, and if you enforce the laws already on the books, there wouldn't be such a problem in the first place.
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Please stop the fisheries managers from allowing the sale of lobster during closed season.
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Please stop the fisheries managers from allowing lobster trappers to use illegal short lobster to bait their traps. They are lobbying to allow the use of illegal size lobster for bait in their traps. If they allow that to happen, you might as well say I can use short snook for bait, or short trout for bait, or short redfish for bait. This is a terrible thing to promote.
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Please help us Jeb. A lot of us get our most precious memories from the sea, and the commercial fishing industry is destroying our ability to do so.
Sincerely,
Capt Moose
aka Eric Colley II
The Seahunters - MPA's destroy Moose's personal rain forrest! But the commercial fisherman will reap huge rewards. MPA's would not be needed if the real problem of overharvest by the commercial industry were addressed first.
Excerpt from: http://floridaconservation.org/commission/2001/Nov/Lobsterexecsum.pdf
Allocation. Commercial trappers are concerned that the [commercial] dive sector’s harvest share is increasing at the expense of the trappers who have be enforced to reduce their numbers of traps. The recreational divers’ share (20 -25%) has not increased since the 1993/94 season, and staff sees no problem here even though the sale of recreational lobster stamps has increased. The commercial divers’ share has been increasing by about 1% per year, from3.4% in 1993/94 and 1994/95 to 9.1% for 1999/00 and 2000/01. Even though statewide trap landings declined by 30% from 1999/00 to 2000/01,divers’ landings increased. The increase in divers’ landings could be a result of an increase in the use of illegal lobster habitats (a.k.a, casitas). Staff recommends continued efforts to facilitate enforcement and compliance with370.25, F.S., which prohibits on-the-water possession and transport of artificial reef materials without a Commission cargo manifest or Commission certified inspector on board.
From Capt Moose:
It is plain to see how the commercial divers are the problem, and how recreational divers get the shaft. The number of recreational lobster divers has increased, while our landings have not. That shows how hard it has become for a recreational diver to get a fair share. To hear the commercial guys blame the entire dive sector is a typical example of the dirty tricks they play in trying to sneak legislation that favors them and nobody else. The very worst thing about the entire rule making process is how the government hides their process from the general public in hopes of sneaking legislation through. You can't expect anyone to call you or write you a letter and say "hey, were taking more lobster from you and giving it to the commercial guys that already get nearly 90% of all lobster landings" so you have to read very carefully between the lines on all their documents. You cant expect any help from the government unless you scream loud enough for them to hear you. The way to do that is to get as many people involved as you can. Tell all your family and friends that they may never know the splendor of the Keys if we allow the commercial industry to continue with their rampage.
It sickens me that they won't do what is right, they do what the commercial industry tells them to do.
The State of Florida is messing with the Mini Season.
By Capt Moose
There is a small problem. A few wealthy homeowners (read the letters) have decided that they don't want anyone else diving in their back yard. So they begin a campaign to eliminate the sport season, which is one of the most unique diving opportunities a person will ever have. They have backing from the commercial fishing industry, and the only ones who will benefit will be the commercial fishing industry and the few property owners who want it all to themselves.
The State of Florida is actually pursuing their wishes, and WE are fighting mad. One of the reasons we dive in the Florida Keys is because of the unique diving conditions found nowhere else in the continental United States. Warm, clear water is not often found where we dive (Volusia County) and we cherish the conditions when we get them. The lobster are found very nearshore in the Florida Keys, eliminating the 70 mile runs we make. Perfect conditions for the beginning diver and those who get seasick. Perfect for me also, when I need a break from the extreme conditions where I live.
The mini season is designed to allow the average person to dive and hunt a few lobster before the commercial fishing industry takes everything they can fit in their coolers, and leaves nothing but a barren reef until the next wave of lobster walk in. There is no reprieve for the lobster when there are traps in the water every day of the season. WE believe that the recreational citizen deserves better than that. WE believe that the scenarios promoted by the State are not fair to the vast majority of seahunters, most all dive shops, and almost all small businesses other than those associated with commercially harvested lobster.
We have a better solution to the problem than any offered by the State. We would like the commission to extend the mini season to 14 consecutive days or more. It would benefit many local businesses and shops and hotels in this time of need. It would benefit the vast majority of people.
It is the only fair solution.
Please preserve our right as average citizens to hunt the reefs off the Florida Keys.
Please decrease the landings by the commercial fishing industry.
Please enforce the laws already written and ignored. ( CFR 46-197 )
It is the only fair solution.