McCaffitty is simply trying to make a living without placing himself in neeedless peril. Something these 4th and 5th generation Tar Heels do to survive.
Follows my letter to every swingin' **** in the NC House:
To All Concerned Parties, It is with urgency and respect I address the issue of Comprehensive Fishery Management. Mr. Chris McCaffity has made it abundantly clear a change of course is required, one that will both benefit all shareholders, provide the necessary safeties and apply common sense. His proposed "comprehensive fishery management plan…offer(s) as an alternative to HB-353, catch shares, and derby fisheries" deserves both open debate and presentation to both the House and Senate. Please take the time to fully digest Mr. McCaffity proposal and distribute the contents of this proposal to all those tasked with the impacts associated with fishery laws that do not follow most of the mandates in the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA). The Plan can be viewed by clicking this URL. The families of Alan Nelson and the others who daily risk their lives demands our collective attention and actions. I thank each of you for your time and trust you will act swiftly and in accord with the best interest of all Americans.
Let me ask you this, and I am NOT being snarky - I am being serious: Could it be that the 5th generation of this industry needs to understand the reality of the times? Most industries do not last 4 or 5 generations without radical change. Could it be that commercial fishing old school is the buggy whip industry trying to defy the reality of change?
The stupid size limit plans should be dumped, as should throwing back all the dead fish to stay within TCL rules.
I disagree with the plan to ship all the ‘over quota’ fish to the so called ‘poor’.
A better idea would be to allow them to go to any state licensed REC fisherman to have them free, up to their daily catch limit.
That would bump up state fishing license sales many thousands a year, which goes directly back to the state fish/game dept.
It would also be great PR for the commercial fishermen which are often looked down upon by sport anglers.
What would that do for state tourism if that vacationing angler had a good chance of taking home a cooler full of fish even if they failed to catch any? That makes that nonresident license a much better deal.
The ‘poor’ can buy a state fishing license and pick up those overfish right at the docks, no extra government program needed.
“Catch Shares” metioned in your post are right out of Agenda 21. The PCSD recommemded “establishing an allocation system in which a limited number of fishermen may work”.
Catch Shares have devastated the New Englang fisheries to the point that a large part of the fleet is tied to the dock and the Gov. of Mass has requested $21million in economic disaster aid for the fishing industry.
NOAA Administrator Lubchenco promptly requested $54 million to expand it to all American fisheries even taking money out of slim research budgets to promote it.
The enviro’s tout it as the best thing under the sun yet it does nothing for conservation as the total allowable catch is not reduced. It does privitize the marine resources into the hands of a few “winners” that the govt. picks.
Another interesting point is that EDF published the Catch Share implementation manual and the current Head Adm. of NOAA, Jane Lubchenco is a former Vice Chair of EDF.
Wonder who is going to end up owning these allocation’s down the road? HMMMMMMM
Also, Iceland’s economy was ruined by their venture with Catch Shares to the point that the Icelandic fishermen went to the U.N. Human Rights Commission who ruled that Catch Shares are a violation of the Convention on Human Rights.
84% of seafood consumed in the US is imported now and we have a trade deficit over $10 billion. This is re-distribution of American wealth. The fisheries are for the most part extremly healthy. The last thing we need to be doing is shutting down more of our natural resource production.
See tagline below.
I waas a stripe bass fisherman from NYC. I also used to go on party party boats to fish and work on occasion.
It’s a shame that the idiots on the left want to close down another American economy.