Comments for CCA National News Feed

Comment on CCA rejects Gulf Council advisory panel recommendations by Ted Venker

Ted Venker — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:14:37 +0000

Mike – we’re not really trying to run a chatroom here. Posting all the responses we have received would be quite an undertaking. Our members have sent literally thousands of messages opposing your position to us and to the Gulf Council.

The fact of the matter is that our members are angry and baffled by this concept. They believe that this is simply an attempt to take advantage of a horribly mismanaged fishery, not unlike the dynamics that develop in the aftermath of a natural disaster, where the federal government loses control of a situation, the traditional rules of society break down, and people who ordinarily would not do such things suddenly riot and start breaking into stores. In the chaos of red snapper management, the proponents of sector separation are like looters scurrying out of broken department store windows carrying TVs and iPads. They don’t own those things, they have no right to them, and yet because nothing else is working it is seen as an opportunity to take it for their own. Proponents of sector separation are doing it behind the smoke and chaos of a chronically mismanaged fishery.

Our members want to know why the feds simply don’t employ the traditional tools available to them to properly manage this fishery rather than resort to giving it away. They want to know why managers won’t reallocate red snapper according to current conservation, economic and social criteria first. That could solve a lot of our problems.

They want to know why the Council won’t insist on having fishery independent data that can verify what shape this stock is really in. They want to know why managers don’t do all those things FIRST and then see what the picture looks like, before going down this road to sector separation and giving catch shares to your businesses.

What we have here is a fundamental difference of position. The businesses that stand to get their own personal pile of fish to make money on, whether it is 10, 50, 100 or even 1,000, are likely to be in favor of sector separation. The hundreds of thousands of people who won’t get their own personal pile of fish and will have to pay someone to go catch a red snapper, are opposed to this plan.

Sector separation and catch shares for your businesses are being crammed through in a time of high uncertainty in this fishery and that will cement a management plan born in chaos. That’s no way to manage a fishery.

Comment on CCA rejects Gulf Council advisory panel recommendations by Mike Jennings

Mike Jennings — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:25:46 +0000

Bob Zales comments are not factual, and Im sure you have received some rebuttals , why have you not posted them?
Three of the larger Charter boat orgs do support this. and it is a well known fact. If your going to post the responses, post them all.

Comment on CCA rejects Gulf Council advisory panel recommendations by capt gary jarvis

capt gary jarvis — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:33:46 +0000

As per usual Capt Zales is not totally forthcomming. NACO is a board oriented organization and there has never been a vote by it’s general membership on whether to support any of these issues, only the Board has taken this stance at his drection. Also not told, is that with 3200 plus members not even 10 % are federal GOM permit holders in fact over 3,000 members are either state guide boats that do not have the restrictions that federal permit holders subscibe to but most of NACO membership is derived of great lakes and river guides thoughout the Americas or east coast guides that do not fish in the Gulf of Mexico and who have absolutly no dog in the hunt so a NACO membership vote still would not have any relevance to these issues as well..The DCBA and OBFA are charter boat organizations that have 99% of their membership are GOM federally permitted vessels making both organizations the largest in thier respective states and they did have membership vote on the issue.

Comment on CCA rejects Gulf Council advisory panel recommendations by Capt. Scott Hickman

Capt. Scott Hickman — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:41:39 +0000

Bob, Is one of the groups whom support Sector Seperation part of NACO? Did not the DCBA vote in favor of sector seperation and did not OBFA vote in support of a Days at Sea pilot program and the Charter Fichermans Association and Clearwater Commercial Marine Association(charter&Headboats) support all the options on the table to look for ways to address status quo failing our industry and the millions of private recreational fisherman whom use our boats as the platform to access the Gulf reef fish fishery? So the statement above is false! Some of the largest For Hire Associations in the Gulf do support the exploration of alternatives on the table in place of status quo managment which is failing terribly!

Comment on CCA rejects Gulf Council advisory panel recommendations by bob zales, II

bob zales, II — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:40:03 +0000

Scott Hickman’s comment that the “two largest for-hire associations in the Gulf have voted for these options” is simply not true. The National Association of Charterboat Operators (NACO) represents the largest number of for-hire operators in the Gulf. Every major local for-hire association in the Gulf from Key West, FL to Port Aransas, Tx agrees with the NACO position which is that sector separation of the recreational sector IS NOT supported. We all support ONE recreational sector, not two, not three.

Comment on Vitter takes important step in protecting vital Gulf habitat by Robert Stluka

Robert Stluka — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:04:37 +0000

Kudo’s to Sen. Vitter. After I personally contacted two Texas Congressmen, one of whom’s District borders a great length of the Texas Gulf, and discussed in great detail the threat to our fishing, diving and protective habitat, neither has made any attempt to pursue legislation in the U.S. House similiar to Sen. Vitters.

I am contacting Sen. Cornyn and Hutchison to ask them to sign on as cosponsors to Vitters Bill.

Comment on Vitter takes important step in protecting vital Gulf habitat by Capt. Scott Hickman

Capt. Scott Hickman — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:31:46 +0000

Chuck you are right on! And this is the kind of work and outreach/education the CCA needs to be doing!

Comment on CCA rejects Gulf Council advisory panel recommendations by Capt. Scott Hickman

Capt. Scott Hickman — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:28:51 +0000

““In the end, the panel has come up with a result that is opposed by almost the entire Gulf of Mexico for-hire sector” This statement above is funny since the two largest for Hire Associations in the Gulf have voted in favor of these options. Status Quo managment has failed all the Private recreational anglers in the Gulf and its time to explore other options! Calm Seas………

Comment on CCA steps in to complete Bayou Cour Reef in Alabama by Grey Cane

Grey Cane — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:27:35 +0000

CCA is doing Great things in Alabama, thanks to the efforts of all the partners that are making a commitment to support the resources of our state. Join CCA in reaching our goals.
For the Fish. Grey

Comment on Vitter takes important step in protecting vital Gulf habitat by Chuck Bonner

Chuck Bonner — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:34:06 +0000

As a commercial diver for the past 25 + years and a member of the CCA. It realy discourages me to have to go out and “Do My Job” by removing these platforms. Sen. Vitter did the right thing for Louisiana. Is’nt it time for our Governer to do the same? For us here in Texas?