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and this....
Divers and hoop netters together are taking an estimated 28% of the total catch. I believe the ratio of divers to hoopers is estimated at 60% hoop to 40% dive in a 2012 data report. So IMHO any changes that effect hoopers should also be straight across the board to effect divers too! This 28% is derived from only 49% data returns on the report cards...they are still guessing on 51% of our catch. The other interesting data is the high percentage of unused cards.
22% did not even use the report card. Here are a couple of other interesting numbers..the average number of trips per card was 3.4 and the average number of lobsters taken per trip was 1.6.
We as consumptive users, are always going to be impacting this resource, but in their last stock assessment the Department has deemed it a Sustainable resource.
Unlimited commercial take and unlimited commercial gear in the water is the biggest issue the Department needs to get a handle on.
We need better data on the recreational take and the only way to do that is to get our report card returns up well above 49%.
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Jim / Saba Slayer
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