Lobster FMP

[Matt]

Just like Baja traveller said....I've seen it and heard it all before... Fuck the DFG! I remember the questionnaire they posed asking "where do you fish?" next thing I know southern Blacks Beach got shut down to "bait making only" (thank eb and certain others for at least fighting to let people make bait). I'm not saying I won't go to the Carlsbad meeting but it all feels very reminiscent of the original Mlpa meetings up in Oxnard....hopefully I'll be proven wrong in my distrust of the dfg although I'm skeptical at best......

[jimbo]

If I give those who brought this to the table the benefit of doubt and try to see from their perspective, here's my question ... what is the rationale for this?
We already have a system w/ a size limit that allows breeding. Too much pressure means less legals taken. They're not killed from bario-trauma or release. Compared to fishing - the limit is enforced like crazy. DFG agents have major hard on for checking your boat inside and out during lobster season. People are WAY more careful about not violating lobster laws. And anyone who has gone hooping in the last 5 years knows there are tons of shorts in the areas you would expect bugs. Factors like water temp on bottom of the column and dinophlagylites (sp??) that could be toxic to crustaceans don't need to be discussed at public forums. Uninformed idiots like myself would just be adding more noise to the equation and detracting from efforts to help out the little buggers. Without a logical and clear rationale for the process, I'm hugely skeptical. And I think we have good reason to be.

[jimbo]

and, oh yeah, last time I heard, the state of CA didn't have money to waste on things like this. If the fishery has good stock and the system is working...this is money that could be spent on hatchery or other more productive things. Unless, the real motive is to....

[dos ballenas]

The DFG has done a lot of good things for fishing.... so have fisheries managment plans.

I have never met a bad DFG agent. They are not the ones we should be skeptical about IMO.

There are plenty of lobster poachers despite the strict regulation of the fishery... open your eyes!

[jimbo]

never said DFG nor their officers were bad. i was giving them compliment that they enforce lobster limits vigorously. i think they are middlemen/pawn (at least was my take in mlpa). i don't think they drove mlpa or will be driving force in this process. if i'm wrong, i sincerely want to know - like i said, what is the rationale? i'm skeptical of the necessity of this process.

also never said that there wasn't poaching of lobsters or other species. but that seems like a totally different discussion that doesn't need to be done in public forums with input from all. it's pretty clear - don't do it. i don't think we need a public forum for that, do we? enforcement strategies already amped up this year with cards. i'm all for them doing what they need to do to enforce and i'm always glad to let them go thru my yak/boat/car gear etc.

[lowprofile]

i don't mind larger size limits (to an extent) or smaller bag limits. but if this turns into closing more of our grounds, even though im not an avid lobster fisher/trapper), I'm all for a trip to Oxnard or wherever the meetings will be held when the time comes.

[Saba Slayer]

Guys...Please Read this CAREFULLY...
There are a lot of you jumping to ridiculous conclusions about this FMP process and assuming that it is all doom and gloom.
This is from DFG...
Background: The Marine Life Management Act (MLMA) requires the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to develop comprehensive Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) that ensure effective management, sustainability and long-X‐term economic viability of the state’s fisheries resources. FMPs will be based on the best available scientific and relevant information and undergo peer review and public review before consideration by the Fish and Game Commission. Moreover, FMPs will integrate—through a participatory process—the interests of all affected stakeholders and strive to minimize negative impacts on the natural habitat of the species as well as resource dependent communities and interest groups. To accomplish this, DFG is working with the California Wildlife Foundation, with grant money provided by the Ocean Protection Council, to produce an efficient and cost effective process for development of a FMP for the California spiny lobster. Project success may create a replicable model for other state fisheries.

So all our fishery resources will go through this FMP process eventually...or at least till the state and its partners run out of money...they seem to be starting with lobsters since the recent stock assessment went so well.
IT IS SIMPLY A FUTURE PLAN FOR PROTECTING THE RESOURCE...not a plan to take away our rights to fish!!!
If you have some creative input please email me (jim@sabaslayer.com) or DFG or come to one of the meeting and make sure your opinions are heard!
Jim / Saba Slayer

[Tman]

Originally Posted by Saba Slayer

Guys...Please Read this CAREFULLY...
There are a lot of you jumping to ridiculous conclusions about this FMP process and assuming that it is all doom and gloom...
IT IS SIMPLY A FUTURE PLAN FOR PROTECTING THE RESOURCE...not a plan to take away our rights to fish!!!

Until every vote is tallied (or as in the case of the MLPA, until they make their decision) and no rights are taken away, you can't fault anyone from being too skeptical at this point.

That was the premise of the MLPA and we all know too well how that turned out...you seriously can't expect people to trust the process after all the 'smoke and mirror' activity that occurred throughout the last process...