Fishing Regulations

[buddha]

Here is an email sent to me by the owner of the fishing lodge where I will be working in Alaska this summer.

Please read it.

We in California are not the only ones being affected by fishing regulations.

All,

The U.S. Department of Commerce in conjunction with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration has been steadily implementing more and more regulations and restrictions to recreational and charter fisherman around the country. Recently imposed and extreme regulations are too numerous to mention. NOAA must be challenged and required to act more responsibly or the recreational and saltwater charter fishieries we all have come to know, enjoy and appreciate will become so regulated that it will become irrelevant.

I own an operate a small lodge (Alaska's Kodiak Island Resort) in Larsen Bay, Alaska (est. 2006) and deep sea charter boats (A&B Charters Inc.) in Naples, Fl. The new NOAA fishing regulations in both areas are causing both businesses great harm and will eventually force us to retire unless dramatic action is taken.

NOAA is required by statute to conduct economic impact studies before implementing new regulations. This is to make certain the un-intended consequences of new regulations to don't cause more harm than good. Unfortunately, through bureaucratic maneuvering, they circumvent this process and others to accomplish their objectives.

In Alaska, NOAA has implemented a new limited entry charter halibut program that is forcing a reduction in established charter halibut boats by forty percent. Please go to the Charter Operators of Alaska website (http://www.charteroperatorsofalaska.org/) for more information and or take a brief moment to fill out the attached petition letter (http://www.change.org/petitions/save-alaskan-charter-halibut-fishing-for-tomorrow) to the President and members of congress asking them to intervene. Your help is urgently needed to turn this bureaucratic nightmare around. Personal comments added to the petition are particularly compelling, suggested and welcome.

Thank you for in advance for your understating,

Captain Allen Walburn
Alaska's Kodiak Island Resort
A&B Charters Inc.

[dorado50]

What does one expect! As I've said numerous times "socialism" is slowly consuming this nation. :the_finger: Soon you will only be able to buy(by law) silver colored cars because some liberal socialist convinces congress that all other colors are bad for you...and the environment..:eek:

[buddha]

I talked to Allen Walburn today and he said that this going on all over the country.

They closed Fluke fishing in New Jersey and also Grouper fishing in Florida.

Something needs to be done but lawsuits are already being filed.

[buddha]

We are close to our goal of 1000 signatures.
http://www.change.org/petitions/save-alaskan-charter-halibut-fishing-for-tomorrow#comments

If you have the time please read it and sign it to help save charter boat fishing.

[umtduckhead]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F2ANV_w9XI&feature=player_embedded

guys or right... its just not the left coast... everyone is hurting! VOTE VOTE VOTE

[Tman]

Done.

Seems CA is not the only pussified state, we have become a pussified nation.

Case in point, the somali pirates. Put 'em back on their boat and blow it to smithereens...

[Regor]

Case in point, the somali pirates. Put 'em back on their boat and blow it to smithereens...
:luxhello:

[FISHIONADO]

Blaming this on liberals is just ignorant. I'm a liberal and I fought the SoCal MLPA more than most people. Let's not divide on this issue, we should try to pull in as many people as we can.

I wanted to sign the petition but after reading it I don't have enough information. It mentions NOAA says too many halibut are being taken. I'll try to read more later and make an informed decision. I'd like to support this if it doesn't risk over-fishing.

[buddha]

This is about more than whether halibut are declining. In actuality, sport fishing accounts for less than 20% of the total catch of halibut.

This bill is about the rights to fish for the average person also.

With this new law if you own a boat and want to take some friends out and don't have the new license you will be fined.

http://www.sitnews.us/0211Viewpoints/020311_ryan_mcrobert.html

[FISHIONADO]

Hi Buddah, the link you provided basically says if you are registered guide then you are always considered a registered guide while fishing. I didn't see any impact to private fishermen. I'll read up more later and ask Howard McKim what he thinks.

[buddha]

Hi Buddah, the link you provided basically says if you are registered guide then you are always considered a registered guide while fishing. I didn't see any impact to private fishermen. I'll read up more later and ask Howard McKim what he thinks.

This paragraph explains it.

"Not only is a guide always considered a guide, if you share the costs of a fishing trip with someone who is not a licensed guide, you are considered to be on a guided trip. This presents many problems. First, the expense held over one person for a fishing trip. If you fall under this rule fishing with friends, neighbors, or family, and split the cost of a trip, 1) you could be held responsible for guiding without a license, 2) over-limits of a federal fish, 3) failure to complete a saltwater logbook entry, 4) retaining halibut on a charter trip without a CHP. It could go even further with safety equipment violations, lack of appropriate insurance, etc. All just to go fishing with family or friends."

[buddha]

We need 27 more signatures to reach our goal of 1000 signatures.

Please look at this and sign it.

http://www.change.org/petitions/save-alaskan-charter-halibut-fishing-for-tomorrow#?opt_new=t&opt_fb=t

[WahooUSMA]

We need 27 more signatures to reach our goal of 1000 signatures.

Please look at this and sign it.

http://www.change.org/petitions/save-alaskan-charter-halibut-fishing-for-tomorrow#?opt_new=t&opt_fb=t


Done

[mtnbykr2]

I had gone over this about a month ago or so, I read it and signed the petition, it has already gone "to hell in a hand basket" all we can do is to try and fight where we can

[buddha]

A recent article about Allen Walburn and his plight.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/screw-u-alaska-government-101