[MrM]

Originally Posted by Saba Slayer

Meeting is tomorrow...No input??
No repeatable comments for the commercial guys, NGO's or DFW?
Jim / Saba Slayer

I'm proof reading a letter I wrote today as we speak. Will send it within the next hour or two! I did not get the thumbs up to take the day off, unfortunately.

EDIT:

Here's my letter. I emailed you a PDF copy as well on letterhead. Let's see how it goes... Hopefully others will speak up as well that have not already.

To the California Department of Fish & Wildlife Spiny Lobster Management Team:


As a recreational kayak fisherman and nature enthusiast, it is my duty to respect the world around me, and minimize my impact on the planet. The purpose of today’s meeting is to harness a perceived impact on the species of Spiny Lobster by the fishing community, ensuring their well-being and continued growth as a member of the animal kingdom. There have been many proposals on how to minimize the impact that recreational fisherman have had on the species as a whole, and I wish to convey my thoughts on the matter through this letter.

Setting a seasonal limit would be a logical solution to minimize the impact on local fisheries; however, recreational fishermen were not responsible for the sale and transport of over 834,000lbs of Spiny Lobster in 2012. That statistic belongs solely to the commercial fishing industry, which boasted its third highest totals ever recorded.

From the Assessment of the California Spiny Lobster, written by Douglas J Neilson, published by the (previously called) California Department of Fish & Game and released in 2011, “the recreational fisheries were estimated to have caught the equivalent of 44 percent of the commercial catch.” (A statement in reference to the ‘08-‘09 fishing season on page 37)

Should changes to the current Spiny Lobster regulations be made, I suggest that they be made to accurately reflect the true harvesters of the species to lower the yearly catch. I firmly believe that the Spiny Lobster is an extremely valuable member of the underwater world, and because of that I realize that recreational fisherman may need to make small adjustments as well.

Reported seasonal catches of over 71 Spiny Lobster were documented by only 1.7% of recreational fisherman between 2008 & 2012. By applying those numbers to the amount of report cards sold in 2013 (roughly 37,000), we could assume that only 630 recreational fisherman statewide caught 71+ lobster last season. That is 71 lobsters to be consumed by the fisherman, his or her family, and whomever comes over for a meal to enjoy the sustenance we have the opportunity to consume.

The current daily bag limit of 7 lobsters is perfect as we do not have a seasonal limit. Should a seasonal limit of 90 be introduced, the daily bag limit should be increased to 20 as to reduce the amount of pollution created by boats and vehicles on the road, and decrease the amount of boat traffic on the water. Furthermore, what I would encourage fisherman of all walks to practice, is the release of any female Spiny Lobsters bearing a sperm pack. I would fully endorse such a law, as pregnant female lobsters are a vessel of future generations.

Talk of creating restrictions on mechanized pullers has also been brought up. Mechanized pullers are not reserved for those with disabilities, but greatly aid those who do not wish to tire themselves out in the dead of night when pulling hoops from a great depth. Any restriction on mechanized pullers on able-bodies will create a safety hazard. As a Safety Professional who works to reduce risks to life and health in a myriad of dangerous environments, I highly suggest you consider the risks you will pose to the life and health of human beings prior to creating such a law. The possibility of overexertion when fishing is slow after a long night on the water is too great to suggest such a dangerous law change.

A recent change in the law has created a $20.00 non-return fee for unreturned report cards. I would suggest that the funds collected for such a failure go directly to the construction of new rock reefs and habitats in recently-decreased lobster population areas.

Lastly, I would like to commend this management team for working to save the ocean environment and life found within. I have faith that the committee will listen to the promising proposals of those who not only depend on the ocean for a living, but for a hard-earned meal, relaxation and enjoyment. The answer to ensuring a sustainable ocean for tomorrow is by pooling our collective thoughts, and working together.








Respectfully,


Kevin XXXXXXXXXXXX