RFA Press Release vs Ocean Conservancy Stance

[hilton]

Howdy,
Since the SOS boys have apprently been muzzled by their EDF "consultants" and disappeared from sight, I thought it appropriate to post up some more action by both sides...U.S. Senator Schumer has called for a moratorium on using flawed data while the Ocean Conservancy is calling for endorsement of said flawed data in using it to shut down our fisheries. Looks like the March on Washington is having a great impact!

There's also a good editorial in Sportfishing magazine as editor Doug Olander lambasts Ocean Conservancy and EDF for pushing for fish traps in the Gulf.

Tom

SCHUMER URGES COMMERCE SECRETARY TO SCRAP MRFSS

CALLS FOR “MORATORIUM ON FLAWED SURVEY DATA”

February 16, 2010 - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) called on U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, and NMFS Administrator Patricia Kurkul to issue an immediate moratorium on the flawed survey data used to implement recreational fishing quotas for the East Coast. In a letter addressed to Kurkul, Sen. Schumer cited the Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey (MRFSS) as being “fatally flawed” and reminded NOAA of their responsibility through the federal Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA) to implement changes to the methodology used to gauge the level of recreational landings over the course of a season.

“We need better science and more data-based flexibility in our fishing management regulations,” said Schumer. "Keeping our fishing stocks healthy is absolutely critical, and to accomplish this we can’t base decisions on outdated science and poor methods. The current system not only falls short of achieving this goal, but it could take the Long Island fishing community down with it in 2010,” Schumer said adding that the fishing community “needs fairness and relief from flawed survey data now.”

MRFSS uses a combination of dockside interviews and evening telephone surveys to collect recreational harvest information. In 2005, Congress convened a special hearing to look the MRFSS methodology, which in turn led to an in-depth analysis by the National Research Council (NRC) concluding that “both the telephone and access components of the current approach have serious flaws in design or implementation and use inadequate analysis methods that need to be addressed immediately.” Pat Sullivan, the NRC committee chair and a Cornell professor, referred to MRFSS specifically as “fatally flawed.” The findings led to an MSA mandate that NMFS work on a new survey methodology which was supposed to be online and operational by the start of 2009. Federal delays however have pushed back the start date for MRIP until this year, which means MRFSS data is still regarded as “best available science” for estimating the annual recreational harvest.

Last week, Sen. Schumer asked Kurkul to issue an across-the-board moratorium on this flawed survey data in 2010 so that black sea bass and other species like fluke and porgies are not unfairly shutdown by bad science. “Acknowledging the problems with MRFSS, a new system mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act will be coming online in the coming years,” the senator wrote, adding “it would be patently unfair to punish anglers by reducing their quota due to erroneous landings estimates produced with a broken system. I request that NMFS dismiss future recreational overages predicted by MRFSS until the new system is fully implemented and calibrated by NOAA.”

Last fall, the Recreational Fishing Alliance posted a seven-page paper www.joinrfa.org/Press/RFA_MRFSS.pdf (Fatally Flawed Science – Killing America’s Number One Outdoor Pastime) pointing out many specific problems with MRFSS and outlining NRC’s view that experiential, narrative or local information from the fishing industry, currently considered purely “anecdotal” in nature by NMFS, should actually be considered in harvest methodology. “When no other information is available, anecdotal information may constitute the best information available,” the NRC reported in its executive summary, adding “In addition, anecdotal information may be used to help validate other sources of information and identify topics for research.”

Schumer’s letter on behalf of anglers in the New York marine district can be greatly supported in many coastal states and is backed by a recent study conducted by the Connecticut Marine Fisheries Division (Correction for Systematic Bias in Recreational Catch, Harvest and Trip Estimates from the MRFSS since the year 2000) which noted a growing discrepancy between the estimated number of saltwater anglers according to MRFSS and the estimates of saltwater anglers from the US Fish and Wildlife Surveys (USFWS) and saltwater licenses sales from several Atlantic coast states. Authored by fisheries assessment expert Dr. Victor Crecco, the report shows that MRFSS’ 2008 saltwater angler estimates were often “three to four times higher than both the 2006 USFWS estimates and the 2008 adjusted saltwater license sales,” findings which Dr. Crecco said “strongly suggest that the MRFSS has severely overestimated the number of saltwater anglers and fishing trips particularly in recent years, and by extension, has severely inflated the true recreational catch and harvest of all finfish species.”

Schumer is urging the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to manage quotas based on sound data, and has instructed federal fisheries managers to dismiss any future overages estimated by MRFSS in order to restore some stability to coastal fishing communities. “MRFSS has proven to be extremely dangerous on a year to year basis – especially with regard to last year’s surprising black sea bass shutdown - and this raises concerns about fully utilizing the meager summer flounder liberalization New York is entitled to in 2010,” Sen. Schumer added.

“Fishing is a Long Island tradition that has been passed down for generations and without this relief, the NMFS could potentially stick New York with another year of draconian cuts,” Schumer said. “The fishing community has made many sacrifices and stocks are improving so restricting families and others from fishing for them, based on bad data, in 2010 is just plain wrong.”

This past Saturday, Sen. Schumer visited the Freeport Recreation Center on Long Island and met with several hundred recreational fishermen at the New York Sportfishing Federation’s annual fishing expo. “Fishing is one of our best industries in New York and you’ve been neglected for too long,” Schumer told the crowd of anglers and business owners, stressing the need to fix the Magnuson Stevens Act. Schumer is lead sponsor of Senate Bill 1255, the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act and urged show patrons to join him in a rally on the Capitol on February 24th while calling on “bureaucrats” to immediately fix the data collection system. “We’ve got to change the rules here,” Schumer said to a loud applause.

To view Sen. Schumer’s letter to NOAA, visit www.joinrfa.org/Press/SchumerLetter_020910.pdf



From Ocean Conservancy - caution - mucho Caca de Toro;
Urge your legislators to stand strong on rebuilding our fisheries!

Overfished fish populations are a real and serious problem for our ocean and coastal economies. The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides scientifically sound, sustainable fishery requirements that benefit fishermen, seafood lovers, the ocean and its fragile ecosystems. But even in the wake of this success, some opponents of the act want to weaken it — we can't let that happen.
Please send the message below to your legislators urging them to stand strong on rebuilding our fisheries.

The fate of our nation's ocean and coastal communities depend on it.
I urge you to support the rebuilding of healthy fisheries, and to oppose short-sighted efforts to weaken existing law.

Healthy fisheries are essential to the ocean's ecosystem and coastal communities. Overfishing, excessive bycatch, and poor fisheries management have degraded ocean health, diminished fishing opportunities and depressed coastal economies. Congress attempted to address these failures when it reauthorized the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (MSA) in 2007, strengthening provisions to rebuild depleted fish populations and the coastal communities that depend on them.
Science-based rebuilding under MSA is already producing results. It is showing the potential to improve the health of our ocean, create new jobs, and increase the value of our fisheries by billions of dollars.

We must build a sustainable future and ensure that generations to come enjoy the many benefits of abundant fisheries. I urge you to resist efforts to endanger that future, and to support sound implementation of the rebuilding provisions of the MSA.

[manintheboat]

would someone mind c & p'ing Olanders article?

[Mike Jennings]

hilton;2593146]Howdy,
Since the SOS boys have apprently been muzzled by their EDF "consultants" and disappeared from sight, I
Tom

Ha ! The voices in your head must be getting louder Tom . Try sticking your fingers in your ears , My voices tell me it works !

Actually i grow weary of the Internet bickering , sorry if it disappoints that i don't find all of conspiracy's and misspeaking worthy of response. please accept my apologies . I havent gone anywhere and i will happily respond if someone comes up with a fresh question .

Also despite the boycott my phone is ringing well , and i have actually been busy fishing , oh that reminds me , i looked at 4 of the reefs on Saturday , they mark well , tried to take a picture but the flash glared on the screen , didnt see anything suspended around them , but its early and the water is down to 57 degrees , cant wait to see 400 of them sitting there .

Have a safe trip to Washington , best of luck , if anyone can get there attention it will be you , Hey take that Obama sign that was cool

Mike

[Aces Full]

There are plenty of excellent points raised by numerous people. I assure you of that Mr. Jennings. It's hard to stand in one spot when the rug is constantly being pulled out from under you. I don't blame you one bit. I can't think of many things to say in support of SOS. As a matter of fact, wasn't it your own cohort Scott Hickman who just posted that SOS is " A Real plan for the Charterboat industry. " I thought it was for the recreational fishermen and the fish...you know...verifiable data. Go ahead. Best thing to do is back down anyway. Tuck tail and run away from the real problem once again. Some of us fight for what we believe in...

[Louis Rossignol]

Originally Posted by Aces Full

There are plenty of excellent points raised by numerous people. I assure you of that Mr. Jennings. It's hard to stand in one spot when the rug is constantly being pulled out from under you. I don't blame you one bit. I can't think of many things to say in support of SOS. As a matter of fact, wasn't it your own cohort Scott Hickman who just posted that SOS is " A Real plan for the Charterboat industry. " I thought it was for the recreational fishermen and the fish...you know...verifiable data. Go ahead. Best thing to do is back down anyway. Tuck tail and run away from the real problem once again. Some of us fight for what we believe in...

AMEN........And now the good people of Louisiana know of what's going on here too.

Keep em on their heels.

[manintheboat]

conspiracy theories. L O freaking L!!!!! Keep rolling out the lame rhetoric.

[Loco Pato]

Originally Posted by manintheboat

conspiracy theories. L O freaking L!!!!! Keep rolling out the lame rhetoric.

Exactly how I feel.............................................. ..............................

[bob zales, II]

Originally Posted by Louis Rossignol

AMEN........And now the good people of Louisiana know of what's going on here too.

Keep em on their heels.

Louis, aren't you the guy who was connecting with fra and ohern? Where is LA when it comes to sector separation?

[Louis Rossignol]

Originally Posted by bob zales, II

Louis, aren't you the guy who was connecting with fra and ohern? Where is LA when it comes to sector separation?

AGAINST!!! And I have 400+ strong listening to me. I'll see you all in Washington.

[bob zales, II]

Originally Posted by Louis Rossignol

AGAINST!!! And I have 400+ strong listening to me. I'll see you all in Washington.

Oh, the tx sosers won't like this. They will say there are not that many in LA. I have a meeting with your congressman Cassady on tues at 10am if you want to come. Email me or call and if you can't go let me know what you need discussed. How many do you think are coming from LA, we can add info to the main web site with all the others.