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Well I just got off the plane. I am very tired so I will hit the high points.
1. Looks like the numbers are going to be corrected to reflect current conditions.
2. Looks like credits for 500,000 or so pounds for the last 3 years of Recreational TAC not being met will be added in. This would be 1,500,000 more pounds just for the recreational sector. The Commercial 1,500,000 pounds will be added in as they underfished their Quota as far as the record shows.
3. There is an option for Texas to be able to choose the days we want to fish. This means a separate zone for Texas.
4. Shrimping effort is off 50% on opening day. If it were off 25% we would get a 7,000,000 pound TAC or a 2,000,000 pound cut. Looking very good so far.
5. Recreational sales of Saltwater stamps in the hurricane ravaged states are down 50%. This means more credit for effort being lower.
6. This all means we should wind up with equal or better days on the water for the Recreational Sector.
The trip was long but the fight was worth it. We may have finally turned
some heads.The Council has long been dominated by a few East Gulf Special intrest IMHO. I was very to the point with my statement. I sent Tom Hilton a copy. I will be traveling tommorrow so maybe he can post it up. The meeting was like making sausage it wasn't pretty but the outcome is all we were after. The Baton Rouge Council meeting will be the test in about 90 days. We need to plan on having a good turn out there to show we are serious.
I hope this is in a format that can easily be understood. Feel free to call me on my cell phone in the am 361 463 1558 and I will be happy to answer questions. Max Reed a member of the Texas outdoor writers association was in Tampa. He made the remark he had never seen the Council do a 180 degree turn. Just maybe we did some good being very firm with them. I don't think they wanted a Texas Judge setting the Snapper rules for the Gulf of Mexico. When the rep from Louisiana asked Chairman Riechers to add them in on the Texas split on seasons he was told they could ask for different fishing times in the form of an amendment. They did not ask for the zone. Thank you Chairman Riechers. Mr. Reichers said Texas had been bringing up the issues RFA had addressed for six years and they should be acted on. We may have just placed a crack in the Granite Wall just like President Regan did the Berlin wall. I am very pleased with the outcome. Thanks again Mr. Chairman for hearing what we need here in Texas.
NEVER, NEVER,NEVER,NEVER Ever Blink. Guess what they just did at the Council level.
Jim Smarr
Texas RFA
[email protected]
361-463-1558
1. Looks like the numbers are going to be corrected to reflect current conditions.
2. Looks like credits for 500,000 or so pounds for the last 3 years of Recreational TAC not being met will be added in. This would be 1,500,000 more pounds just for the recreational sector. The Commercial 1,500,000 pounds will be added in as they underfished their Quota as far as the record shows.
3. There is an option for Texas to be able to choose the days we want to fish. This means a separate zone for Texas.
4. Shrimping effort is off 50% on opening day. If it were off 25% we would get a 7,000,000 pound TAC or a 2,000,000 pound cut. Looking very good so far.
5. Recreational sales of Saltwater stamps in the hurricane ravaged states are down 50%. This means more credit for effort being lower.
6. This all means we should wind up with equal or better days on the water for the Recreational Sector.
The trip was long but the fight was worth it. We may have finally turned
some heads.The Council has long been dominated by a few East Gulf Special intrest IMHO. I was very to the point with my statement. I sent Tom Hilton a copy. I will be traveling tommorrow so maybe he can post it up. The meeting was like making sausage it wasn't pretty but the outcome is all we were after. The Baton Rouge Council meeting will be the test in about 90 days. We need to plan on having a good turn out there to show we are serious.
I hope this is in a format that can easily be understood. Feel free to call me on my cell phone in the am 361 463 1558 and I will be happy to answer questions. Max Reed a member of the Texas outdoor writers association was in Tampa. He made the remark he had never seen the Council do a 180 degree turn. Just maybe we did some good being very firm with them. I don't think they wanted a Texas Judge setting the Snapper rules for the Gulf of Mexico. When the rep from Louisiana asked Chairman Riechers to add them in on the Texas split on seasons he was told they could ask for different fishing times in the form of an amendment. They did not ask for the zone. Thank you Chairman Riechers. Mr. Reichers said Texas had been bringing up the issues RFA had addressed for six years and they should be acted on. We may have just placed a crack in the Granite Wall just like President Regan did the Berlin wall. I am very pleased with the outcome. Thanks again Mr. Chairman for hearing what we need here in Texas.
NEVER, NEVER,NEVER,NEVER Ever Blink. Guess what they just did at the Council level.
Jim Smarr
Texas RFA
[email protected]
361-463-1558
