MPA's Coming Near You!

[diligaf]

Does it sound exciting? Are you ready to have your favorite fishing hole taken away? Read on...

From Steve Water's column in today's Sun sentinel:

No-fishing zone meeting

A public meeting that will focus on the establishment of no-fishing zones around South Florida reefs, among other proposals, will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach.

Among the strategies being considered by the "Fishing, Diving and Other Uses" working group for the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative are having a network of no-take ecological reserves in each county, identifying areas that need enhanced protection, minimizing impacts of anglers, divers and boaters, reducing the improper disposal of solid waste, and exploring the establishment of a fee for divers that would help fund SFCRI projects. Call the IGFA at 954-927-2628.

My opinion:
I can assure you the word "diver" means spearfisherman. The no-take propsals (in EACH county) are being pushed by the dive industry "tourist" types ( read Frank Wasson's post on the Flower Gardens to understand the type of person pushing for MPA's). I believe SFCRI group is led by a Dr. Bohnsack, a close associate of Dr. Ault. Dr. Bohnsack is often refered to as a dive industry "crony" by some. Hmmm...makes you wonder.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Denny]

Like I've been saying, this is going to be a long, possibly never-ending struggle for us to maintain our rights. Are you going to attend, Dave?

[Ed Walker]

Mr Ault and Mr B are huge proponents of MPA's and if your read many of thier reports/studies you will see that they see them as the answer to just about all of the fisheries conservation issues. Thier claim to fame is the closure of the MPA in the Tortugas and they are going to keep coming back for more. I think I read somewhere that they are targeting to have 10% or 20% (I cant remember the number) of Florida waters closed to all types of fishing or "Marine Preservation Areas" in the not so distant future. Right up there with the manatee people and all the closures they wanted. I for one am growning tired of these extremist groups coming up with reasons to close Florida waters. What are our kids going to have? A 2 hour idle thru no wake zones out to the MPAs where they cant fish to tell stories about the old days when you could fish where you wanted in Florida?

[junior]

My personal belief is that these sphincters want to bottle up everything florida and ship it to Orlando where we can view it in a cage, tank or reenactment. These morons should not be allowed to continue functioning with unbridled authority on things they really do not know enough about. Statistical analysis shold not be allowed to supplant REAL field knowledge and REAL numbers. If this Ault fool cannot get sufficient funds to actually do proper research than he should be ignored or better yet, his research should be layed out in the sunshine for everyone to view and pick apart for the waste of money that it is.

[Spear One]

It was my understanding that it was the United States Congress that created the mandate for MPA's with the Sustainable Fisheries Act which was passed during the Clinton / Gore administration.

[Ed Walker]

Correct. Signed into law by Bill Clinton.

[Spearooo]

Cool, I can make it to this one.. Thanks for the heads up. Guys anything I should know? or prepare should do to prepare for this. . I am still working on a decent letter but with work and exams I haven't had the time to do my duty as a fellow spearfisherman. But now I can do something so if anyone has any ammo I can use against these fool will be appreciated. anyone else going to make it?

[fishhunta]

Me too.......I'm there.
I know that dilligaf was instrumental in shutting them up last time, so dave, let me know what i can do at the meeting.
If you need me to wear only body paint that read "the fish are there for us to kill", I will. Just let me know man..........

[Denny]

There will be a large public showing of concern over the hog and goliath assessments. Stay tuned.
You will have access to explanations of the assessment and scientific refutation (proving false) of that assessment, if any:rolleyes:
I think there will be a great deal of information available to us all in the very near future.
BTW- I believe that Prez Bush signed an executive order mandating the creation of MORE MPA's. IT IS A LAW THAT MPA'S MUST BE CREATED. Unless I misunderstand what I have read.

[WreckDiver]

Denny, He signed an order basically agreeing with them, under alot of pressure to agree, by the same outfit that pressured Clinton to sign the original order:mad:

[WreckDiver]

Denny here is an excert from Surfider Magazine that breaks it down some. You Know that Republicans cannot even remotly look like they dont want to protect the enviorment.-----
The MPA initiative has been gaining
momentum in recent years as the
result of several pioneering pieces of
l egislation . On May 26, 2 0 0 0 ,
President Clinton responded to pressure
from scientists and marine conservationists
by unveiling an initiative
to establish a comprehensive national
network of marine protected areas
( M PA’s) thro u gh o ut US waters .
Executive Order #13158 orders US
federal agencies that currently have
the authority to establish or manage
MPA’s to "enhance and expand protecti
on of existing MPA’s and to
establish and recommend new
MPA’s." The sentiment of the Bush
Administration during its first few
months in office left many marine
advocates fearful that President Bush
would overturn the order, but the
overwhelming and timely response
generated by concerned citizens ,
including Surfrider members , convinced
Bush that public favor was
behind the MPA movement.
According to Exec utive Order
# 1 3 1 5 8 , the Na ti onal Oceanic and
At m o s ph e r i c Ad m i n i s tr a ti on
( N OA A ), which currently oversees US
Na ti onal Ma rine Sa n ctu a ri e s , i s
charged with developing the management
framework for this national system.
A coordinating institution, the
Cen ter for Marine Protected Are a
S c i en ce was established in Santa
Cruz, California as the central headquarters
for initiating and overseeing
MPA research and policy.
The Executive Order commissions
the Department of Commerce to
establish an MPA Federal Advisory
Com m i t tee that incorporates the
input of non - federal scientists ,
resource managers, and other interested organizations.
The order also calls on the US EPA to draft
new science-based regulations to bolster protection
of the marine environment.
Our Wilderness Net work (OWN) in su pport of
Executive Order #13158. OWN is a formal coalition
to further existing state and regional efforts to
create a network of marine reserves along the
Pacific Coast of the Un i ted State s . OWN has
defined its intent to facilitate the individual initiatives
of its member groups by forming strategic
partnerships , launching public awareness campaigns,
and providing essential scientific background
information and advocacy materials .
OWN is committed to the idea that a network o f
sustainable, fully protected areas will safeguard
biodiversity, maintain ecosystem integrity, and
help to sustain fish populations.
This is a critical and exciting time in the evolution
of marine conservation policies,and our input and
support are crucial. There are several different
avenues for public involvement in the on-going
campaign to establish a system of MPA’s in US
waters. By writing letters to our local senators and
repre s en t a tives ex pressing our su pport for the
MPA initiative and its associated legislation, we can
show that the issue of preserving marine wilderness
is a priority. If your chapter is particularly
concerned with the protection of a certain coastal
of near shore habitat, draft a petition to draw
attention to the issue.The Santa Barbara,CA chapter’s
efforts to protect the Gaviota Coast National
Seashore provide a great example. We at Surfrider
encourage you to find out more about proposed
plans to protect our marine resources: Visit websites,
attend meetings,and most importantly, share
what you learn with others.We, the keepers of the
coast who live with these resources everyday, have
the most to gain from actions to rebuild a vibrant
and sustainable marine environment.

[Denny]

Executive Order #13158 orders US
federal agencies that currently have
the authority to establish or manage
MPA’s to "enhance and expand protecti
on of existing MPA’s and to
establish and recommend new
MPA’s."
So my reading comprehension and retention is still OK. If more MPA's are not created, someone is breaking the law. Sounds like an arbitrary taking of our right to access the public domain.
There is skepticism within the scientific community about the value of MPA's to a given fishery or ecosystem. There are, within the scientific community, ecological realists that question the wisdom of displacing currently popular fishing areas with MPA's.
These voices of reason must be located and amplified.

[njdiver]

Anyone interested in getting to the source, here's the site to research:

http://mpa.gov/

[Denny]

Dave- Did you attend?

[Screen Name]

.