Commerical take of abs at San Miguel stopped for now

[Bill McIntyre]

I just received this email. I guess it provides some hope that public opinion may help some times.
__________________________________________________ __

Dear Friend,



Thanks for taking the time to sign the Petition to Oppose a Commercial Abalone Fishery at San Miguel Island.



Sonoma County Abalone Network (SCAN) is pleased to inform you that because of the public outcry, that you helped us create, the proposal has been tabled – for the time being.



After the DFG spent a lot of money doing surveys of the abalone populations at San Miguel, they decided, what we already knew, that the resource cannot sustain a fishery, and needs more time to recover. We need to remain vigilant, as the Commercial interests have no intention of stopping their efforts. This episode shows how important divers can be when key decisions are made, if we can speak with one voice.



If you dive for, or care about, abalone in California, you should know that the legal fishery is under severe pressure from poachers who illegally commercialize abalone for profit. SCAN was founded to combat this problem, and has been working for 16 years to reduce this threat to the sport we enjoy.



SCAN is the ONLY organization in the state dedicated to the interests of the abalone resource and divers, we were forced to broaden the scope of our mission to protect divers rights to access a healthy sustainable fishery. Simply put, we've had to fight for the very existence of our fishery, even though the resource is extremely healthy.



It will not be possible to turn around the tide of misinformation and bad management decisions -- unless we have several thousand abalone divers ready to back up SCAN's leadership. There are nearly 40,000 abalone divers in the state and we provide $800,000 per year to DFG, for abalone management, and we still do not receive an adequate fishery analysis.



Organization is essential in effecting management decisions. Without it we simply don’t stand a chance. We have had a number of successes working with almost no support. Imagine what we could do with your support, your friends and thousands of divers who want nothing more than a sustainable and healthy abalone fishery! SCAN dues are only $20 a year and you can’t get more representation for $20, as our Board Members are all unpaid volunteers.



Take a minute and follow this link www.abalonenetwork.org to the SCAN website. Click on join SCAN to protect the resource and promote a healthy sustainable fishery.







Sincerely,



Milo Vukovich

President, SCAN

JOIN SCAN to protect your sport

www.abalonenetwork.org

[azspearo]

How about being opened to Rec. first? Last time I was at Miguel, it was loaded with a healthy population of Red Abalone, with many going over ten.
Thanks for posting Bill.

[ofer]

there are healthy populations of abalone at Miguel but if they were to open it to commercial fisherman it'll be gone in one season.

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by azspearo

How about being opened to Rec. first? Last time I was at Miguel, it was loaded with a healthy population of Red Abalone, with many going over ten.

Yes, I ain't no fisheries biologist, but it sure seems to me that starting with recreational take first would be the way to go. After all, why do we allow recreational take up north, but no commercial?

[Barley]

Recreational/breath hold only would be great. There are a lot abs coming back at not only Miguel but at Rosa too.

[halibutmike]

Originally Posted by Bill McIntyre

Yes, I ain't no fisheries biologist, but it sure seems to me that starting with recreational take first would be the way to go. After all, why do we allow recreational take up north, but no commercial?

+1 - Guys the abs are back in Laguna and SD...... not just the islands.

[Sierra Bravo]

miguel is loaded with abalone. although i'm 100% behind commercial fishermen, i'm not behind this. i think recreational take might be the best way to open the island. the abs out there get picked no matter what, at least a recreational season would make it mostly legal...

[Dawn Patrol]

Originally Posted by azspearo

How about being opened to Rec. first? Last time I was at Miguel, it was loaded with a healthy population of Red Abalone, with many going over ten.
Thanks for posting Bill.

+1 Last time I dove San Miguel (this last July), I found a huge kelp bed where the red abs covered at least 40% of every rock.

Found some pretty cool, undamaged ab shells there.

[tailsurfer]

Originally Posted by halibutmike

+1 - Guys the abs are back in Laguna and SD...... not just the islands.

I have only seen them at the Islands so what do you think should be the allowed take, like 6-12 a year?

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by Sierra Bravo

miguel is loaded with abalone. although i'm 100% behind commercial fishermen, i'm not behind this. i think recreational take might be the best way to open the island. the abs out there get picked no matter what, at least a recreational season would make it mostly legal...

I gather that you meant that they are taken illegally?

If so, its just one more reason why the MLPA is frigging ridiculous. We don't have enough wardens to enforce the laws we already have.

[hutloc]

what is SCAN's take on the mlpa?

[rojodiablo]

Originally Posted by Bill McIntyre

Yes, I ain't no fisheries biologist, but it sure seems to me that starting with recreational take first would be the way to go. After all, why do we allow recreational take up north, but no commercial?

Okay, I am torn here; the commercial fishery was not wiped out @ San Miguel when it was closed. The commercial fishermen were furious, and still are (Ever seen Paul Weakland speak at a F&G meeting???) They were pushed out, and the whole deal with the F&G was to see the abalone restored to breeding stable populations, and then to allow the limited fishing for abs resume at Miguel. The island is SO rough, it self regulates. As such, and knowing how the fishermen are being treated here, I am split. A LEGAL abalone fishery would take pressure off coastal abalone as restaurants could offer legal abalone on the menu, in an exclusive, limited fashion. There would be a good deal of funding that would be dedicated to abalone management tied to the fishery.
On the other hand, if they are allowed any abalone fishery, recreational divers should be a part of it also.

Originally Posted by hutloc

what is SCAN's take on the mlpa?

SCAN fought hard for coastal access for the north coast. They went to bat for shore pickers and ab divers.

[Bwano]

Commercial abalone fishing wiped out the Abalone in southern California, and south of San Francisco.
Recreational only Abalone, breath hold, is sustainable.
It works in Nor Cal.
I lived in Nor Cal for forty years, and recreationally harvested my abalone.
I also fished commercially in Nor Cal for Salmon.

Fish and Game's management policy is to let a commercial fishery wipe it self out, before taking any intelligent steps.

Look at the So Cal abalone. Look at the live Rock cod and longline, and Halibut gill nets.

NO COMMERCIAL Abalone, EVER again!!!!

Let the taxpayers enjoy the resource, it belongs to us. Not a few, select, greedy, lobbying, rich commercial guys.

Commercial abalone divers can make a fortune overnight, and wipe out the resource.

[rojodiablo]

Uhh, Bwano.... seen the amount of poaching going on up there? And, like I pointed out, the ab fishery was not wiped out at the island.
I guess you have not seen the recovery rates for rockfish, halibut. They are about 10 years ahead of schedule; look at the reversions on ling cod this year.

Lobster seems to be holding up pretty well, even with heavy commercial catch rates.
As it is, the fishery CAN be managed and be successful. They did it at the Farallons and San Miguel only a few years ago, and people are just quick to forget. Just because a species is commercially targeted does not mean it has to be depleted. It's a management thing........

[chowderpuff]

If red abalone at San Miguel Island cannot sustain a recreational take, then no way in hell should a commercial industry be allowed.