Who Is In Charge Of This Train Wreck Anyway?
It it weren’t so damned infuriating and downright scary, the antics of the NMFS would be hilarious. They are like the Three Stooges starring in “Let’s Go To Washington Where We Can F*#CK Up Your Life”.
One day, January 26, 2009 in fact, we get this in the email-box.
KM TRIP LIMIT INCREASED
The daily vessel trip limit for the commercial fishery for
Gulf group king mackerel in the Florida east coast
subzone is increased to 75 fish, effective 12:01 a.m.
(local time) February 1, 2009. The trip limit in federal
waters is increased after NOAA’s National Marine
Fisheries Service determines less than 75 percent of the
subzone’s 1,040,625-pound quota has been landed
before February 1.
Alrighty then. Better go out and buy some more tackle, get ready for a two month return to a trip limit that actually makes it worthwhile to go out and chase the kings around.
Then, three days later on January 29, 2009, barely long enough for the check to the tackle supplier to clear, we get this in the email-box.
KM TRIP LIMIT TO REMAIN AT 50 FISH PER DAY
The daily vessel trip limit for the commercial fishery for
Gulf group king mackerel in the Florida east coast
subzone will remain at 50 fish per day for the remainder
of the fishing season. The trip limit in federal waters is
increased only if NOAA Fisheries Service determines
less than 75 percent of the subzone’s 1,040,625-pound
quota has been landed before February 1. Landings data
indicate 75 percent of the quota was reached by January
28, 2009; therefore, the trip limit will not increase. This
bulletin supersedes any information previously
disseminated by NOAA Fisheries Service.
But…I thought you just said….errr…what the hell? What are we going to do with all the new gear? How are we going to pay for the new gear? What changed in three days? Who is in charge of this train wreck anyway?
Somebody must have caught a bunch of kingfish between Jan.26 and Jan.28. Either that or the people in charge of the fishery — and by extension our lives — have no earthly idea what the hell they are doing.
Me, I’m leaning toward option two.
(Editor: The poster of the preceding is a commercial fisherman, a boat owner and a reef fish permit holder who is expressing his own opinion.
You can view and download the two notices in pdf format here (increase) and here (no increase).
