Thursday

Phil Shoemaker received an award for 36 years of service with FWC

Next was an increase in the number of stone crab trap certificated, not exactly certain, but I think it went from 100,000 to 180,000. I didn't follow that issue, so I didn't listen well enough.

A congressional representative came in and was recognized by the committee. I think he said he was a commercial fisherman. I didn’t get his name.

Gulf scallop issue was next, and the area was explained on a video monitor. I think the had the wrong name for the northern boundary and had to change that. Then there was a spokesperson for the Citrus County tourism board named Mary Craven, who made a comment about scallop season opening day.

Next was snook aquaculture. Very interesting. I wonder how good a 14 inch snook will taste. I know how we can try it, legally, and with the commissions blessing. This is something I would like to read more about.

Next was the lobster issue of sale during closed season, which is where I stood up and made a fool out of myself. I wish I knew that they had already made up there minds and I would have never spent the time and money going up there. The presentation showed that the vast majority of public comments were opposed. The issue was presented by Dr Crabtree. Someone named Gary Nichols spoke. I mentioned enforcement as a problem. Enforcement was talked about, and someone asked what was the penalty for getting caught. I don’t think anyone knew, they said it (RS) was cancelled or revoked after 1^st violation. I think they were wrong, but remember that “fool” part. Someone named Bob Jones spoke. They talked about how grouper and snapper were imported and sold during closed season. The import of fish was very interesting. The fish must meet our minimum size requirement if imported whole, but once they were fillets they allow any size, no question. I will need to read a little more information to be sure, and snapper was a little different than grouper. How were they going to enforce this rule. “A paper trail” was what I remember hearing. Later in the day, a man named Ted made a funny comment about the paper trail method of protecting the resource. If anyone who was there remembers the comment, please send it over. I don’t want it to be “erased from the minutes” (later I’ll explain that comment). The commission acknowledged the fact that more people opposed than were for it, and passed it anyways.

Shrimp trawler received more area out of middle gulf area. I wasn’t sure where, but I think it was citrus county area.

Then there was talk on reef fish minimum size limits required for import. Some one named Jerry spoke next. Then Ted spoke. This is where he made the remark I thought was funny. I didn’t hear anything about it covering all fish, just reef fish. Someone from the council mentioned the punishment needing to be looked at, and that changes needed to be made at the legislative level.

Next was pompano. There were 8 special licenses issued They were for the commercial guys to take observers and let them watch the netting of pompano in federal waters. Not a single trip was made with an observer. Nobody mentioned the amount of commercial landings by those special permit holders without observers on board. I wondered if they were producing without observers, but couldn’t do it with the observers. Commercial side said blackwater was the reason that no trips were made. I wonder how long we are going to let them land these fish while no observer trips have been made. I think they decided to put this one in a work shop. The commercial side argued that we (over here on the right coast) are getting to many pompano now. I wonder if that is because they are finally making it to the beach. Commercial didn’t complain when they were the ones overharvesting. It was said that if they could get the illegal harvest under control, it would probably resolve stock assessment concerns. It was mentioned that recently a 750 yard net was found without a vessel nearby, holding 7000 lbs of illegal fish. This was a very interesting discussion.

A congressman named Jack ? from Ft Lauderdale was introduced.

Next discussion was on the use of short lobster as bait in the lobster traps issue. I argued unsuccessfully that this practice should not be happening in the first place. I told them that I wanted to go deer hunting, and shackle a couple doe’s to a tree and wait till a big buck came for a little companionship so I could harvest him. They laughed at my analogy, but gave the commercial guys what they asked for. So from now on, when you are out dodging the trap buoys, remember that there are usually three short lobster sitting trapped in there waiting on the big buck to come for a little companionship.

Next was the issue of more wire in the traps. Essentially, the commercial guys asked to turn their lobster traps into fish traps. 18 times more bycatch than standard traps. I was happy to see that the staff saw through this one. I guess the observers were taken out and prototype traps were dropped in the mud, hey look, no bycatch. When the traps were put near structure, they were trapping fish. I wondered if the observer made notice of the traps being placed out in low to no relief areas. The commercial guys went to the microphone and withdrew their desire to alter traps. They were still grinning from ear to ear because they received everything else they asked for in regard to lobster. I wonder how much money was spent on this outrageous proposal. I think it was a ploy, to divert attention and waste manpower. The commission asked a lot of question, someone said that they didn’t want to penalize the commercial trappers, especially after having a year like they just had. 4 million dollar federal handout, selling all year long, more shorts for bait, rampant commercial harvest by divers, yea, they really got it bad.

Jim King stopped by, a congressman.

Next was the special recreational license called the “master blaster” in some circles. I bet you are wondering about this one now aren’t you. It doesn’t matter anyway, because they won’t let us buy them anymore. Landing data will be available next meeting, I should have asked for all the lobster landing data be reviewed. I want to know just who is catching all the bugs. Then the staff will see why it was not laughable when I asked that they extend the sport season to two full weeks so I could spend some real time in the keys instead of the two days of whirl wind activity when we actually have a chance before the commercial onslaught begins.

Next was the derelict trap issue. Staff is working with commercial fishermen from OFF and Monroe County commercial fish lobby people. We have a problem with traps, hey, I have an idea, lets get the people who made the mess to come up with a plan. I believe that one should somehow be humorous.

Next was discussion on Biscayne Park. They are working with the Feds on this one. Both sides flexing a little muscle toward the other, and to tell you the truth, I don’t know who had the biggest bicep. I personally believe that commercial fishing should not be allowed in the park, but sweeping changes loom, I think. I wasn’t paying much attention, I was still dwelling on the beating I took on the lobster issue. A roller frame shrimp trawler spoke. When the fed spoke, she said that they could be kings and queens of their own domain. Their plan will go out to a 30 or 60 day comment period.

Two congressmen stopped by, one from Melbourne, and the other from Ocala. I seem to remember writing one of them  at some point in the past.

I made a note to look up the national environmental policy act. Can someone help here?

Red Drum next. Illegal to harvest in federal waters. 25% mortality. What do you say to that, Fletch? Sum ding wong. The commercial fishermen said they wanted some of the action. I heard this was an 8 billion dollar fish for Florida. I wondered how much lobster would be worth if  they were recreational only. We could all walk into the surf, snorkel out to the first reef and drop on a pile for the table. Everybody would want to do it if they were not horded by the fishmongers and you knew you were going to find them. Sorry about that, back to drum.

Something about an executive directors report. I want to see that one.

A commercial stood up and reported that crab traps have no effect on sea grasses. I’d like to know more about that.

One commissioner said we should try to head problems off a little quicker in the future.

Gulf grouper issue. The commissioners were asked to have an opinion. A couple of them do already. I think they should not allow commercial harvest at all when recreational folks can’t harvest. I am under the impression that commercial harvest will still be allowed inshore while recreational harvest will be prohibited. That’s nice, give them free reign on the nearshore fish. We’ll just sit back and watch them commercial guys rake in the money when they are the true cause of the depleted stocks anyway. Someone needs to get me up to date on this issue. Final action is in July. Actually, after watching how the process works, I would say that the decisions are already made by the Gulf Council. You can’t make a change. Don’t  try to pour out your heart to the commission on the day of final action, the deals are already done.

A commercial fisherman stood and reported that portions of previous minutes had been deleted. I was under the impression that I was the only one mad at the commission today until this guy spoke.

A commercial fisherman’s wife was mad that someone who spoke earlier had called the commercial fishermen “fish monger” and “those people” and “criminals”. I started looking around to see who it was, then I remembered that fool I mentioned earlier.

I have a note that the commercial fishing industry only bring 1 billion dollars to Florida, and they got the mind set to ask for redfish back.

Next was GAFF asking for a position on the grouper issue. I agree. I would like to know as soon as it is made public.

Meeting was adjourned. I tucked my tail, and headed home. 5 hours on the road gave me plenty of time to think about the day. Enlightenment took my idealism; I’m not going to speak my mind to these people again (yea right).

The Moose