The Deal Is Done

[Vegasspider]

I have lots and lots to say about this but it would all lead to a not pleasant conversations but thanks to all of those who voted for the guy. (Sarcasm)

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/f...ory?id=5440528

<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">What the NOC means for anglers

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By Robert Montgomery
Special to ESPNOutdoors.com
Archive
This is a column from Robert Montgomery for ESPN Outdoors. As a Senior Writer for BASS Publications, Montgomery has written about conservation, environment, and access issues for more than two decades. It's part of a series of articles on the issue.


The deal is done and a structure is in place that could lead to the closure of at least some recreational fisheries.
As reported recently by ESPNOutdoors.com, President Barack Obama used an executive order to implement "Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force," released on July 19. That 96-page document is as notable for what it does not say as it is for what it does.
What it does not say is that recreational angling is a national priority deserving special status because of its unique and considerable value economically, socially, and historically, as well as its contributions to conservation.
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That designation, which has been part of executive orders in previous administrations, would have afforded sports fisheries increased protection from closures by "marine spatial planning" — a broad term for the management of certain activities within marine areas.

Instead, recreational fishing could be thrown into the mix right along with commercial fishing, oil drilling, wind farms and other uses that the National Ocean Council (NOC) and nine regional planning groups will consider as they plot out how public waters will be utilized.
But recreational fishing is not a consumptive, for-profit use of the resource, as are commercial fishing and oil drilling. Rather, recreational angling contributes billions of dollars annually to the economy, as it allows millions of Americans to enjoy themselves in the outdoors with friends and family.
The American Sportfishing Association expressed concern about the "top-down tone of the policy," noting that it sets the foundation for "vast areas" of America's public waters to be closed to angling.
The Recreational Fishing Alliance added: "We don't see anything in the presidential order that guarantees recreational anglers' rights to fish will be protected in the future. Simple inclusion of the term 'recreational values' does not give the RFA any confidence that this new administrative bureaucracy will acknowledge the role of our recreational industry or honor the conservation decisions of established fisheries councils."
However, Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF), expressed cautious optimism. "I don't think that all recreational fisheries will be closed or that the NOC intends to do that," he said.
Last week, Crane and others met with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which spearheaded the task force, to argue for priority status of recreational uses of the oceans.
"I think they are finally understanding the concept," Crane said. Administration officials "at least acknowledged the difference between commercial angling and recreational fishing. Bottom line is that we as the sport fishing community need to stay on top of this and engaged as it moves forward, which we intend to do."
In the first document from the task force last fall, recreational angling was not mentioned. Instead, the authors spoke only of "overfishing" and "unsustainable fishing," implying that recreational angling and commercial fishing were one and the same.
ASA, CSF and others voiced their concerns to the CEQ and the task force. Also, they recognized the possibility that the structure (NOC) being put in place could lead to closure of recreational fisheries, as regional planning groups implemented their plans.
In fact, some suspected that this agenda was being pushed by environmental groups and their supporters in the administration who are preservationists, as opposed to conservationists.
It seemed likely that these same people and their associates would try to orchestrate closures similar to what has happened in California under the Marine Life Protection Act. Pushed by anti-fishing activists, that process has shut off angler access to prime fishing waters while ignoring science-based fisheries management.
Dr. Jane Lubchenco, administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and others on the task force told angling representatives in a meeting of the ASA that they were listening to their concerns.

[bassinbob]

Yes vegas, thanks to all those who voted for him. He is so out of touch with Americans.

[RPBassin']

What a joke!

[bassboogieman]

He's just attempting to turn the USA into an ObamaNation, and I think he's well on the way.

[nofearengineer]

Whattya know? The list goes on and on of the things Obongo thinks you need to stop doing.

[Vegasspider]

I am fighting myself not to rant on and on about this. You guys have notta how hard that is for me....

[walkeraviator]

It gets worse. The EPA is pushing to ban ALL lead from sporting goods again, like they did in getting lead outta bird shot. That includes lead weights and lead ammo. Leaving us with very expensive alternatives... This administration has it out for anyone who doesnt live in one of his socialist internment camps (cities)...

[Rebbasser]

Momma always said if you can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all, so........

[Garry2rs]

So are you saying that this report and all it's recommendations has been prepared in the few months that the new President has been in office?
I don't believe any government moves that fast!

[walkeraviator]

Its been a year and a half... and yes the liberals probably drafted it and a bunch of other useless legislation during teh Bush Administration and put it in a filing cabinet waiting til they had control to pull it out and start screwing america... but dont fool yoruself into thinking anyone but the Tree Huggers had anything to do with this...

[TN_Bassin]

Who thinks we need a revolution?