Ocean City Today
OPINION www.oceancitytoday.net
PAGE 16
FEBRUARY 24, 2012
Better fishing statistics help coastal economies People who don’t fish might shrug off how NOAA Fisheries has changed the way it estimates the annual catch totals for each species, believing that the revised data has no affect on them. But that conclusion would be wrong, since in this and other coastal areas, fishing constitutes a large slice of the tourism pie. At any given moment on weekends from spring to fall, boats valued at millions of dollars cruise inshore waters and a high percentage of them are fishing. Add to that all the surf anglers with their four-wheel drive rigs, the fishing head boats and other charter vessels that fish for flounder, sea bass, stripers, tautog and sea trout (marlin and tuna fishing is managed separately), and the financial impact locally is enormous. As NOAA says in its explanation of its new Marine Recreational Information Program, it realizes the numbers it produces “have real impacts on the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans.” That’s true, because fishing, especially destination fishing, is not inexpensive. Visiting anglers buy gas, food, lodging and entertainment just like any other visitor. Even better, the attraction that draws them here costs nothing, except to make sure that the waters are kept clean. This is why NOAA’s improved estimates are so important. They give the regulatory agencies that decide what, when and where fish can be boated better numbers to make that determination. The estimates are hardly pinpoint precise, but they are much closer to reality, especially for sea bass and flounder, which are a large part of the local recreational fishing industry. Giving fisheries managers a clearer idea of what anglers are catching leads to fairer rules. What anglers, scientists and businesses want and need is a sustainable fishery that will provide recreational and financial opportunities for everyone. To help do that, anglers need to do a better job of reporting their catch to fisheries personnel. It’s not just good for them, it’s good for everyone with a stake in coastal tourism.
Ocean City Today P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Phone: 410-723-6397 / Fax: 410-723-6511.
EDITOR/PUBLISHER .................... Stewart Dobson MANAGING EDITOR ...................... Brandi Mellinger ASSISTANT EDITOR ............................ Lisa Capitelli STAFF WRITER .................................... Nancy Powell GENERAL MANAGER .......................... Elaine Brady ACCOUNT MANAGERS ........................ Carrie Coots, ...................................... Sandy Abbott, Mary Cooper CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Terry Testani ADMIN. ASSISTANT .................................. Gini Tufts OPERATIONS DIRECTOR .................. John Dobson SENIOR DESIGNER ............................ Susan Parks GRAPHIC ARTISTS .......................... Tyler Tremellen, ................................................................ David Hooks COMPTROLLER .............................. Christine Brown Ocean City Today is published weekly by FLAG Publications, Inc. at 8200 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. 21842. Ocean City Today is available by subscription at $150 a year. Visit us on the Web at www.oceancitytoday.net.
READERS’ FORUM
Pines Marina Deck closes Editor, Marina Deck Restaurant in Ocean Pines [closed its] doors as of Feb. 19. This will be a great loss not only to the community organizations they have serviced and the organizations they have supported, but also to [its] loyal customers, which were far and few between. Unfortunately, this community has not supported it in return. We are a fickle bunch. I am truly upset that we are losing yet another great place to meet and eat. It boggles my brain; what does a restaurant owner have to do to keep its customers? Joan Gentile Ocean Pines
tell us y l l a e r u o y t a wh think ... Mail your letter to editor@oceancitytoday.net All letters are subject to editing for clarity and potentially libelous material appreciate everyone’s generosity again this year. The Noel Community
Reporter commended Noel Community thanks for thoroughness Editor, public for donation We want to commend Lisa Editor, The Noel Community thanks everyone for the donations of gloves, hats and socks during our 10th annual gLOVEs drive over the Valentine’s Day season. Local food pantries, lower income day care facilities and social service groups will distribute the items collected. Together, we were able to warm the hearts and hands of our friends in need. We are especially grateful to St. Andrew, St. John Neumann and Holy Savior Catholic churches and to the Worcester County Library in Ocean Pines for hosting the collections. We
Capitelli on her excellent article about our retirement. Not only did she take time with us and take extra pictures, but she accurately reported the facts and put together a most excellent article! We found Lisa to be personable, truly interested, she asked pertinent questions and if that
weren’t enough, she is a lovely, caring young woman. We must confess that we were a little nervous about the meeting. Through the years, we have heard from some of our peers how news reporters can sometimes do more harm than good when they do not really listen and report just some of the facts or misquote them. Thank you for sending us such a fine reporter and for putting our retirement story in your paper. God Bless You! Revs. Ron and Nancy Soulsman Pastors Emeritus, Lighthouse Church of God
CORRECTION A letter published Feb. 17, “More then 1,000 days passed without budget,” included an incorrect figure. The sentence in Gwen Cordner’s letter should have read, “We’re sending $1.3 trillion more each year than we’re taking in.” Ocean City Today regrets this error.