Fall, 2014 Volume 3, Issue 3
FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK By Gary Caputi MIDTERMS, COD COLLAPSE, SECTOR SEPARATION, STRIPED BASS AND MORE! There is an awful lot happening in politics and fisheries management since our last issue, some good, some bad and some very ugly! On the upside the midterm elections put a new face on Congress. As a political action organization the RFA endorsed, and in some cases, supported candidates willing to work with us to fix the MSA and protect your right to fish . The results were strong indeed. Check it out in Jim Donofrio’s Midterm Wrap Up on page 6. Other good news comes from ICCAT where the latest assessment on bluefin tuna shows solid improvements in the stock. This should result in an easing of quotas for the recreational and for-hire sectors for next year. The situation with Atlantic Striped Bass is finally being addressed. Hopefully, with proper action, it will reverse the decline in the coastwide spawning stock biomass before it gets any worse. There has been much debate about the shape of new management measures, but a 25% reduction in harvest is slated for 2015 and is supported by an overwhelming majority of recreational fishermen. They also agree that the ASMFC waited far too long before taking action when a few years ago far less Draconian measures would have sufficed. The really ugly comes in the form of the Gulf Council, which is totally out of control! It recently passed a controversial “sector separation” plan opposed by an overwhelming major in an effort to privatize the fishery. Also on the list is NMFS declaration that the New England cod fishery has collapsed, and this only a few years after making it an individual quota fishery, which was supposed to be its savior! Nice job NMFS. Read all about it in this issue of Making Waves. Be sure to pass along the link to your friends or have them sign up at the RFA website (www.joinrfa.com).
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Executive Director’s Report: The Creation of Political Dynasties
4
Breaking Political News: RFA Midtern Election Wrap Up
6
RFA Issues & News Important happenings in Fish Management
9
Great News from ICCAT on Bluefin Tuna
12
By Jim Donofrio
By Jim Donofrio
By Jim Hutchinson, Jr. Red Snapper Madness: Poster Child for Reform
16
By Jim Hutchinson, Jr. Striped Bass: When Management Options Become Optional
22
Breaking News: Gulf Council Approves Sector Separation
28
What Does A Rebuilt Fishery Look Like
31
By Jim Hutchinson, Jr.
By John DePersenaire Feds: New England Cod 34 Stock has Collapsed
By Capt. Barry Gibson