Longline Research

[sea draggin]

Have you been enjoying great catches of sailfish? Dolphin? Marlin? Did you know that longlining off the Charleston Bump and Florida has been closed since 2001?

They are trying to open it once again. Earlier in the year it was thirteen boats. Now they are proposing two boats to do 289 sets of 500 hooks per set. The estimated amount of dead discard is unacceptable.

Check out the link http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/fis...ules/index.htm

Look at the 11-5-07 Pelagic Longline Research. Its a pretty easy read. I think that if you are a recreational or charter boat on the east coast, you will/should be shocked.

There are contacts on the link to voice your opinion, I would suggest doing so.

[JAGSARE1]

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/t...176518&posts=3

[DHSDave]

Although I don't live in those areas, I know the damage they will inflict on the fishery. It's critical to voice your opinion against the PLL industry. Just sent out my email...

Regards,

Dave S

[sea draggin]

Everyone has until the 20th to post a comment. If you don't, then you have in effect, given up your right to complain about overfishing.

[billgow]

I tried PLL_ResearchEA@noaa.gov but it came back. These e-mail addresses were on the NOAA website. They’re the Division Chief all the way down to the Environmental Liaison. Send your comments to all of them!

Christopher.M.Moore@noaa.gov
cyber.fish@noaa.gov
Neva.Howard@noaa.gov
Tom.Meyer@noaa.gov
Steve.Meyers@noaa.gov
Michael.Kelly@noaa.gov
Selene.Adams@noaa.gov
Forbes.Darby@noaa.gov
Michael.Bailey@noaa.gov
Rachel.OMalley@noaa.gov

[sea draggin]

Thanks

[DHSDave]

Just sent off my email to all of them....

[spearfish3]

I sent an email to all of them, but I also figured out why the original email address PLL_ResearchEA@noaa.gov didn't work. It needs to be PLL.ResearchEA@noaa.gov There _ needs to be a .

[Brames]

I'm on board...

[Brames]

Below is the email and subject ID you need for contacting the right people.

PLL.ResearchEA@noaa.gov

Subject: I.D. PLL Research EA

make sure you attach the ID

[sea draggin]

Feel free to copy and past any part for your submission:

To Whom It May Concern:
I am totally against opening the closed areas off Florida and Charleston to any longlining or longline research. Since the closure in 2001, the population of pelagics off the coast of NC has progressively increased. I say this through personal observation, as I spend about 60-70 days a year offshore.



We are seeing larger and more dolphin, as well as greater numbers of sailfish and marlin. The Carolina fleet started noticing the trend 3 years ago and things have progressively improved every year. The impact of charter and recreational spending on the coastal communities is great, as you know. With the current cost of operations for offshore trips, helping to protect the resource, by protecting population concentrations in the wintering grounds, will keep this part of the economy going during worstening times.



There are plenty of other areas where longliners can operate, without having to go into the currently closed areas. You saw the need to close them originally. The need is still there. If you feel there is a need to conduct research, please do so in areas currently open only.



In a parallel comparison, local police do not need to open a crack house next to a school to research its impact on the students. They know based on common sense that it is going to have a negative impact. You should not need to dead discard, by your own estimates: 360 swordfish, 13 White marlin, 14 Blue marlin and 61 sharks in this area, to know that it is going to have a negative impact on the area. In addition, you have no estimates regarding sailfish, which is flawed. I see this as a wasteful, unnecessary, negative impact on the resource.



Thank you for your time,
Jim Currin

[t-bone31]

Done

[BaitWaster]

What is the fear of the research with 100% observer coverage?

Two things could happen.

1) the modified fishing techniques are not as clean as predicted and the areas are permanently closed.

2) The techniques do work and the incidence of bycatch is drastically reduced and the small number of permitted longliners can fish for mature swords.

I don't see a problem with the research.

But I do see a problem with the rapid growth in a rec fishery targeting swordfish in these commercially-closed areas - mainly due to the presence of large number of juvie swords. What's good for the goose should be good for the gander.

This is sort of like the striped bass fishery. Both recs & commercials are restricted in the overfished state but the recs selectivily benefit when the fishery is deemed recovered.