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Opinion Editorials Coastal Voices Guest Opinion: Ocean sportfishers an endangered species
Coastal Voices Guest Opinion: Ocean sportfishers an endangered species
Ocean sportfishers are an endangered species due to soon become extinct. Are you really willing to let this happen? This is the start of round three of the California Department of Fish and Game’s plan to completely eliminate the ocean sportfishers here in Northern California, and the people both in business and who fish here are letting it happen by not standing their ground en masse and stopping this disaster.Last year we lost our salmon fishing, which was quickly and wrongly followed by the early closure of our rock fishing based on California Department of Fish and Game’s erroneously inflated numbers of fish being caught by boats from this harbor. Last fall I asked for all concerned ocean sportfishers and concerned community business people to sign the circulating petition to bring back the ocean sportfishing to this area. That petition was signed by hundreds and the resulting outcome was a 10-day ocean fishing season at a time when the salmon have already run up the rivers. I assume it was Fish and Game’s hope to keep us quiet and not see what else they have planned for us. I will not be quiet.
Let me tell you how it stands as of now.
• Fishing license fees went up. • Ocean fishing season was shortened even more — May 15 to Sept. 15. • Fish in possession cut to 10 rock fish and 2 ling cod — I am sure people don’t drive hundreds of miles to come here and fish for one day’s limit. • A ridiculous salmon season was given of Aug. 27 to Sept. 7. • More “endangered” fish were added to the do-not-catch list. • We can only fish in waters 120 feet or less deep. Why not say we can only fish the top 20 feet of the rivers and lakes — it makes just as much sense for a dumb rule. Now we have the state looking to restrict us further with this Marine Protected Area debacle. Between the stimulus plans, officials that that have no clear idea of what is truly going on with fishing, and this MPA stupidity, you might a well close up Crescent City. People, these jerks are paid with yours and my tax dollars so do something! This is an appeal to all the business people in Crescent City, to the ocean sportfishers that come here to fish and any other concerned person to attend en masse this proposed meeting on July 22 at the Cultural Center located at 1001 Front Street at 5 p.m. to clearly and loudly voice our opposition to these happenings. If you business people can do without the ocean sportfishers coming here with money to support your RV parks, the harbor, restaurants, stores, and casinos, then I suppose these happenings will not concern you. However, if this situation truly will impact your bottom line profit, then get with the program and let your voice be heard! This area has already lost its timber jobs, the commercial fishing is a fraction of what it was, and the sport fishing is fast becoming extinct. I guarantee you that without this ocean sportfishing there is no valid reason for many people to come here. The weather is not great, and the cost of living here is higher than in surrounding areas. Ocean sportfishing is what brings people and their money here. Lose that and you are left with Pelican Bay State Prison and welfare. Is that what you really want? I will be at this meeting and any other meetings concerning this subject that I can attend, and I certainly hope to see each of you attending also. Jan Buikema has fished locally since 1939. |
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