Poachers nets found in the Chesapeake.

[Megabyte]

There is an area near Bloody Point where the deepest point in the Chesapeake is located. It is 174 feet deep.
The average depth of the Bay is a mere 21 feet, so you can see, it is a much different body of water than Mass bay.

Here are some facts and figures on the Chessy, which is the largest estuary in the United States:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/factsandfi ... item=14582

If you, or your friends net in Mass Bay in compliance with the rules, no issues here from me.
The problem down here is that a handful of greedy people have decided to go outside of the law and are imperiling the entire striped bass species, and we cannot allow that to happen.

If the poachers continue to have success down here, you won't see any of these fish in your waters ever again.
None of us can allow that to happen. This is not just a Chesapeake problem, it is an east coast problem.
These fish will vanish because this is the east coast nursery... and our nursery is your (and our) industry.

If it means banning nets in the bay to see the species survive, I'm all for it.

 

[sparky]

Yeah, I hear you. I'm not contesting anything in the Chessie.

I'm just saying that stating "You should ban all gillnets" is a little over the top, and unrealistic. I'd say that the only option is to catch the poachers. Simply removing the nets isn't going to stop them. Heck, I say catch them and make them work the rest of their lives in a fish hatchery, shoveling fish crap. I've done work like that, its fitting punishment. I realize that the nets are still there, killing fish, but you've got to get to the source.

Up here, they've caught guys scrubbing eggers, or fishing 2 permits with one boat, or ignoring the pot limits. What do they do? 2 warnings/fines, then they confiscate the boat. Ditto with the gillnet guys who are using mesh that's too small.

There is an area near Bloody Point where the deepest point in the Chesapeake is located. It is 174 feet deep.
The average depth of the Bay is a mere 21 feet, so you can see, it is a much different body of water than Mass bay.

Here are some facts and figures on the Chessy, which is the largest estuary in the United States:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/factsandfi ... item=14582

If you, or your friends net in Mass Bay in compliance with the rules, no issues here from me.
The problem down here is that a handful of greedy people have decided to go outside of the law and are imperiling the entire striped bass species, and we cannot allow that to happen.

If the poachers continue to have success down here, you won't see any of these fish in your waters ever again.
None of us can allow that to happen. This is not just a Chesapeake problem, it is an east coast problem.
These fish will vanish because this is the east coast nursery... and our nursery is your (and our) industry.

If it means banning nets in the bay to see the species survive, I'm all for it.

 

[R & R]

I wonder why in this modern day and age they didn't survail the nets, and spring a trap to arrest the scum bags as they retrieve their illegal harvest, instead of letting them to do this again. A club I belonged to paid to implant an electronic monitoring device in a striped bass, to monitor it's movement. Such a unit could alert the authorities to the retrieval of the nets. IMHO, the perpitrators should be appropriately fined and their vessel confiscated to make sure they don't repeat this dastardly deeds. Just my 2 cents.

 

[WCS]

Kevin -- thanks, very well articulated. The Bay is too precious a resource for gill nets to be there. The poachers are a disgrace.

wayne

 

[Bryan 2530]

This is interesting, North Carolina but along the same lines.

http://www.examiner.com/fish-and-wildli ... z1DxZZrSCI

 

[BTDT]

Megabyte,

What is sadder is that govt. agency business models are designed to function in a reactive mode. They publicise big events after it is too late.

Ah, now we are back to Wall Street and The Bankers where the really, really big problems lie.

 

[R & R]

Not that it fixes anything, but the poachers are probably not well liked by the rest of there commercial brethren. Read this paragraph and note the consequences.

"Maryland’s commercial striped bass fishery is managed on a quota system, in cooperation with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; the commercial gill net quota for February is 354,318 pounds. When the illegally harvested striped bass confiscated by the NRP were deducted from the quota, DNR was forced to immediately shut down the fishery. The fishery will remain closed until DNR can determine the extent of illegal nets out on the Bay and the amount of striped bass caught in those nets."

Supposedly the conservation officers couldn't wait any longer to nab them as the gill-netted fish would have deteriorated and not have been salvaged to feed the poor.

 

[Megabyte]

This is interesting, North Carolina but along the same lines.

http://www.examiner.com/fish-and-wildli ... z1DxZZrSCI

Wow... I thought the pressure and influence from the MWA on our own fisheries people was bad, but that is just insane.
Did the NC States Attorney go on an extended vacation and close the office while all this was going on?

Amazing.
The fish caught in those trawls are the spawners that would have been up here in about a month to make the next generation.
Between the NC trawls, the purse seines in VA, and the gill nets in MD, its a wonder that any fish survive.


Edit: Since the original story broke about the poachers nets, even more illegal nets have been discovered this past week in the Bloody Point area of the Bay.

 

[jonas grumby]

Instead of addressing the symptom (poaching), address the problem (market). It seems like the markets that are purchasing fish would be a great place to police i.e. check the credibility of whomever is selling fish to the market. Just like the local scrap-yards, if they get a bunch of bronze pump casings or monel shafts, they raise the red-flag- these may have come from a war-fighting platform? The deterent theory for poaching would suggest a more potent punishment like mandatory 1 year in jail.

 

[jacksdad]

Its just like farming. You can grow crops without fertilizer, without pesticides, and without heavy equipment. Beef cattle can be grown on grass, and allowed to wander as they see fit, instead of being jammed with corn on CAFO's... but in order to meet the demand of an ever-expanding populace, destructive practices have been adopted to keep food on the world's plate.

The answer is simple, and very unpalatable: Fewer people, or less-destructive methods of growing/catching food, and watch people starve to death because food prices soar.I hate to sound like a jerk, but the options are the same in the end. Its just a matter of how long it takes to affect us.

T H A N K Y O U.

Nice to see somebody thinking on a macro scale instead of micro. You, sir, 'get it'.

 

[Megabyte]

Update on the net situation...

-----------------------------

Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association
"Preserving and Protecting the Rights, Traditions, and Future of Recreational Fishing"

MSSA Breaking News
March 7, 2011
The Use of Gill Nets for Commercial Harvesting of Striped Bass in Maryland Waters

The Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) would like to recognize and support the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Natural Resources Police (NRP) for their commitment to review the striped bass gill net fishery. While the MSSA supports and will continue to support the DNR’s actions, we have deep concern for the sustainability of the fishery and the enforceability of our current regulations. The MSSA therefore supports an elimination on the use of gill nets in Maryland waters for the purpose of commercially harvesting striped bass.

An elimination of gill nets for striped bass would significantly reduce the potential for illegally harvesting. It would also improve the biomass and relieve the State from needlessly incurring the cost and expense of enforcement under existing regulations. The MSSA further believes the lack of enforcement, due in part to an inability to adequately police gill netting, warrants the elimination of any method of gill netting in Maryland waters. Evidenced time and time again over the years and as recently as February of this year when Natural Resources Police discovered the illegal netting of 8.5 tons of rockfish, Maryland’s enforcement resources are insufficient to police and halt poaching on our waters. This results is the theft of precious natural resources, as well as negatively impacting the fishery and local economies and jeopardizing public trust.

To ease the financial burden that the elimination of the striped bass gill net season would have on those whose livelihood is fishing, the MSSA would endorse a reallocation of the gill net season for striped bass to a hook and line fishery for full-time watermen.

Eliminating the use of gill nets for striped bass is only one part of the solution. Maryland must adopt significant penalties and fines for those convicted of poaching, employing illegal harvesting methods, or in possession of undersized fish. This would include all persons who enable the wrongdoer. Maryland needs to send a clear message to all who would rape its natural resources that the penalties for such illegal conduct are severe. Maryland must enact laws now that declare anyone caught poaching, employing banned fishing methods, or possessing illegal fish will result in the confiscation of fishing gear, tackle, vessels, vehicles, or any other property that are the fruits from such illegal activity, as well as incarceration.

The MSSA believes that those who enable the wrongdoers should be deemed to be co-conspirators and subject to the same fines and penalties as the person who commits the illegal actions. Maryland must vertically integrate its laws to penalize those who benefit from illegal actions committed against our natural resources.

Only the confiscation of liberty or property, or both, will be enough to provide a sufficient deterrent to those who benefit at the expense of the environment. The MSSA also supports the enactment of legislation that individuals violating Maryland’s Natural Resources anti-poaching laws, a person must be forever barred from being eligible to possess the right to hold a license to fish or hunt.

It is for the reasons stated above that the MSSA adamantly supports an elimination on the use of gill nets for striped bass in Maryland waters. We strongly encourage our elected officials to eliminate gill netting for striped bass, reallocate net fish quotas to a hook and line fishery for full-time fishermen only, and enact new legislation strengthening penalties and fines to include the confiscation of property and/or liberty from anyone who wrongfully profits from the destruction of Maryland’s precious natural resources including those who conspire to do so.

Best Regards,

Vince Ringgold, President

 

[R & R]

Interesting article in USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/env ... 7_ST_N.htm

 

[Megabyte]

Our local paper The Capital recently did an article where a reporter did a ride-along with two NRP officers during their night shift.
The story started out with the officers settling-in on a shore side stakeout of an oyster sanctuary, but they got called away when one of those 'electronic fences' alarmed at another sanctuary "near Love Point".

The officers had to travel from their previous position to their boat which was berthed at Matapeake State Park, and then by water to Love Point. If you know anything about the Bay, and especially those areas, they are all a considerable distance apart.

Bottom line of the story, they did not catch any poachers that night, but the NRP did reveal they are employing some high-tech measures in an attempt to better the odds that the NRP can catch some of these folks.

The Bay is a huge space, and due to budget cuts, the NRP's ranks are thin as well. The air operations arm (one Bell Jet Ranger) has been grounded due to budget cuts and overtime has been curtailed too. The sad fact is that there is too much area to cover with too few people, and the poachers know that.

Added into the equation is the fact that when poachers are caught, the courts treat them lightly, so there is no incentive for them to stop.
As that MSSA press release stated, "Only the confiscation of liberty or property, or both, will be enough to provide a sufficient deterrent to those who benefit at the expense of the environment.". Simply put, boats and gear needs to be confiscated and real jail time needs to be served.

Bottom line... the poachers are stealing from all of us... and they are getting away with it.