Tackle Shop owners from around the Ocean State came together to ask Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to give their customers what they wrote-in, commented and asked for from the beginning, “one fish with 31% conservation equivalency”. The letter follows:
Dear Director Coit, Senator Sosnowski, and Mr Borden,
Collectively, the recreational fisherman in Rhode Island and the Ocean State’s tackle shop owners and their employees want to urge you not to abandon the original conservation equivalency of >31% that was linked to all of the one fish options that were presented to Rhode Islanders. As shop owners we hear the dialog within the rec community every day and we can assure you the vast majority are frustrated and disheartened to learn you are considering a 27% harvest reduction to benefit one user group. They know Conservation Equivalence is a minimum and Rhode Island is under no obligation to utilize the lower standard.
The citizens spoke emphatically and consistently in favor of a one fish and 30 inch limit with the corresponding greater the 31% mortality reduction. Quite a few more, decidedly shore bound Rhode Islanders, advocated for an even more conservative approach of one fish at 32 inches. The ASMFC Technical Committee is unable to discern the gains in reduced mortality between the 30 inch and 32 inch options desired by Rhode Islanders relative to the 28 inch limit that produces a “greater than 31% reduction”. Please recognize your constituents were forced to settle for the nebulous “greater than 31%” at the outset due to inability of ASMFC to deliver this key piece of data.
The urgency in the uniform voice of recreational anglers for the most conservative approach is fueled as well by the Technical Committee assessment that all of the options presented have roughly a 50% chance of success. It amounts to a coin flip. These are scary odds for the recreational anglers of the Ocean State and even more concerning if your business requires healthy striped bass fishery to survive.
At the ASMFC Planning Meeting the DEM strategy was “one fish and investigate conservation equivalence to get two fish for charter fleet” while not ideal this was an acceptable compromise in that it included a “greater than 31% reduction”. As shop owners we can sympathize with the Charter Captains concern for their livelihood and the jobs they create as we have employees whose need for jobs is no less important.
If you walk in the waders of the majority of Rhode Island recreational anglers it’s hard not to see the current “2 fish with 27% reduction” proposal by the for hire fleet as anything other than the export of Rhode Island resources against the stated desire of public and to the benefit of a select few and for those who can afford to pay for the best.
We urge you to maintain the >31% harvest reduction your public demanded. If you consider a “two fish” option the recreational anglers of Rhode Island would ask that the Charter Boat Captains and Mates contribute to reducing mortality by not taking their recreational share while on a “for hire” trip. This will help mitigate the negative impacts of the continued harvest of two reproducing females by each of their paying customers.
You have a wonderful opportunity to let Rhode Island again be the state that leads with a creative solution that the serves the citizens, shares the economic impact and most importantly protects this incredible gamefish.
Thank you for your service,
Peter Jenkins – The Saltwater Edge
Mike Wade – Watch Hill Outfitters
Neal Hayes – Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle
Dave Henault – Ocean State Tackle
Greg Bruning – The Tackle Box
Captain Ron Mouchon – Breachway Bait and tackle
Captain Chris Willi – Block Island Fishworks
Mike Cardinal – Cardinal Bait and Tackle
Ray Miclette – Pete’s Bait and Tackle
Robin Nash – Quonny Bait and Tackle
The On The Water staff is made up of experienced anglers from across the Northeast who fish local waters year-round. The team brings firsthand, on-the-water experience and regional knowledge to coverage of Northeast fisheries, techniques, seasonal patterns, regulations, and conservation.
The “Real” joy in fishing is catching.
That’s what we try to do when we go fishing. But the best part about that for me “Is Releasing ” To me when I’m on them,really on them. The biggest Buzz Kill of all, is limiting out and having to go in. To me that defeats the purpose as to why were out there. I wish that more people could get a hold of themselves and realize one thing, the more fish you throw back. The more fish you will catch. This is not rocket science. Try it it’s very catchy. I have nothing against taking a fish here and there to eat. I love to eat fish. But to just take,take,take,take,kill,kill,kill !!!
I mean COM-ON-MAN !!
There are the sportsman who fish to catch and release and then there are those who fill there boats with illegal amounts of fish. The EP needs to enforce better simply by sitting at a boat ramp on an a nice summer evening. It would make you sick to see what goes on.
couldn’t agree more. 1 fish is plenty. get rid of those bonus tags. I wish jersey would get on board.
Well Done RI…maybe NY and Mass will follow your example. Next, we need to police ourselves , especially with the poachers. Problem is there is never a DEC guy around when you need them. Let’s give our Park Police and our local PD’s the authority to summons the cheaters.
Well written. Hopefully it doesn’t fall on deaf ears.
Well said RI. I wish NY and NJ were so enlightened.
I too agree with the statement above. 1 fish @ 30 across the board. Or a proposed slot limit. Lets get our act together for the future.
As the owner of Lucky Bait. I would like to request that Kurt Rivards post be removed from this article. Only I can speak on behalf of Lucky Bait.
Sincerely
Lorraine Danti
Kurt, Nobody Speaks for Lucky Bait but Lorraine Not even Manny (unless I let him)
I trust these posts are in jest? I don’t provide my business to an employer that tells their employees what they can say on their own time and on their own behalf.
I think it is a waste to give charter customers priority in this matter. Charter captains need to be able to talk to their customers and convey to them why it makes sense for the future of the fishery. I have only ever heard captains complain that there are plenty of fish and they aren’t to blame and the gov’t… scientists… and what-have-you. The way I see it is that their customers are way more likely to waste the fish than recreational folks. Each striper around 28″ is 6-8 servings of meat depending on who’s eating. 2 fish is 12-16 servings. It is save to assume that are not eating all of this at once or even in the same week. If they don’t know how to preserve it, that fish is going to be a rotten or freezer burned mess that will only feed seagulls at the dump. In my experience, lots of recreational fisherman have a vacuum sealers and store fish for consumption over the winter. I don’t think we should get 2 fish either (and am hugely in favor of a slot limit of one schooly and/or one past the point of breeding), but I really don’t think that charter boat patrons should be given preferential treatment just because they don’t see the value in paying for a day’s fishing. Let’s think for tomorrow and not make temporary solutions that we will be ashamed of down the road.