POETS MPA Report Forward

[Spike]

I spent the evening until about midnight last night sitting in on the public comment night at the DoubleTree in Santa Ana.
 
I was glad to see Roy and Mike there too and I appologize if I didn't see anyone else but the number of people who showed was double the room capacity and they even had to move the walls to open up the next room.
 
The comments by the public were endless and they are going to continue some more on thursday morning.
 
I was impressed with the orgainization of the tree huggers and even more impressed with the orgainization and turnout by the Kayakers and divers in opposition to closures from areas inshore.
 
I was dismally disappointed in the turnout from private boat fishermen and the lack of comments opposing the large areas of our Islands that have proposed closures.
 
My son and I are going to try to get back for thursday morning but I have some things that may prevent it so I urge anyone else that can go , please go and comment.

William

[Spike]

I think the most relevant arguments were made by the divers and spear fisherman, in particular the little blonde woman that spoke about swimming with WSB.

Unfortunately, many of the sport fisherman that spoke sounded uninformed and uneducated and simply spoke about what they would lose personally rather than speak as the panel had asked; about why the closures should or should not be implemented in the areas proposed as well as providing suggestions for alternatives.
I was also disappointed by the disinterest and disregard from both parties when someone from the other camp was speaking. There were smirks, rolling eyes, hisses.....stupid.

While I don't agree with broad, sweeping closures, something needs to be done to preserve our coast. If viable alternatives are not presented, and fisherman continue to act on emotion while fighting for zero reform, I believe we will continue to be perceived as ignorant consumers and our opinions will be dismissed completely. A prime example was the woman showing huge pics of gaffed yellows, halibut and seabass and whining about how she spent so much $$ on gear and won't be able to use it. She just reinforced the enviros opinion of us....just more dead fish.

I believe the fisherman on the council will be smarter than that and work towards a compromise rather than fighting for no closures, but many fisherman sure don't seem to employ much common sense and do more harm than good.

I guess I have more to say about it than I thought. Maybe next time I can get there early enough to speak.

Ryan