The Georgia Hunting and Fishing Federation is a grassroots organization that is committed to promoting the outdoor sports. Founded in September 2003 hunters and fishermen from all over Georgia organized and held a rally in Blackshear, GA. with nearly 5000 folks in attendance. From this start GHFF has formed local chapters all over the state. The GHFF has worked with the legislation and DNR to preserve and protect some age old hunting traditions and to implement some changes to improve hunting and encourage kids to get involved in outdoor sports. The GHFF Expo is held each year to promote awareness of our organization and expose the public to the latest equipment and opportunities available in the great outdoors.
WIN A GUN A DAY FOR ONE MONTH And help preserve the tradition of hunting and fishing in Georgia, See how here...
Habitat Food Plot Seed is available to GHFF members; corn and wheat are in stock now.
click here to print the order form and/or call 706-454-1701 to purchase seed and arrange shipping.
Red Snapper Ban check links for latest information...
Georgia Hunting & Fishing Federation Speak Out on Proposed Red-Snapper Ban
Law governing federal fisheries of the United States appear in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), which was last reauthorized in 2007. This law, if used and based on sound science, could be a good tool to manage fisheries, but it is also a tool that when based on scientific theory can be very destructive to the fishing community. This seems to be the case with the proposed ban on red-snapper fishing in the south Atlantic.
There is language in the study that does not sound scientific. Words like assumed, estimated, assumptions, would be expected, appears to be are used too often. This type of science is reminiscent of the type used in the global-warming issue.
I say this because of the admitted increase of red snapper since 1992. The following is from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce Report: “A spike in 2007 and 2008 recreational landings indicates that fishermen are seeing more fish now than in previous years. This spike in landings is likely due to a strong year class that occurred in 2005 or 2006. The 2008 stock assessment reflects an increase in abundance since 1995; in fact, abundance estimated for the start of 2007 is nearly twice that estimated for 1995.”
It seems restrictions now in place are working. Why would NMFS want to change it? Their reason is that red snapper live to be 50 to 54 years old, and there are not enough 54-year-old fish. In this study, how many red snapper did they find that were 50 to 54 years old? Was it 50 to 100, 100 to 500, more than 500, or less than 10?
To put this in layman’s terms in our society, we have large numbers of people who live to the of age of 75 to 85, a few to 85 to 95, and a very few 95 and older. Does this mean that something is wrong because half of the people are not living to 95 and older? Could it not be that the few fish that were documented 50 to 54 years old were rare cases?
I don’t feel this kind of science warrants closing 5,800 square miles from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Georgia and into the Carolinas. Once this area is closed, I would be willing to bet the farm it won’t reopen in four months because NMFS stated that four months would not be enough time to complete the study.
Remember that once a species is placed on the threatened or endangered list it takes an act of Congress to remove it, and Congress is very slow to act on these issues. It amazes me that people whose income or business will not be affected by their decisions do not mind telling others to tighten their belts, and that they’re only going to lose a few thousand dollars. And they also tell them if they lose their business, they can find another line of work. The last time I looked, jobs were as scarce as hen’s teeth, and the last thing we need at this time is to take more money out of the economy.
Changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act would need to be made by Congress. The South Atlantic Fishing Industry (each person) and every fisherman needs to call their senator and congressman and tell them to pass legislation to delay regulation to give NMFS sufficient time to conduct a real scientific study based on sound evidence.
Our motto at the Georgia Hunting & Fishing Federation is, “Hold our elected officials accountable to the people they serve.”
The Constitution of America states we are a government by the people for the people. Not a government by a few people over the people. It is time for Americans to wake up and take our country back to the way our forefathers set up to be goverened, and we can do this if you will get involved in the process.
To quote Benjamin Franklin, “We must hang together, gentlemen... else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.”
Contact your congressman at <www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml>.
Reggie Dickey,
President GHFF
|
