Over the last couple of months, many NC anglers have reached out to the NCFA seeking to get a better understanding of what’s really going on in the world of fisheries management here in North Carolina. The vast majority of the calls and emails have been positive, thankful that someone is finally telling the truth about the state fisheries, the data, and the disinformation being spread by the other groups.
That said, there have been several anglers who have questioned our assessment of the CCA’s true agenda, which in our opinion is to reduce or even eliminate harvest of wild fish stocks in both the commercial and recreational sectors. I had an angler from Pamlico County tell me that the CCA had assured him that once the nets were gone recreational bag limits for Red Drum, Southern Flounder, and Speckled Trout would increase and nothing I write could convince him otherwise.
This got me thinking that maybe he and other anglers would be more receptive to the truth if someone else wrote it.
Attached is an article, titled Paradise pushed to the limit, written by outdoors columnist Bob Marshall for Louisiana. Marshall, an avid angler, was active in the debate over the use of gillnets in Louisiana and in a Louisiana Sportsman, article titled Outspoken Journalist, said it was his position that the GCCA, now the CCA, should use science to outlaw gillnets. The article below was written in 1996, one year after the Louisiana net ban, and updated in 2019. Marshall begins his story with the following statement.
“Ah, what a wonderful time to be a recreational fisher in Louisiana. The gillnetters are banished. The Redfish are back. You can even hook specks again. But all is not well. The very thing that gave sport fishers last years victory over commercial netters- the explosion in their numbers- will soon lead to more limits, less fishing and fewer keepers for the ice chest. It’s a world that few weekend anglers have even begun to comprehend.”
Aside from the absurd assertion that fish stocks, supposedly overfished by gillnetters, could recover in one year, did you notice anything else peculiar in this paragraph?
That’s right, it appears that the anglers, which had just one year earlier helped the CCA gain their precious net ban, were being notified that they were now in the crosshairs. It was articles like this one that helped me realize that the true goal of the CCA NC, and others, was to follow the Gulf States example and change the public’s perception of our coastal fisheries. Their ultimate goal is to eliminate harvest in both sectors by promoting the resource solely as a source of recreation, not food.
Simply put harvest is bad, catch and release is good!
(Despite all the data that suggest otherwise)
If you can look past some of the rhetoric, there are a few telling statements in the article that lead you to the true message.
Marshall quotes fisheries managers from Gulf States as saying “Most people today realize the goal of recreational fishing is not necessarily to feed you family. It’s the experience of fun while trying to catch the fish.” And “People are telling us they don’t need to keep these fish, that they’re more interested in the challenge, the thrill of the fight. That’s what we have to work on everywhere. We can meet the demand, as long as we change the demand.”
Change the demand?
Yep, fish for fun, not Food!
Now I’m not saying it’s wrong for the CCA or anyone else to advocate for what they want, it’s not. But it is wrong to hide your true intent from the public especially those who support you.
In an email recently sent out by the CCA, they accuse the NCFA of vilifying them. Let me assure you our intent is not to vilify anyone, it’s simply to expose the truth. The public can, with the truth in hand, make their own determinations in regards to villains or heroes!
I encourage everyone to read the attached article, do your own research, and form your own opinions.
Glenn Skinner
NCFA, Inc.- Executive Director
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE for 4/4/2022: Jerry Schill
PRIMARY ELECTION is Tuesday, May 17th. Last week we listed coastal candidates for the NC Senate and House. If you found the list in the email hard to read, let me or Aundrea know and we can send you the information as a Word document. Constant Contact messes up the formatting.
Here are the candidates for the US Senate and US House for the coastal counties.
Rather than list all of the counties, below you will find a link to see North Carolina’s congressional map. You will note that nearly all of our members reside in District 1, 3 & 7 for the US House.
Please call or send a note if you want clarification of these new districts, especially if you are in a county that has more than one district. We can look up your information and let you know what district you’re in.
For the US Senate, Senator Richard Burr is retiring so it’s an open seat.
US House District 1 is an open seat because Congressman Butterfield is retiring.
US House District 3 has many candidates but Congressman Greg Murphy is the incumbent. (He replaced the late Walter B. Jones, Jr.)
US House District 7, the incumbent is Congressman David Rouzer.
US SENATE:
DEMOCRAT:
James Carr, Jr., Harrisburg
Robert Colon, Wilmington
Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond, Raleigh
Constance (Lov) Johnson, Charlotte
Tobias LaGrone, Greensboro
BK Maginnis, Charlotte
Rett Newton, Beaufort
Marcus Williams, Lumberton
Greg Antoine, Fayetteville
Cheri Beasley, Raleigh
Chrelle Booker, Columbus
REPUBLICAN:
Marjorie Eastman, Cary
David Flaherty, Cameron
Benjamin Griffiths, Cleveland
Kenneth Harper, Archdale
Pat McCrory, Charlotte
Charles Kenneth Moss, Randleman
Lichia Sibhatu, Raleigh
Debora Tshiovo, Moravian Falls
Mark Walker, Summerfield
Jen Banwart, Fuquay Varina
Ms. Lee A. Brian, Clayton
Leonard Bryant, Fayetteville
Ted Budd, Advance
Drew Bulecza, Lincolnton
US HOUSE DISTRICT 1:
DEMOCRAT:
Don Davis, Snow Hill
Erica Smith, Gaston
Jason Albert Spriggs, Henderson
Julian Bishop, Garner
REPUBLICAN:
Brad Murphy, Macon
Ernest Reeves, Greenville
Brent Roberson, Williamston
Sandy Roberson, Rocky Mount
Sandy Smith, Rocky Mount
Billy Strickland, Goldsboro
Henry Williams II, Greenville
Will Aiken, Henderson
US HOUSE DISTRICT 3:
DEMOCRAT:
Barbara Gaskins, Washington
Joe Swartz, Swansboro
REPUBLICAN:
Tony Cowden, Harrells
Eric Earhart, Eure
Brian Michael Friend, Wilmington
Greg Murphy, Greenville
George Papastrat, Richlands
US HOUSE DISTRICT 7:
DEMOCRAT:
Charles Evans, Fayetteville
Charles Graham, Lumberton
Yushonda Midgett, Wilmington
Steve Miller, Wilmington
REPUBLICAN:
David Rouzer, Wilmington
Max Southworth-Beckwith, Currie
HELP SUPPORT SOUTHERN SHRIMP ALLIANCE WITH THE CONTINUATION OF THE ANTIDUMPING DUTIES
Shrimpers, consumers, wholesalers, and processors…if you would like to help Southern Shrimp Alliance keep antidumping duties in place for imported shrimp, please fill out the appropriate forms below and return via mail or email before April 30, 2022 to the addresses below. (See our website for appropriate forms.)(Weekly Update)
Nathan Rickard
Picard Kentz & Rowe LLP
1750 K St., NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
nrickard@pkrllp.com
