Corpusfishing.com

[Jim Smarr]

Texas Recreational Fishing Alliance

Response to Scoping Meeting



Texas Parks and Wildlife Scoping Meeting

University of Texas Marine Science Center Port Aransas

January 9, 2008 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Texas Parks and Wildlife is being pressured to follow Federal Red Snapper regulations in State Waters. This would mean we would go to two Red Snapper 16” and a much shortened season of 122 days. We currently have a year around fishery in Texas State Waters with a four fish limit of 15” for Red Snapper. The reduction of Red Snapper Bag Limits would be devastating to our Coastal Communities.

This is a States Rights Issue. We simply need to tell TPWD to not follow Federal Regulations in State Waters.

The Feds are also asking TPWD to limit us to one Blacktip Shark in Texas Waters.

We need to say no to one Blacktip.

There is the issue of removing the Commercial Reduction Boats in the Menhaden fishery from Texas State Waters. Menhaden are very important as they eat algae. These fish remove brown and red tide from our Coastal Waters. They are also the basis for the food chain for all recreationally caught sportsfish. This will not affect the recreational bait usage of menhaden just the Commercial Factory Trawlers with purse seines.

We need to say YES to removing the Menhaden Reduction Industry from Texas State Waters

RFA Texas is standing with Texas Saltwater Anglers and TPWD to maintain our States Rights. Please attend this meeting as your vote will help maintain our rights as Texans to set our rules in State Waters. We have to support TPWD to stop the FEDS from taking away our ability to set Texas Fishing Regulations in State Waters. If you have an interest in fishing this is the meeting to attend.

I hope to see many of you there. Please take time to say hello as I will be
in the three remaining meetings up and down the Coast.

Jim Smarr
RFA Texas
jimsmarr@charter.net
rfatexas.org
361-463-1558

[The Trash Heap]

Jim, using your argument for halting the menhaden fishery as the model, why haven't you also articulated scientific bases for opposing the proposed limits on the red snapper and blacktip fisheries? If the feds and TPWD are backing their cases with some scientific evidence and/or theory, you should do the same in rebuttal.

Then there's your need to cite alternatives that would meet the agency objectives. One supposes the objectives are the preservation of the species initially and, once that's assured, the restoration of fisheries at some sustainable levels. What are your objectives, what would you do differently to achieve them, and why are they superior to those of the agencies?

Citing states' rights as your sole reason for opposition won't win any arguments in federal court, particularly since in such court you'd be the moving party, and especially if all you have expressed at the scoping meetings is an arbitrary position w/o science to bear the burden of proof. The agencies will surely point that out, so don't go to battle w/o ammunition. This isn't a case where the majority rules; you must prevail not by a show of popular support at these meetings, but by presenting reasons at least as good as what the agencies have put forward.

Good luck with your presentation.
_________________
The Trash Heap Has Spoken!
NNYYAAAHH!!!

[awesum]

Jim - Let's remind folks that the meeting in Port Aransas is Wednesday and not Tuesday as suggested in the title of your thread.

TTH - I followed the activity at this site that I believe was led by you to prevent the government from taking a stretch of beach away form the people. Other than your rights what did you have to stand on? Now I had not been on that stretch of beach in 12-15 years and haven't since the event was settled. I now live outside the city limits of Corpus Christi so I could not vote. However, that did not prevent me from actively supporting the movement to save the beach taking place by calling friends and alerting them to what was happening. Recreational fishermen are a loosely formed group of individuals that enjoy fishing near shore waters for tasty fish rather than running miles and miles to fish federal waters. Our main agenda is our rights. The notion that we have hard data to back up our stance that "we feel" the state waters can support the present season and bag limits is not feasible.

Scenario ...... the gummit decides that Pompano are overfished and the fishery is in trouble. They propose that the bag limit be reduce to three (3) and you can only fish for them at a time of year that they are either not present or actively feeding. I can imagine that you would be the first in line to oppose this measure and say their data is flawed. What hard proof would you use to support your case? Would you furnish pictures of your cooler full of pomps caught last week? I can show the feds pics of my depthfinder lit up in 70' of water about 9 miles off the beach. Does that count? I think not.

My point is many an issue has been won based on rights. That's pretty much all we have to go on.

BJ

[Jim Smarr]

Sorry I had just typed a deal for the Dickenson meeting which is Tuesday,
Port A is wednesday.


News Release
Media Contact: Tom Harvey, (512) 389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.state.tx.us

Dec. 18, 2007

Public Input Meetings Set On Coastal Fishing Regulations
AUSTIN, Texas — State fisheries biologists have set a January series of public input meetings in Port Arthur, Dickinson, Port Aransas and Port Isabel to discuss possible changes to the way fishing and fisheries are regulated along the Texas coast.

At the meetings, the Coastal Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be scoping or exploring several items for the upcoming 2008 statewide hunting and fishing proclamation process. In particular, TPWD will be considering changes in the current red snapper and shark regulations to attain greater consistency between current federal regulations and state regulations. In addition, the ongoing fishery for menhaden in state waters will be reviewed and the possibility of closing state waters will be scoped.

Regarding coastal fishing guides, the department will scope an item within the statewide regulatory process that may not require any regulatory changes. This involves the possible creation of a Texas Saltwater Certified Guides Program. The voluntary program would establish a certification program by the department, which would foster safety, angler ethics and other training to promote protection of coastal natural resources.

Scoping meeting dates and locations are listed below. All meetings run 7-to-9 p.m. For more information, contact Art Morris at art.morris@tpwd.state.tx.us or (361) 825-3353.

January 3, 2008 — Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 9th Avenue, Port Arthur, TX
January 8, 2008 — Galveston County Extension Service Office, 5115 Highway 3, Dickinson, TX
January 9, 2008 — University of Texas Marine Science Institute Auditorium, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX
January 10, 2008 — Port Isabel Community Center, 213 Yturria, Port Isabel, TX

[Jim Smarr]

TPWD is not pushing this issue the Feds are. TPWD has plenty of data to back up their statement that snapper is ok in Texas State Waters. They want us to say no in the scoping meeting so they can say Texans do not want Feds making rules in State Waters. The Commission will visit this issue in their January meeting.

This will be am all out War if the Feds push this issue.

[ccbobber]

giving away or changing a right to do something that will be returned to us at some later date is one thing. giving away the beach to a private billionaire for nothing in return is STUPID. how can you even compare the two? i will be at the meeting. will you?

some people do nothing but complain. others vote and at least try to change things that they appose. who are you?
_________________
ccbobber

[The Trash Heap]

[Jim Smarr]

You are right. We need to say the biomass in Texas according to TPWD is rebuilding under the current regulations so there is no need to further restrict the fishery.

This is a scopinng meeting and the comments will go to the Commission.
The Commission if given enough NO's will table the issue and tell the feds No way we will not reduce the State Limits or Season.

Currently Florida is being pressured to do the same. I have no feeling as to if Fla. will cave into Fed Pressure.

[Jim Smarr]

The Feds want Texas to close Blacktip shark. We need to say no.

[awesum]

[/quote]awesome, you missed my point entirely. Fortunately, Jim didn't, as his response to my constructive criticism shows. I'll try again. In this scoping venue, as in a federal courtroom, it isn't enough to say your rights would be affected or that you'll be harmed in some other way. Those harms give you standing, a reason to be listened to by the agencies and/or a judge. But, if that's ALL you bring into the argument, and you haven't got the science behind your proposed alternatives, the agencies will have little trouble convincing themselves and a judge their way is best.

Jim's apparently said in his latest post that TPWD HAS both the will AND science to rebut the feds. If Jim and others cite TPWD's science and support it at the scoping meetings, then they're doing exactly what I recommended earlier.

I hate to see you wasting your energy fighting me when I was on Jim's side all along. Would you prefer I switched sides? [/quote]


TTH-

As all of us here know when we post, words on a computer screen lack emotion. Without hearing the poster's tone of voice, seeing the expression on their face or knowing their frame of mind our words can be misinterpreted. And where emotional issues are involved they often are.

That said ..... No I didn't miss your point completely. I understood it clearly and I might go on to add that I agree with it 100%. So, I'm not sure why you feel otherwise. I will plead guilty to misreading a portion of your post but it did not have an affect on what I said or how I took your point. I said nothing nor intended to imply that you were wrong. I've seen and heard Jim Smarr speak at these meetings before and knew he was prepared. He fights these battles at all levels.

My hypothetical situation was both an illustration of the limitations we face as recreational fishermen in coming up with science to support our claim and also a question to you or anyone else asking what methods we might use within our resources as a loose knit, largely unorganized group of bodies.

I don't recall reading any comments you posted that clearly defined your stance on this issue ........ that doesn't mean you haven't done so. Why you would think I was fighting you or why you would ask if I preferred you to change sides mystifies me.

Peace bro .....

[The Trash Heap]

[Jim Smarr]

Date is correct now.

[Danglefoot]

Don't worry Awesome, I and several other people understand where you are coming from. He is the same way over at Breakaway. com. We just ignore him. He is a retired biologist, not a lawyer. He gets real offensive when he is questioned about something he has said or written. You would think a man with his education would understand that everyone is entitled to an opinion and you have a right to disagree with their opinion. He wears his feeling on his sleeve. Someday, maybe he will learn, ya think ??

[The Trash Heap]

Fred Dalton Thompson:

[Danglefoot]

I guess it is your bed side matter that rubs me the wrong way. He is a retired federal biologist who taught law at universities and nation wide...oooooh a liberal, I see ! Hahahahaha No thanks Tyler I don't want to be President. I have a reputation to protect. Be nice TTH I'll sic Hankaway on you.