Patrick's Plea

[Renee]

Patrick wrote this and posted it on his website. It breaks my heart and fits right in with everything else we are fighting for. Beach Access will be irrelevant when the MPA designations and the fishing regulations make it illegal to wet a line anyway. Sometimes it feels like that is what it's all coming to. . .

To whom it may concern,

My name is Patrick Martin Caton. I am a commercial fisherman and for-hire boat captain working out of Hatteras, North Carolina.
I'm writing you because, in case you weren't already aware, the South Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council (SAMFC) is considering a 35-year closure of all bottom fishing from 95 feet and deeper. That means no more fishing for snappers, groupers, sea bass, tile fish, triggerfish, amberjacks and more.

This fishery supports numerous families, individuals, and business up and down the East coast. Such a ban would completely shut down many small, owner-operated commercial fishing boats, head boats, and charter boats, and would adversely impact fish house owners and employees, marinas, fuel docks, tackle companies and suppliers, public fish markets, and other related businesses.

At a time when congress and the president are (supposedly) desperately trying to curb the out-of-control unemployment rate, I think it would behoove them to not intentionally destroy any remaining jobs.

The impetus behind this ban is bad science and the unreasonable parameters of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. You can ask any bottom fisherman from North Carolina to Florida what's really out there on the bottom of the ocean, and their responses will almost always be exactly the opposite of what the SAMFC's SEDAR program reports.

You may be wondering, why the discrepancy? Well, I can tell you.
I am 23 years old, and I have spent well over half those years working as a fisherman. From the age of seven, I worked on a boat with my father, also a commercial and recreational fisherman, each summer, and when I graduated from high school, I got my captain's license, bought a boat and began working on my own. This will be my fifth year in business.
All that time on the water and I've yet to see a NOAA boat conducting research off the coast of Hatteras. Sure, they may come down and survey some of the historical wrecks, offering a mediocre-at-best fish count, or they may come down to the docks and measure some fish from a boat's catch, but surely you can see that that kind of research is hardly enough basis for a 35-year moratorium on all bottom fishing.

Fishermen are already heavily regulated. To do my job, I have to have a USCG captain's license, a Transportation Worker Identification Card, a random drug testing certificate, a South Atlantic Operator's card, a North Carolina saltwater fishing license, a North Carolina commercial license, six federal fisheries permits, USCG vessel documentation, and I have to comply with myriad other safety and security measures.
What do the people regulating me have to have? A college degree? A six-month internship counting fish and collecting water samples?

Doctors regulate doctors, lawyers regulate lawyers, but a bunch of guys with a Biology degree and no actual fishing experience get to tell me how many fish I can keep on a given day (if I can keep any at all) while being extolled by environmental dilettantes across the country for their efforts to "save the world."

See, the knowledge required to be a working waterman isn't something you can learn in high school or trade school or college or graduate school. It's something that has to be learned through years on the water, from the people who did it before you. It's a specialized kind of knowledge that has provided, and could continue to provide, food and jobs for hundreds of thousands of people all over the country.

Without fishing, there would be no more fresh fish in fish markets; they will all be imported from places like Mexico and Panama. Or, they'll be unsustainably raised in aquaculture facilities, where they will become diseased from their unnatural diet and unsanitary conditions. They will be of little nutritional value to the consumers, and, in fact, could adversely affect their health.

And without fishermen, coastal communities up and down the East coast would suffer. The thing about commercial and recreational fishermen is that, in times of economic hardship, they can still support themselves while bringing food and money into their communities. In times like we are facing now, commercial and recreational fishing is invaluable. When the tourists stop coming, when the building comes to a halt, the men and women who know how to fish will still be able to support themselves and their communities.

Believe me when I say, the working watermen of America are the very last people who want to see the ocean overfished and her resources depleted. It is all we have. If this moratorium goes through, I will be 58 years old before I can do my job again.

With that in mind, I ask you to please consider amending the Magnuson-Stevens Act to allow more flexibility in its regulations and to please consider having congress put the SAMFC under review, before their poor judgment and egregious manipulation of science puts an end to fishing.


Sincerely,
Patrick M. Caton
Captain, F/V Little Clam
Hatteras, NC

Call your senators and congressmen and tell them that you would like to still go fishing.

www.littleclam.com

[Jim and Ginny]

are you posting this on every board you can think of. I thought only I did that.

[dapster]

Originally Posted by Jim and Ginny

are you posting this on every board you can think of. I thought only I did that.

...at least three of us are guilty as charged!

[Custer]

Done, Done and Done.

[flathead]

What Leon said.For a long time.

[Alexy]

Originally Posted by River

I'm sorry but I have to say somethin, this is a fine 23 yr old young man, who was taught how to work hard and show people a good time by his Daddy, pleadin for his livelyhood so he can raise a family like a lot of other people have. This is not a retired couple complainin cause they got stopped by the DMF or the Coast Guard and they can't fill there freezor with scallop's THIS year. Post his plea around the world, I'm proud of him - River

I agree with Caton's letter yet for the life of me I can't see how what happened to the Luzier's upsets you so much.

[Jim and Ginny]

The things that bother you are bothering me as well. Does the overzealous protection rain on my parade yes? and I worked dam hard to get here so it is a real affront.

That said if you look back at my posts you will see that I also noted that in this economic enviornment it is exceedingly unfair when overzealous protection add to the economic woes of those who rely upon commercial harvests or even local residents who simply use the harvest to supplement their food budgets. In point of fact, I still have 7 meals of scallops so for me opening the season was not a real concern--I could oyster instead. But I decided to put forth the effort on behalf of others.

Now, if this joy ride continues and I can no longer enjoy a life style living off the land and sea and the satisfaction of providing, at least in part, for myself, I will go where I can enjoy the lifestyle I am seeking. Until then I will fight for myself and for those who really do depend on this life style.

Originally Posted by River

OK, Alexy - I deleted my message, I'm not upset just sometimes I get real concerned about our double digit unemployment, forclosures runnin rampent, Audobon and DOW closin our beaches, youngins not havin health insurance, the goverment stopin offshore fishin and this whole mess shuttin down everything on this beautiful Island. But I should have learnt by now at my age that some people who have reached there dream will still complain about the brand of ice cream on there apple pie. Very Sorry - River

[Alexy]

River,
It is Ok to be upset but take that energy and put it toward what is troubling you. I would have to say you would be hard pressed to find another couple of people who have done more to educate and argue the point to both special intrest groups and individuals about our plight here on Hatteras island than Jim and Ginny.

[River]

Alexy, I agree to a certain part of what you're sayin but in this serious situation you better pick out your enemy and stay focused cause you can't fight everbody are you will be defeated. If you're screamin about DMF Officers, the Coast Guard, somebodys messin up my sandpile, etc., sooner or later some people and I said some people are gonna get tired of hearin you cry "WOLF". We need to stay focused on the enemy, they love to see you distracted lookin in the other direction, thats part of the problem now between the Recreational and the Commercial guys, we need settle our difference and work together - River

[Alexy]

I never complained about them and to be honest they have **** good complaint if DMF wants to catch people over creel limit sit on the beach and watch the fishermen and stop them there if that is what DMF wants to do. Instead they had 2 officers in 2 trucks running up and down 12 stopping people off the beach that had absoloutely no deterrence at all on people doing anything illegal.
The coast guard I have never had a problem with at all in 36 years on the water here we have been boarded 3-5 times and they were allways courtious and professional. They also got my utmost respect after Isabelle when the Coast Guard was the ONLY agency with a plan to help people in Hatteras Village. They ran 24-7 for 2 weeks till other agencies could pick up the slack.
I feel your frustration and it is hard. but the enemy here is special intrests using the NPS as a springboard for thier agenda. Mark my words the suit introduced down on the crystal coast over turtles will go nowhere since the people who actually live and own the beaches down there won't put up with a special intrests trash.
Here my parents were dumb enough to trust the federal govt to do whats right and keep it's word
( where is that bumper sticker about asking a indian if you can trust the govt?)
Funny thing is the consent decree has hurt the population of plovers here but do you see the Pilot or Raleigh paper picking that up ? Nope, it doesn't fit thier agenda.
The economy on the island STINKS right now dare co's unemployment rate is 12% for the county and for Hatteras Island I am told it is closer to 16%. ( not that 12% is good either)
Keep plugging and keep the chin up.

[River]

Alexy, I agree again on most everything except I've been huntin and fishin all my life. I fished for every kind of fish there is with my feet on land or in the water here in North Carolina and I've hunted for every species of game their is here in North Carlina. I've had awesome bird dogs, beagles, deer dogs, Labs and coon dogs. I've fished and hunted with some of the best sportsman there is from Manteo to Murphy and there is no one smarter are more creative when it comes to breakin fish and wildlife laws than a true sportsman (I'm sorry) especially the ones from Manteo - LOL. I was here and out there fishin durin this complete drum blitz and I fished beside and watched a lot of people including the people that started this discussion(at the pier and south on 49). I know what went on and what was said and the DMF didn't stand a chance, if you think they can stand out in the middle of the beach, in plain sight and catch people then you're very wrong. They have to sneak, hide or do anything they can do to catch these good fisherman lawbreakers and then they didn't even make a dent in it not even a tiny dent - Believe Me, River

[Drumdum]

Originally Posted by River

Alexy, I agree again on most everything except I've been huntin and fishin all my life. I fished for every kind of fish there is with my feet on land or in the water here in North Carolina and I've hunted for every species of game their is here in North Carlina. I've had awesome bird dogs, beagles, deer dogs, Labs and coon dogs. I've fished and hunted with some of the best sportsman there is from Manteo to Murphy and there is no one smarter are more creative when it comes to breakin fish and wildlife laws than a true sportsman (I'm sorry) especially the ones from Manteo - LOL. I was here and out there fishin durin this complete drum blitz and I fished beside and watched a lot of people including the people that started this discussion(at the pier and south on 49). I know what went on and what was said and the DMF didn't stand a chance, if you think they can stand out in the middle of the beach, in plain sight and catch people then you're very wrong. They have to sneak, hide or do anything they can do to catch these good fisherman lawbreakers and then they didn't even make a dent in it not even a tiny dent - Believe Me, River

Yeap....

[Alexy]

We are on the same page again.
All DMF can do is make themselves known. They can do it in a good way ( be on the beach and say we were there and saw no violations) or sneaky. we all know about them marking the beach or waiting at drive overs to stop people. ( I was stopped year before last as we came out from duck hunting off swan quarter ( Gull rock area) and they went as far as to measure my tube on my shotgun magazine to make sure we could not overload. Bottom line both you and I know they are a finger in a dyke and if people want a way around them they will. They are like locks on doors they only keep the honest people honest. Best approach they can take is be friendly and do what they need to do.

On the same topic how about NPS and thier " big brother approach to watching the beaches" They are hell bent to catch people vandalizing the beach yet are zero for 18 on ever catching anyone who encroaches the closures that close the beach inspite of overt cameras and hidden ones both infared and standard at beach drive overs, the Lighthouse entrances or the visitor center.