Ms Hansard ,I have really tried to be courteous and forth rite in explaining all the tenets and motivations on why the Charter for hire industry has presented the NMFS our SOS plan. We took great pains and thoughtfulness to address every possible need for all fishers of red snapper into account. We have a need to protect the 60+ years of being the only true public access to sport fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for recreational fishermen but at the same time made sure that our plan would be fair , truthful, open and a positive benefit to this extremely valuable resource and to the other 2 user groups involved with this fishery. But you for some reason that escapes me have decided to continue on the same path of baseless rhetoric that has gotten us in this mess in the first place. Now in this letter below you make some claims that you espouse as fact when in reality they have been conjured up in your own mind.  I believe it is official now that you live in a world of make believe, For reasons I know not, you just do not get it. I have taken great pains to explain to you and the others out there that bought into your propaganda the facts about the reality of the present red snapper dilemma that not only us but you face as well. And against my knowing that this letter may go right over your head as well, I will once again try to give you ALL that facts concerning our plan and how it will effect the private rec sector. I will answer your rhetoric in the letter below.

Hi Eugene,

It is admirable that you are willing to, at great expense; sacrifice your right, as an American, to privacy, in order to provide "data" to the NMFS. Ms Hansard privacy is a right but fishing or any other access to the natural resources of this country is a PRIVALGE and you and your followers need to grasp this fact before you go to any NMFS meeting.

If you sincerely believe that this is going to make a difference, why don't you go ahead and begin that portion of the SOS plan today, on a volunteer basis. We have a pilot electronic log book program with VMS  going to begin this 1 June opening. We have enough funding for 20-30 boats to use this new technology to work out the process and assilmation of data collection, transfer and storage for information sent at sea to land based facilities for this 2009 season  It is unnecessary to divide the Recreational Sector in order to accomplish that "noble" goal.  It would be fascinating to see how many of the Charters would actually participate in a voluntary monitoring program out of sheer concern for data collection.We have hundreds of volunteers for this for the curiosity on how the technology works has drawn interest but the funding for the pilot program only provides for about 25 vessels. The NMFS is looking at getting additional funds in Feb to fund a parallel project at the same time which will include more boats.

Somehow, this plan looks more like a bartering attempt between the Charter Operators and the NMFS.  You give us year round fishing and get those pesky monkey boats off the water and we'll give you data.  Yes, it is that transparent.  Anyone with one eye open can see what is going on here.Pure propaganda Candy and it is getting old. Back up your statement with some kind of facts. The SOS plan is a forward thinking, positive, conservation based plan to enhance the red snapper fishery for years to come. It will benefit the Charter industry and it WILL benefit all recreational fishermen including you. What it will not do any time soon is give us year round fishing or anything close to it. And we have not made such a claim. It will however speed up the chances of making a true change in this fishery. With this plan you will catch more snapper when the total TAC is increased through better science and accountability. Your stance and that of others of taking the status quo position of bitching and fighting the NMFS has gotten us nowhere the last 10 years and it will not get you anywhere in the next 10 years . your failure to understand the tenets of the Magnison Stevens Act reauthorization of 2006 will prevent you from having any success when dealing with the NMFS. So you need to do your homework before you fire off these unsubstantiated claims of knowledge of our intent or the intent of the NMFS.    

It is indisputable that the Commercial and Charter Industries put the most pressure on our fishery.  Even your own statistics prove that point.What is indisputable is the fact that the commercial industry is the most regulated and most accountable sector in the Gulf of Mexico. Every single boat that fishes makes notice to the NMFS when they leave to go fishing ,what they are fishing for , what they are using to catch the fish, give enforcement a 3 hour lead time before they hit the dock so the marine enforcement can monitor the off loading of their catch and every fish and species caught is weight and identified with all catch records going to the NMFS . What is indisputable is the fact that long before the development of fiberglass boats and reliable outboard motors,30 years before the loran c and then the GPS The Charter for Hire sector has been fishing and landing fish for recreational anglers in  the designated recreational sector. Virtually THE only access any recreational fishermen had to catch reef fish of any kind were aboard the Party boats and few charter boats in our areas.What is undisputable that these 2 sectors are the only ones to make a red snapper plan for themselves that will protect the survival of red snapper stocks for generations to come and at the same time will ensure themselves a future in this fishery as well. NO SNAPPER ,NO SNAPPER FISHING BUSINESS. One plan ( the commercial IFQ) is in effect and it is working very well.Last year over 100,000 lbs of the red snapper IFQ was left in the gulf alive. As of tonight DEC 23 there still is 89,600 lbs of snapper that have not been harvested that could be. Under the plan dead discards went from 1 dead discard snapper to 1 kept snapper to 1 dead discard to 6 kept snapper. The other plan the SOS plan will through real time data collection will prevent us from over harvesting our TAC if our plan goes through. That way we do not get penalized by you over harvesting red snapper and the ACL's take away the over harvest the following year. ( which has happened every year since the mid 1990's)In 2006 the over harvest of snapper by the rec sector including charter boats was 660,620 lbs according to the MRFSS data .Under the new ACL rule if that happens this year the 2010 season would be reduced that amount resulting in  1/2 the season we have now. Does that appeal to you followers? It does not to me .  Considering this, there was a critical element completely missing from your SOS plan.  How many of the Commercial or Charter Captains would be removed from the fishery if the NMFS implemented an automatic life time ban on all commercial and Charter operators that get caught cheating?I'll go for that as long as you put that on your shoe and wear it.  Now, that would give our fishery a real chance to survive.  The little slaps on the hand you've been getting have done nothing to deter many in your combined industries from breaking fishery management rules in order to increase your personal incomes. Profit is a great motivator to cheat, therefore; all for-profit fishermen should be held to the highest standards.Ms Hansard I caution you not to throw stones in a glass house. According to FWC violations written in 2008 for fishing violations by salt water private boat anglers and commercial entities the score is  90 filed violations for private boat saltwater anglers, 1/3 of those were divers and spear fishers vs 26 violation by commercial or charter boats.That is only for the panhandle to Tampa. The commercial and charter owners have far too much to lose if caught violating the rules now days .Those that do should pay for their violation and they do.The Commercial and Charter boats dock and unload at the same place day after day and we receive a lot of the enforcement effort because we are easy to enforce. Unlike the hundreds of boat ramps and private boat docks for the private angler. And now Federal violations result in sever fines and the losing of permits for months costing thousands of dollers.The only wrist slapping is taking place on the private rec boatman who does not lose much other than the embarrassment of having his name in the paper.  

No matter how you sugar coat the SOS plan, the way you have written it, the Private Recreational Fisherman would be forced off the water.Another false claim that you can not back up with facts.Once again I will support this plan with facts and not with suppositions such as yours.The only data that the NMFS has used to manage red snapper has been MRFSS.In all the latest decisions that they have made in setting a seasons, making decisions on size of fish to harvest and bag limits to prevent over fishing and in managing us the Charter for Hire fisherman by not allowing us to keep Capt and crew limits on our boats has been this data. We agree it is not what we believe in to be accurate but because we have no accountability of what we truly catch IT IS ALL THEY HAVE TO MAKE MANAGMENT DECISIONS.This data shows that the Charter for Hire sector has caught approximate 61% of the recreational TAC the last 11 years ( you can go back further and it still stayed within a few % points).They use this time period because this is when they separated us as a different sector by  MAKING US A LIMITED ENTRY SECTOR.By putting a moratorium on new permits being issued.So now in the last 11 years they have managed us different than you (limited entry for us ,none for private rec. no capt or crew limit ,none for private rec . And starting this year we must follow the restrictive federal guide lines even if the states don't follow the federal season, the private rec can do as he pleases. So now even though we have been fishing in the recreational sector for over 60+ years we have been separated from the other recreational fishermen by being limited more than the private guy.This is why if we are to be managed as a separate sector than we want to operate as one, with our own plan to benefit our industry and the red snapper resource that we depend on with out being penalized with the upcoming Acl's  by the lack of accountability and unfettered access by the private recreational boatmen.Also do not forget that even though they treat us different because we are a profit for hire industry we are the platform for over 2 million members of the us public to have access to sport fishing in the gulf.This is why we are not taking anything from recreational fishermen ,in fact we are trying to preserve this access of these millions of anglers for generations to come.This fact is why we operate in the recreational sector not the commercial .This is why we are asking for only our  historical portion of the recreational TAC and not from the commercial. Fact, this portion of the TAC is where we have and are fishing for over the last 60+ years. Fact, this amount of fish we have,by NMFS data have been harvesting has been constant through the years percentage wise no matter what the length of season or bag limits have been.How could this be? Ms. Hansard made the case for me when she stated "It is indisputable that the Commercial and Charter Industries put the most pressure on our fishery.  Even your own statistics prove that point"You are correct but that is because we fish more than you do. We have always fished more than the private recreational fisherman and that is why we have such a important reason to protect this fishery, more so than you .That is why the commercial industry came up with their IFQ plan. The derby fishery was dangerous for fishermen and it was killing millions of pounds of snapper to keep a few million and they came up with a plan to stop that to protect the resource that they relied on to make a living.That is why we are in the process to do the same . Without a increase in TAC for all sectors our ability to make a living is greatly reduced.WE are extremely oriented to protect the red snapper stock to get it to a not over fish designation. We feel we are close to that but need to provide better data and science for the managers to do a better job that will benefit YOU! How?Back to your claim that the private recreational fisherman is getting forced out by our plan. I will for the 10th time go over the reality of the percentages.This is fact based on the last 10 years. from 1996- 2006 the percentages of harvest from charter for hire and private recreational has stayed constant within a few % points. During this time we went from a 7 fish per person and 180 day season all the way down to the 64 days at 2 per person. This is because we fish more than the private recreational angler on a daily basis. Always have, always will.The access to the fish has not changed with the change in season or bag limit. Our plan will not change this catch effort one bit. The last ten years will protect your access to red snapper at the same level that you have always had. In fact as the TAC is increased you will have more fish to catch and even if our business improve with more trips and larger charters you will not lose any of your historical catch history just because of our success in business.so this plan works both ways. And I will tell you not on fact but just my observation that we in the Charter for Hire sector probably  have caught far more of the Recreational tac than what we have been credited with. I say this knowing that total accountability in our sector may cost me some fish. But I know with higher TAC's and Stock assessments in the future that it will all work out. That will never be acceptable to me or any private recreational fishermen.

I appreciate that you depend on the water to make your living but a lot of people that support recreational fishermen depend on our sport to make their living.  This plan would have a devastating effect on fishing & tackle retailers, recreational boating industry, marinas, dry storage, towing insurance, etc...  What about the effect this plan would have on the survivability of their businesses? We do business with most all the same people you do , and we are taking recreational fishermen as well who spend thousands of dollars patronizing the whole area.We operate in the recreational business.

The fact that the allocations need to be adjusted is obvious.  As you know, a very small group of fishermen currently enjoy 51% of the entire Red Snapper allocation.They have historical and economic reasons and justification just as important as yours to harvest red snapper . They provide red snap to eat by the U.S. public who can not afford to come here and buy a boat or charter one. They also have a totally controlled ,accountable segment of this fishery .The NMFS is not going to take a fish that is accountable and put in a totally unaccountable ,un fettered access fishery this is why recreational efforts to re allocate fish has failed. and will continue to fail.If you want access to that fishery at a later date support our plan and come up with a plan for private rec and maybe as we also are accountable the sharing of fish can be discussed.   That needs to change.  That inequity is denying every Charter Operator and Recreational Fisherman their fair and equitable treatment in the allocation process.

There are no sacred cows in America.  We need to join forces and demand that the NMFS treat ALL fishermen fairly.  The resource does NOT belong to a few, it belongs to ALL of us and we should share it equally.Once again you need to do homework concerning issues such as what does the National Research center have to say, Read the Magnison Stevens reauthorization act. NMFS marine fisheries plan. And begin to see the right to fish is really the privilege to fish and if you want that privilege you must pay the price by doing things that will benefit the resource within the mandates of federal law.

You speak of your heritage and the water as if only the "old timers" deserve an exclusive right to enjoy and profit off the richness of the marine environment.  Does that mean that my grand kids shouldn't have a right to become a Charter Operator or Commercial Fisherman We live in a capitalists society and anyone who wishes to purchase a Charter permit and boat or Commercial boat can do so .You must however put up the money.You must as in any business environment consider the cost and viability of your endeavor and then make a business decision on whether to assume the risk. Our plan will help ensure that there will be charter boat businesses to buy for the next generation of fishermen. or even the right to just fish recreationally because you want to claim the resource exclusively for you and yours? You will have your exclusive protection of your historical fishing efforts protected as well.  I know many Americans have the entitlement mentality but I personally don't feel like the rest of us owe you or any other "old timer" anything.

There are many industries that are suffering from economic hardships these days.  The fact that the Charter Industry is suffering right along with the rest of the economy is no reason to propose a plan that will force the multitudes to forfeit their access to the Gulf so that a few of you can prosper.

The tall and short of this entire conversation is this:  Either you are Recreational or you are Commercial.We are the recreational sector that you have enjoyed being a part of. We where here first in this sector, for over 60+ years.. We are still here in this sector harvesting more fish than you have . We also wish to see that you continue to harvest red snapper at the same level and landings that you always have the last 10 years and beyond. We also hope by helping the red snapper stocks through our plan that you and we the Charter for Hire industry that gives access to all recreational anglers will enjoy this resource for generations to come.We also encourage the private recreational boatmen TO COME UP A PLAN FOR THERE SECTOR SIMULAR TO OURS SO YOU WON'T BE PENALIZED UNDER THE NEW ACL'S AND POSSIBLY HAVE NO SEASON AT ALL IN A FEW YEARS . ( THE SOTH ATLANTIC MAY CLOSE ITS REDS SNAPPER AND GROUPER SEASON THIS YEAR). We as of now are actually coming up with some ideas for a private rec plan so we can get total accountability for all and speed up the process of getting snapper out from under the over fished designation.We understand that some parts of our plan can not work for the private boat operator.  If you want to be considered Commercial, start begging for scraps from the "old timers" that were "Commercial" first.  Let's see how you would like that scheme if YOU are the one getting scraps of the allocation pie. 

Candy Hansard

For those of you who would like more background on this issue, go to the forum thread titled "Plan to take 1/2 our TAC!"  There, you can read the entire SOS Plan that is being proposed by Eugene and several very wealthy Charter Operators.What a bunch of crap! you and your Govt. employed husband make a hell of a lot more than  most charter guys. They drive around in 10 yr old pick ups and work 2 & 3 jobs .A few guys who have been doing this for 30+ years have a little to show for their efforts but it pales in the average income of the private recreational fisherman. And the work load these men go through with so little to show for it is tantamount . This is more a life style than a career.So much so that I steered all 3 of my sons to different careers. My 28 year old son made more money managing the long horn steak house than I did this year.All we are trying to do is protect the heritage of our industry and do it in a manner that will not effect you as a fisherman what so ever. What a baseless cheap shot you just made.If you never fished or dove another day in your life your world continues undisturbed. For us it would be devastating ,the issues of bankruptcies , job retraining ( a little late for 50-60 yr old guys that have done nothing but fish)and the effects on families and our comunities. Candy you have no idea of the world that you do not live in. By the way I can be reached at gjabd@aol.com  We operate in public and in truth. Capt Gary Jarvis 

Recreational Fishermen and Women and Spear Fishers, Wake up and defend your rights before they are gone. 

If you would like to join a Recreational Fishermen's Movement for Fairness in Fishing, contact me at candy@valp.net  

Candy Hansard
Emerald Coast Reef Association
Reef Deployment Director
Director of Marketing
Forum Administrator