Spearfishing to be Banned at Grays Reef Marine Sanctuary

[brailediver]

Spearfishing has been singled out to be banned from Grays.

"Spearfishing is an activity which involves using spearguns, including such devices known as Hawaiian slings, pole spears, pneumatic and spring-loaded spearguns, bows and arrows, bang sticks, or any similar device designed to harvest fish. Powerheads are attachments to spearfishing gear that allow the use of ammunition cartridges to harvest fish.

Although the use of powerheads is prohibited at GrayùÔ Reef, powerhead spear tips and spent shells found in the sanctuary indicate that this gear has been used since the ban went into place. Powerheads are so closely associated with spearguns that it is difficult to determine from a distance whether a speargun has a powerhead. Because the powerhead may be removed without detection upon approach by enforcement, there may be difficulties proving that a speargun with a powerhead was in the sanctuary. In addition, proof of powerhead use is not self-evident from the fish itself, which may require forensic testing to definitively determine the method of injury or harvest for evidentiary purposes. Law enforcement officials have expressed the need to prohibit the use of all spearguns in order to effectively ban powerheads in the sanctuary.

Spearfishing is a highly efficient harvesting method that selectively targets larger fish relative to other fishing gears and can significantly alter abundance and size structure of targeted species toward fewer and smaller fish. Some fish populations, such as red snapper, that are present within GrayùÔ Reef NMS are regionally overfished, approaching overfished status and/or undergoing overfishing."

5 spent shells were found over the last three years. No spearfishing activity was recorded during the 3 year period. Spearing is being singled out now, fishing will be next!
SEND YOUR COMMENT NOW!!
Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=09000064808e9d04)

[Matteo]

Typical government style knee jerk reaction. Instead of "let's think about this and come up with a compromised solution which benefits all parties involved" they go for "COMPLETE AND TOTAL BAN! WE MUST STOP THE MASS KILLING NOW!" I've sent my comment explaining the asinine nature of this proposal. I hope others will as well. I just wish I'd known about this sooner. Time is running short on this.

[Gen San Chris]

I always thought that the name Marine Sanctuary said it all, its a sanctuary for marine life to live in safety! If fishing of any sort is allowed then its not a sanctuary!
Its sad to me when such discussions have to be even mentioned!

[Matteo]

I always thought that the name Marine Sanctuary said it all, its a sanctuary for marine life to live in safety! If fishing of any sort is allowed then its not a sanctuary!
Its sad to me when such discussions have to be even mentioned!

Let's take the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) for example. This is a large body of water (and submerged land) which has a set of regulations which govern the entire area, and smaller, individual areas with differing regulations, such as no taking of any kind.

I was only attempting to make the point that often times, but not always, the typical government reaction is to shut the valve completely, without much forethought or consideration for all of the variables involved in such a decision.

[tmcobb]

Matteo----I agree with you totally and have sent my thoughts on the matter to the appropriate officials involved. The intent, whether spoken at this stage or not, is to eventually ban all harvesting of marine life in the sanctuary(IMHO). This is only the first step, and once this is finally accomplished, they will move on. Maybe next they will try to ban spearfishing at the snapper banks. LOL. If we cant block this at this point, they will continue to infringe on our rights. I keep my boat in Midway, GA and this is a quick run to Grays for me. Hopefully they will realize that this is not a good move and will go pick on some other group.

[AquaExplorer]

Welcome to my other world, that of aviation, where regulations that make NO SENSE and cause harm to those attempting to participate are hammered for the fault of a few. :(

[drbill]

Unfortunately fishing is generally permitted in Marine "Sanctuaries." They are not no-take marine reserves.

Even the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, which has a reasonable number of no take marine reserves, allows both recreational and commercial fishing in some of its waters.

[100days-a-year]

I think it's great to have an opinion of issues in areas I have never been too.Why it's even great to impose my views on others politically.

A few other veterans and I were sitting around and we think it's high time no one got a vote anywhere in the world until they prove an ability to place others wants needs and safety ahead of their own by serving in the military for a minimum of 4 years.

Not that marine reserves in the SE Atlantic have ever shown any quantifiable value as a tool for species preservation......ever.It's just that animal activists are so smart they should be allowed to limit everyone else's freedom without a system of checks and balances.

[deeper thoughts]

The Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary has been a success in regards to fish populations and there are plenty of no take zones inside it.

[drbill]

It is a shame that rules "have" to be created based on the actions of the few that violate other rules... we all suffer for it.

100days-a-year... many of us have served higher causes, but not necessarily done military service. I applaud those who have put their lives on the line and respect their commitment and sacrifice for country. I have a commitment to the environment since it is what sustains us all. I've worked towards improving it my entire adult life (some 44 years). By the way, did you really mean the SE Atlantic? According to my knowledge of geography that is nowhere near Florida.

[100days-a-year]

The managed area of the coasts of NC,SC,GA and Fla to the East side of the Tortugas is managed as the SE Atlantic by the respective state and federal agencies.

And no, the areas in the Keys have not had any effect on fish populations other than in a few select reefs areas.Hence even more restrictive closures being enacted in the Keys.Short of vast tracts of closure area or specific areas that are known spawning grounds MPAs are proven ineffective.

[ScubaSteve]

While I am not a huge advocate of spearfishing, I do believe that as long as it is done responsibly, and no fish population is ever allowed to get near a danger zone for "disappearing", then I believe it should be allowed. Unfortunately, it is the hunters themselves that cause the problems. And with this, I do not just mean humans. The combined efforts of hunters enable the extinction of certain species of animals (topside and beneath the surface). If restrictions were put in place to protect (as best we can that is) the various species, and people choose to live by the rules, then I would welcome spearfishing almost anywhere. I am however, againsy any form of TROPHY hunting or true sport hunting. If you kill it and will use it to feed or cloth, then I say go for it. If you kill anything just for the thrill of it......well let's just say I would use more colorful words to describe you ;).

To just ban anything as a knee-jerk reaction is wrong in almost every case IMO.

[brailediver]

We, as spearfishermen, only take what we are allowed under the same bag limit a H&L fishermen. We are also only allowed to take fish that over a certain size limit that is also the same as H&Lers. We do not have any by-catch & do not throw one subdued fish back when a bigger one is boated. The only difference is that we get our bag limit sooner. If we are taking too many large fish, then what about slot sizes? Fisheries management is like buoyancy control. Make small adjustments. Longer run times make for better research results. If too many fish are there, then none will reach the massive size that NOAA says they should. The fish will sense a saturation level of mass that cannot be sustained by the available food source. The females will also not change into super males because of lack of sustainability. If the biomass consumption exceeds the available food supply, the population crashes until a sustainable level. Remember, these fish have been adapting for a LONG time. They have adapted. We are seeing Red Snapper here in numbers that have not been seen in a long time. We are seeing them also in 35 to 40 fsw now as opposed to 70fsw & deeper. If you dive here in water that is over 120fsw, the Gags will scare the crap out of you! The 25lb Reds are as thick as bees!
The survey methods & equations are archaic at best, & carried out at the worst time of year, in the most depleted places. Better results for them. Cook the numbers. If you were a grouper, would you sit on top of a ledge while four or three divers that are decked out with crap swim up to you? NO! I am going to get out of site PDQ! They do not chase fish, nor look under ledges. Only fish that are in a pre-determined field of view. I do not have much faith in their surveys. Several times we have offered to help with data collection free of charge & on our own time. This was mentioned in the minutes of the first meeting. We were never approached or contacted.
So, how do we know that the current limits are not working? Maximum yield is down because no body can afford to fish commercially any more. Insurance, dock-age, fuel, lack of disposable income. All of these things have knocked the commercial fishery in half. Who ever is left will be further buried by SAFMC.
This action is about singling out spearos as more destructive than any other method of harvest. Plus. there data does not show any spearfishing activity going on. So, what is the problem? Grays Reef Management council says that they are being pro-active. Think about this. Grays is one of the smallest sanctuaries. Actions taken there will set precedent for all sanctuaries. Pass the action under the radar. People think it doesn't have anything to do with them until, BOOM! Blindsided. All of a sudden, you are a criminal.
I can go on & on on this & all I do is get more pis...aggravated. I hope that all spear fishermen will help win this fight. If we send comments & letters to congress, Sec. of Commerce. Grays Reef council & anyone else that will listen. We should not be singled out.
There is more science out there that can be manipulated to serve any cause. Quick reactions are never the best thing. Longer time lines make for better research. I just think that if it is closed to us, it should be closed to everyone.

[deeper thoughts]

The managed area of the coasts of NC,SC,GA and Fla to the East side of the Tortugas is managed as the SE Atlantic by the respective state and federal agencies.

And no, the areas in the Keys have not had any effect on fish populations other than in a few select reefs areas.Hence even more restrictive closures being enacted in the Keys.Short of vast tracts of closure area or specific areas that are known spawning grounds MPAs are proven ineffective.

I disagree but to each his own

[shawnferd]

I wouldn't be surprised a bit if the spent ordinance "found" in the sanctuary was placed there by the anti-spear activists that get so passionate in their opposition to the sport. If those who smoke the PETA crack would throw blood at fashion shows, harasses children, commit arson, etc. what would stop them from planting evidence that would indict the entire sport of spearfishing? I submit that since there is absolutely NO evidence that powerheads were used on fish that it is equally plausible that this was a PETA plant.

If they haven't done it, they're reading this thread and making plans at this time.