I understand why it's frustrating when people hear divers such as myself say they "might" go, although in my case it's work related, it can be upsetting that divers are often apathetic (or lazy) about fighting new regs, but, still complain about them.
Nonetheless, if you have ever been on the reciving end of a commerical fisherman rath you realizre that they often intentionally create an atmosphere of intimidation at public meeting. Many divers are uncomfortable confronting these guys directly, espically when you realize the fisherman are comming from the persepctive that you area ttacking your lively hood.
Now this specific meeting may be an exception, but, the bottom line is that the divers' main argument here is that these regs are BS because it's the commerical fisherman who are overfishing. I'm sure you guys noticed all the pro-fisherman banners up in Glouster last spring, it's one thing to mutter on the back of a dive boat to a fellow diver how the fisherman have screwed up the whole ocean, it's another thing to be brave enough to say it in a public forum.
In my case, one of good friends has a father who is local lobsterman so I'm hesisatant to go on record saying anything negative about commerical fisherman.
In the end I'll probably go to the meeting (work dependent on Tuesday), but, remember this isn't voting in secret, it's a very public action and while I would encourgage everyone to attend, I think we should be understanding to those who don't want to.
Hope to see lots of divers there
