Man these articles have some ridiculous comments from "experts". The writer was the 'messenger' in this case but I sent him a note with my 2 cents:
>>Good afternoon,
I'm a MA resident but I read your recent articles with
interest.
I wanted to present a few opinions from the
perspective of a diver and a passenger transport
Captain.
1.) Following the rules
I find it interesting Bob LHeureux does not
acknowledge any possibility that commercial lobstermen
break the rules. This is in fact rather ridiculous.
There are just as many scenarios for lobstermen to
break the rules as there are for divers. This could
include taking lobster from traps owned by another
vessel, catching females and scraping the eggs off,
rigging the traps without minimum clearances, etc.,
etc. I'm on the water several times a week year round
and I have never once seen a lobster boat stopped and
inspected by the EP or USCG. I have certainly seen
and have been approached by EP waiting for divers to
emerge from the water to inspect their coolers or
catch bags. There is just as much opportunity for
divers to break the rules as lobstermen. The reality
is, a commercial lobsterman breaking the rules will
have a far greater impact than a recreational diver
taking a hand full of lobsters every year. The only
remedy for this is enforcement and penalties to keep
both parties honest. I think all would agree there
are not enough resources to patrol everyone all the
time.
2.) Environmental concerns
As a diver (who takes about 8 lobsters a year for my
own consumption) I see ghost traps all over the place.
Divers could not possibly pollute to the level of
commercial lobstermen based on carrying capacity and
necessary gear. In terms of disturbing a lobster as
part of the fishing process (referenced in your
article), divers are required to check for eggs, size,
and v-notch while still underwater. If any conditions
are not met the diver releases the lobster where
he/she caught it. Lobstermen drag a trap to the
surface, do the necessary checks, then throw the
lobster back into the water. The lobster must descend
from the surface to a new hiding spot on the bottom
dodging their predators on the way down. This
presents a much greater risk to disturbing a lobster
and exposing it to predators as part of the fishing
process.
3.) The MA model for divers
Even MA based newspapers seem to omit key facts
relating to the requirements for obtaining a diving
lobster license in MA. It is a common misconception
that divers 'flock' to MA because 'they can take
lobster'. Only MA residents, or those temporarily
living in a MA coastal town, or non-MA residents with
property in MA in excess of $5000 as evidenced by tax
records may acquire a non-commercial lobster diving
permit. The $40 - $60 annual fees for this license
are paid to the Commonwealth. This information can be
verified here:
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/commercialfishing/nc-lobster_app.pdf
Note that divers can only acquire a "non-commercial"
lobstering permit if they meet the conditions above
and pay their fees.
4.) Competition
The MA Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife could provide
the data but the total lobsters taken by divers is a
tiny fraction of the lobster taken by commercial
lobstermen. As pointed out by a lobsterman in one of
your articles, most divers are limited to shore
access. This means divers only get to fish for
lobster during the summer months when lobsters are
abundant and the prices are the lowest. Divers are
not able to get lobster beyond this relatively short
time frame. Outside of the warmest summer months,
commercial lobstermen are farther from shore tending
their traps without any proximity to divers.
Thanks for your time.
--Matt<<
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