 December 2008 Newsletter |
|
Letter from the President Ladies and Gentlemen of the NCWU,Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. As we go into this holiday season, it is my sincere wish for each of you that the reason for the season is not lost on any of us. As we fight, fight, fight for every bit of ground, let’s all remember that it is not the man, but the personal interest that we fight against. We were each created uniquely, and sometimes it is very hard for me to distinguish between the two, but a significant difference, nonetheless. The difference in the mantra of the NCWU is that we fight for the right of each and every individual to utilize the resources of this great state in a sustainable and conservative manner. We are each our own policeman, and we have a very long track record of checking ourselves, and not depending on enforcement to do so. Let’s make it a priority this coming year to continue to do so.  I
am sure that there is some anxiety and worry as we approach the
Christmas season. Ocean conditions have changed, and we have suffered
from some very draconian regulations the past couple of years. Fuel has
been high; insurance is through-the-roof and cost is up. The same
economic forces that face each of us have also affected the consumer.
This has manifested itself in lower than average charters and generally
lower than usual fish prices. As long as we are covering the bad news,
we’d also better cover the weather. It has been a blowin’ time this
year, and it hasn’t let up. If you don’t know, I am the eternal optimist, and I see a small flickering light at the end of this long tunnel. A friend of mine who has a multi-purpose boat loves to say, “We’re streaking down a long, dark tunnel, and all we can do is hold on.” Let’s hold on folks, and let’s help our fellow fishermen hold on. The economic forces that have been making it so hard on us and the average household are going to be the forces that end up helping us. Trust me on this. Our elected officials – from the county commissions, to our state leaders, to our congressional officials - are all feeling the crunch. The difference between them and us is that their offices depend on the economy. They are short-timers if our economy doesn’t improve quickly, and they are cognizant of this fact. We have been giving them a remedy for the ills affecting our coastal communities, and they haven’t been listening –until now. We have all been busy quantifying the numbers that bad regulation has cost, and we are ready to back up our assertions with Cold, Hard Facts. A colorful character from Hatteras would say, “Simple Math.” Bad regulation and reduced harvests equal reduced tax revenue and lost jobs for our coastal communities and our state. We have the facts, and we have the numbers and we have the solution. In fishery management, the tail has been wagging the dog since I can remember. We - the professional fishermen - are considered anecdotal in the managers’ minds. The managers should be on notice that we are gaining the attention of the elected officials that are most interested in reversing the negative forces that are affecting our country’s economy. We were the first ones who called attention to a cooling trend three years ago. Nobody listened, and now reality has set in. Fishermen are realists, and we generally don’t say, “I told you so.” It is our time to dig in folks. Sounds very hard, but we don’t have an alternative. We aren’t asking for a bailout, a handout or a subsidy. We’re asking for the “privilege” of going to work. We’re asking for charter/headboat seats at all the tables. We’re asking for the right to harvest the healthiest, most sustainable fishery resources in the world. We’re not demanding people. We are aware that the general population understand our issues now that we have broken them down in economic terms. General terms - in the general population - work wonders with the electorate. Jobs and taxes equal votes. That my friends, is the Simple Math. Pick up your phone, or tap a message on the email. Send a “snail” mail. Tell your elected officials “Thank you.” There are only a few that we haven’t heard from in the past two weeks. They are awake, and they are listening and we’re still swingin’. Like I said last time…”It’s gettin’ good to me now!” Keep ‘er tight! Shack Britt Shackelford President, NCWU The North Carolina Coastal Federation By Sally Steele nccf@nccoast.org   The
N.C. Coastal Federation will work with hundreds of volunteers over the
next four years to restore water quality and fish habitat around Jones
Island in the White Oak River. If Jones Island had gone the way of many other prime pieces of waterfront property, it would have been rezoned to hold as many as 48 houses on its 24 wooded acres. But this small island in the White Oak River in Onslow County was spared. The N.C.Coastal Federation purchased a portion of the island in 2007 through a grant from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund. This land, as well as an adjoining tract belonging to Audubon North Carolina, was designated a White Oak River Clean Water Management Preserve and donated to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and added to Hammocks Beach State Park. Preserving this land prevents its development and provides for the protection of estuarine habitat in the center of the White Oak River. However, the work has just begun. About two-thirds of the shellfish waters in the lower river are closed permanently or temporarily after moderate rains. Stormwater is considered the primary cause of the impairment. The federation and its partners have developed a plan to restore and create new habitat around the island that will result in improved water quality and fish habitat. Working with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, staff from Hammocks Beach State Park, teachers, students and volunteers, the federation will create marsh and oyster habitat along the shoreline of Jones Island. This will be done by planting marsh grass and by placing oyster shells and bags of shells along the shorelines. While providing habitat for wildlife, fish and shellfish, these techniques will help to stabilize the eroding shoreline of the island and help to filter nutrients and pollutants. The Jones Island restoration project is one of several now underway. Since its founding in 1983, the federation has worked with citizens to protect the coastal creeks, rivers, sounds and beaches of North Carolina, protecting and restoring about 50,000 acres through more than 50 projects. The federation is the state's only non-profit organization focused exclusively on protecting and restoring the state’s coast through education, advocacy, and habitat preservation and restoration. Over the past 26 years the federation has won the support of more than 9,000 members, 150 affiliated groups and 1,400 active volunteers. The 18 member staff includes scientists, educators, journalists, planners and policy analysts who work from offices in Manteo, Ocean in Carteret County and Wilmington. To learn more call 252-393-8185 or visit www.nccoast.org. info@doghousesportfishing.com Cold Shiver for Commercial Fishermen Susan West ridgeroad@earthlink.net A cold shiver runs down the spine of commercial fishermen whenever government shows up at the docks, prescribes another bitter regulatory pill, and promises that although the pill might be hard to swallow, it’ll cure the ails of the fishing industry over the long run. Too often though, the side effects, such as harvest moratoriums or low catch quotas, take such a heavy toll that many fishermen don’t survive the cure. Fishermen would like government to stay out of the fishing business altogether, but readily concede that isn’t likely to happen under either political party. So, many believe the time is ripe to ask more, not less, from government, and to press elected officials to adopt forward-looking policies that support thriving, socially-just, and environmentally-sound commercial fishing communities. At a time when the entire national economy seems to be unraveling, it’s somewhat remarkable to see North Carolina commercial fishermen forging ahead, harvesting carefully managed, sustainable marine resources, providing wholesome and healthy food to U.S. consumers, and lending support to local, state, and national economies. Elected officials should take note, and adopt a bold vision of economic, social, and environmental sustainability that will protect the future of small, family-owned and family-operated commercial fishing businesses. The good news for politicians is that this investment in the future will cost very little and will reap huge benefits. Congress can take steps to reduce the negative socioeconomic consequences of harvest restrictions on fishing communities without jeopardizing the health of marine resources. Allowing a little more time for fish stocks to rebuild, strengthening the quality of the science used in management, and discarding fisheries policies that favor large corporations over small harvesters would be steps in the right direction. With all the buzz over projects like offshore aquaculture, wind and wave energy, gas and oil drilling, and marine reserves, federal and state waters promise to become busy places, and fishermen could find “no trespassing” signs posted on traditional fishing grounds in the future. Politicians need to make sure the development of ocean and coastal water policy benefits from the wisdom of the wild-seafood harvesters who work on those waters. Working in tandem, the state of North Carolina and fishermen need to develop a strong brand identity for North Carolina seafood if the state is to accrue the highest possible economic, environmental, cultural, and consumer benefits from its marine resources. Commercial fishing, as our generation has known it, is rapidly disappearing, and that is a very sad turn of events, mostly beyond our control. Rather than mourning that loss, however, maybe it is time to work with elected officials to ensure that there will be a future generation of commercial fishermen in North Carolina even if those fishermen work in an industry very different from the one we’ve known and loved. Susan West lives on Hatteras Island and is married to a commercial fisherman. West covers fisheries for the Outer Banks Sentinel, Island Free Press and also writes for National Fisherman. She co-authored Fish House Opera, a nonfiction account of the North Carolina commercial fishing industry that was published by Mystic Seaport in 2003.  |