Letter to Gov. Stein

​Governor Stein,
              
Thank you for taking time to read this letter regarding HB 442 and fishery management in general. I am a commercial fisherman with over 40 years of experience on the water who cares deeply about our marine resources. I worked on charter and commercial boats, so I can see both sides as well as the side of seafood consumers who are the largest user group and get left out of most management decisions. Pioneers in NC’s fishing industry taught me how to responsibly harvest nature’s bounty while treating our catch with respect. The first captain to take me commercial fishing as a kid talked about giving hungry neighbors fish to eat during the Great Depression. He told intriguing stories of big fish and plenty of them. Mismanagement of our fisheries led me to become an independent fisheries advocate with a goal of helping our fisheries be as good as they were when the first fishermen started without hurting today’s fishermen or seafood consumers in the process.
              
The misguided attack on our freedom to fish and eat NC wild-caught seafood in HB 442 motivated me to write this letter asking for your help. The Red Snapper portion of 442 raised concern when it was first introduced as I am a federally permitted snapper/grouper fisherman who would be directly impacted. Red Snapper has been grossly mismanaged for decades, starting with almost no harvest limits before a complete closure that allowed the stock to overpopulate and outcompete most co-occurring species that continue declining. Hard rebuilding deadlines set by Congress are used by federal fishery managers to justify drastic measures that include planning for over 5 MILLION pounds of Red Snapper to be allocated to projected dead discards during annual closures after fishermen are allowed to harvest less than 10% of the Total Allowable Catch. They use worst-case-scenario assumptions in questionable equations to declare anglers are discarding millions of illegal Red Snapper while claiming about 20% of them die after being released. HB 442 would usurp federal regulations by opening Red Snapper in state waters. This would encourage poaching in federal waters with assumed landings deducted from federal quotas. Commercial harvest would remain illegal under our permits. Very few Red Snapper are caught within 3 miles of land in North Carolina, but assumed landings would be greatly exaggerated for deductions. You can help by asking Congress to remove hard rebuilding deadlines in the Magnuson-Stevens Act and support transferring most of the quota currently allocated to dead discards to harvestable quota with appropriate bag limits. This simple solution would allow some harvest by all fishermen most of the year without overfishing or wasting Public Resources.
              
Our flounder fishery is experiencing a similar situation to Red Snapper with arbitrary rebuilding deadlines, prolonged closures, and significant portions of quota allocated to assumed dead discards rather than harvestable quota. You could help by asking the Legislature to remove hard rebuilding deadlines or just sign an Executive Order suspending them during your administration. Flounder quota currently allocated to dead discards should be immediately transferred to harvestable quota for all fishermen with reasonable possession limits that keep most flounder fisheries open all year. We should also consider options to make fishing fun again by focusing more on enhancement than enforcement. Hatcheries can help overcome habitat related spawning obstacles that are the real reason many stocks are struggling. NC Aquariums and Public University Hatcheries could incubate fertilized eggs from local specimens and release hatchlings by the billions to live wild and free as Natural Selection ensures survival of the fittest. Our license fees along with a realignment of management priorities could fund stocking efforts. A 1% restocking fee on all retail seafood sales would allow consumers to contribute while giving us equal Standing to other user groups. This practical solution can sustainably support historically high abundance and harvest levels while generating new revenue by creating more seafood and recreational opportunities. We can promote food security for every NC citizen while preserving our freedom to fish responsibly if that is our goal and we are willing to try.
              
Those misguided sportsmen and politicians who pushed for a ban on most shrimping to be included in HB 442 will not stop until we reasonably address the issues they use to justify their shameful actions. The solutions offered for flounder and snapper negate the original need for HB 442. The stocking solution can offset shrimp trawl by-catch as we find a good use for what is landed. Wise use of regional hatcheries stocking a wide variety of native seafood can help us start shifting the mindset of many who feel fish are little more than toys or variables to be discarded after fighting for their life toward an attitude of gratitude for sustainable seafood that we respectfully harvest and use responsibly. We could replace overcomplicated, ever-changing, and often counterproductive regulations with a simple set of easy-to-follow limits. Marine Patrol and fishery managers could coordinate drop off points at Public Boat Ramps to safely check catches, collect accurate data, and give unwanted fish to the needy. It is time for a fundamental shift in fishery management philosophy to focus more on enhancing our fisheries and food supply than enforcing wasteful regulations.
             
I am happy to discuss this issue with you in person or online. Being an independent fisheries advocate has made it clear that my one voice of reason is not enough to make any real difference. Public support is the key to success. That is why I have made some postcards to share information and offer solutions while giving people an easy way to show their support. Please listen to us and help make fishing fun again. You have the power to unite most fishermen, fishery managers, and seafood consumers behind what should be our common goal of healthy fisheries that are responsibly harvested with minimal waste forever.

Thank you,
Chris McCaffity 

Please consider sending a copy of this letter to Governor Stein along with a message showing your support or request preaddressed postcards in the comment box at bottom of home page. Thank you for supporting our freedom to fish responsibly and eat local wild-caught seafood. Here is a link to contact the Governor. Contact Governor Stein | NC Governor