Limits to ocean preservation being tested

Washington Post ^ | 10/18/2004 | Juliet Eilperin

[cogitator]

No-take reserves are not a cure-all -- they do not address problems such as pollution and rising temperatures -- but several recent studies suggest they can help restore fish populations and damaged ecosystems. In 1994, after fisheries collapsed in the Gulf of Maine's Georges Bank, for example, federal authorities prohibited groundfish fishing and dragging for scallops in three areas spanning 6,600 square miles. Within five years, haddock and witch flounder stocks rebounded, while scallops grew bigger and became nine to 14 times more dense than in fished areas.

[cogitator]

It's time (in the oceans, at least) to come up with some plans that work. Marine reserves and individual tradeable quotas (ITQs) work.

[keysguy]

One thing the enviros have yet to learn is there is a huge difference between keeping people out and zero bag limits. We are heavily regulated down here and some of it makes sense and some does not.

Right now we have a fish called the jewfish(re-named by the pc crowd "Goliath grouper") that was near extinction 15 years ago. NOAA placed a 0 bag limit on it and it came back. So strong in fact it now endangers other species, spawning snook, juvenile crawfish, permit and others.It's time to re-open this fishery and they won't do it. Makes you wonder.

[sully777]

Now the Portugese are "poaching" the Grand Banks instead of "fishing." The subtle linguistics will have them cower in their slickers with fear until the EU has the WTO overrule this idea. I'm sure the families in the US that suffer from their livelihood ending will be happy to know they saved fish for the future Portugese trollers in the name of environmentalism.

JMO, start a thousand commercial fish farms with the money peed on this idea. Have the US independent of the hazards of fishing the Grand Banks. It's a complicated idea BUT IT JUST MIGHT WORK if we all pull together for the good of the children. Capitalism at its finest: Domesticated-fish aqua ranches. Halibut selling for pennies. Tuna sans dolphin (range or domesticated) for 1/2 the price.

[cogitator]

I do think that one of the ways to improve the situation is fish hatcheries. One current problem that needs to be addressed is the take of the "middle-level" species like menhaden -- it's hard to grow and spawn little fish like menhaden in the vast quantities necessary to feed the bigger, more "charismatic" fish.

[JmyBryan]

Of course fish grown in farms isn't as nutritious. Wild foods always have better fatty acid makeup. Eg: Sample free range chicken eggs vs store bought. Anyone can detect the difference in quality.

[sully777]

Of course fish grown in farms isn't as nutritious. Wild foods always have better fatty acid makeup. Eg: Sample free range chicken eggs vs store bought. Anyone can detect the difference in quality.

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Free range fish. Years from now I'll take my grandson free range fishing. He'll eat the catch and call it gamey just like I call free range organic beef as a little too gamey. LOL what a country.