CCA Email 06/05/2014

[PaulMyers]

Guess they want to talk.

[T-TOP]

Looks like the people that should be able to answer some questions will be there. I'll be there. D. Cresson said he would do his best to get this meeting together for every one with questions and concerns. It didn't take him long.

[PaulMyers]

I'll be working and will have to miss it. Take notes for me!

[BuckingFastard]

maybe they had a snitch tell them some stuffs a brewin.

["W"]

I will be there for sure

[BuckingFastard]

im gonna contemplate gracing them with my presence.

[Reefman]

Looks like a near perfect assembly of persons that can get thinks done for BL. All that's needed are the fishermen to show up and voice their concerns and solutions. MathGeek, W and co. here's a great opportunity to get things rolling!

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by Reefman

Looks like a near perfect assembly of persons that can get thinks done for BL. All that's needed are the fishermen to show up and voice their concerns and solutions. MathGeek, W and co. here's a great opportunity to get things rolling!

Unfortunately, I can't be in LC both on the 9th and then for the SC Tourney on the 19th. In my prioritization of fishing issues, fishing takes priority over talking about fishing, and my son and I have big plans to win the trash fish category! (That right, MathGeek is talking trash about trash fish, so bring it on!)

But I don't think it is science or math that will win the day. What is needed is a good turn out and gentle persistence (from different perspectives) regarding the essential points:

1. Fisheries should be managed based on scientific data not anecdotes and social pressure or fear that too much pressure is depleting the resource. Regulatory changes should be based on data that has been made available to the public for consideration and review.

2. Destruction of oyster reefs has hurt the fishery. The ecosystem services provided by oysters far outweigh the value of the harvested oysters taken from the reefs in the estuary. Oyster reefs are a key component to Calcasieu Lake habitat, and protecting the habitat is more important than overzealous protection of the stocks of sporting species which can recover more quickly than habitat.

3. We understand that the weirs are important to prevent further marsh loss from saltwater intrusion. But a high exchange of forage and fish between the marsh and lake is an important contributor to the food web and high production levels. The weirs should be open whenever salinity and water levels allow for the greatest exchange levels between marsh and lake. Weir openings should be driven by real time and predicted salinity and water levels.

4. The high connectivity between the ship channel and the Lake is the main cause of saltwater intrusion from the Gulf to the marsh. In the long term, rocking the ship channel to reduce this connectivity and maintain lower salinity levels in the lake will provide better protection to the marsh while allowing the weirs to be open more days per year.

5. The lowered speck limit has been an abysmal failure. Trophy trout and the size of tournament winning trout have declined since the limit change in 2005. Sabine is producing some big trout, not because of the lower trout limit, but because of abundant oyster reefs (no oysters are harvested in Sabine, and it has the best oyster reefs in the state), limited shrimping, and high levels of exchange of forage and fish with the surrounding marsh.

6. Redfish are overpopulated and talk of reducing the redfish limit will hurt the trout fishery even further because of the high level of forage overlap between the species, especially since crab numbers are low and redfish are directly competing with specks for most of the preferred trout forage sources. Protecting the resource means protecting what they eat, and overly abundant redfish will keep suppress trout populations and growth rates by both predation (eating age 0 trout) and competition for limited forage.

Calling specific parties liars may or may not be true, but it is unlikely to be productive. Remember that it is important not to lobby for a "bigger share of the pie" but to lobby for sound policies with a high probability of creating a bigger pie for all Louisiana citizens to share.

I had a polite email exchange with the oyster guy earlier today. The oyster issues really are not his fault, as oyster policy is set by a governing body, and the big tragedy in 2010 was more due to the oil spill concentrating harvest pressure than by a failure of the biologists. The governing body would do well to go back to tongs and limit the harvest, but with the rest of the state's oyster production so low, they had to make some concessions in West Cove. At least harvesting in the main lake has been closed for several years and I am optimistic that the reefs on the east side are improving.

[Smalls]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

Unfortunately, I can't be in LC both on the 9th and then for the SC Tourney on the 19th. In my prioritization of fishing issues, fishing takes priority over talking about fishing, and my son and I have big plans to win the trash fish category! (That right, MathGeek is talking trash about trash fish, so bring it on!)

But I don't think it is science or math that will win the day. What is needed is a good turn out and gentle persistence (from different perspectives) regarding the essential points:

1. Fisheries should be managed based on scientific data not anecdotes and social pressure or fear that too much pressure is depleting the resource. Regulatory changes should be based on data that has been made available to the public for consideration and review.

2. Destruction of oyster reefs has hurt the fishery. The ecosystem services provided by oysters far outweigh the value of the harvested oysters taken from the reefs in the estuary. Oyster reefs are a key component to Calcasieu Lake habitat, and protecting the habitat is more important than overzealous protection of the stocks of sporting species which can recover more quickly than habitat.

3. We understand that the weirs are important to prevent further marsh loss from saltwater intrusion. But a high exchange of forage and fish between the marsh and lake is an important contributor to the food web and high production levels. The weirs should be open whenever salinity and water levels allow for the greatest exchange levels between marsh and lake. Weir openings should be driven by real time and predicted salinity and water levels.

4. The high connectivity between the ship channel and the Lake is the main cause of saltwater intrusion from the Gulf to the marsh. In the long term, rocking the ship channel to reduce this connectivity and maintain lower salinity levels in the lake will provide better protection to the marsh while allowing the weirs to be open more days per year.

5. The lowered speck limit has been an abysmal failure. Trophy trout and the size of tournament winning trout have declined since the limit change in 2005. Sabine is producing some big trout, not because of the lower trout limit, but because of abundant oyster reefs (no oysters are harvested in Sabine, and it has the best oyster reefs in the state), limited shrimping, and high levels of exchange of forage and fish with the surrounding marsh.

6. Redfish are overpopulated and talk of reducing the redfish limit will hurt the trout fishery even further because of the high level of forage overlap between the species, especially since crab numbers are low and redfish are directly competing with specks for most of the preferred trout forage sources. Protecting the resource means protecting what they eat, and overly abundant redfish will keep suppress trout populations and growth rates by both predation (eating age 0 trout) and competition for limited forage.

Calling specific parties liars may or may not be true, but it is unlikely to be productive. Remember that it is important not to lobby for a "bigger share of the pie" but to lobby for sound policies with a high probability of creating a bigger pie for all Louisiana citizens to share.

I had a polite email exchange with the oyster guy earlier today. The oyster issues really are not his fault, as oyster policy is set by a governing body, and the big tragedy in 2010 was more due to the oil spill concentrating harvest pressure than by a failure of the biologists. The governing body would do well to go back to tongs and limit the harvest, but with the rest of the state's oyster production so low, they had to make some concessions in West Cove. At least harvesting in the main lake has been closed for several years and I am optimistic that the reefs on the east side are improving.

You got a frog in your pocket MG? Because from what I've seen around here, there are very few that understand this about the weirs. I agree with you on this, but I don't believe the majority do. That is why they keep getting blamed for the "poor fishing".

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by Smalls

You got a frog in your pocket MG? Because from what I've seen around here, there are very few that understand this about the weirs. I agree with you on this, but I don't believe the majority do. That is why they keep getting blamed for the "poor fishing".

I think a lot of folks get the basic necessity of the weirs, but a more vocal minority prefers to trumpet an oversimplified version that basically represents the tendency to dumb down the nuances of an issue in public policy discussions.

There is room for disagreement and wide viewpoints, but I think the view I articulated above is sound from a scientific and management viewpoint, and is the one most likely to result in helping the lake by increasing the number of days each year the weirs are open.

Sentiments like "blow up the weirs" may gather some popular support among frustrated anglers, but these sentiments are unlikely to yield helpful changes in the operation.

The goals can be high and lofty, but the tone of the discussion should be sober, moderate, and well-informed.

[BuckingFastard]

they will put on a show.

[Clampy]

Math Geek coming slangin pie charts and handing out bubble gum.

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[BuckingFastard]

[QUOTE=Clampy;696120]Math Geek coming slangin pie charts and handing out bubble gum.


haha i must have missed this... perfect!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_J8QU1m0Ng

["W"]

Hope they guy over oyster fishing on Big Lake brings Vaseline!!!

[SULPHITE]

[Goooh]

Lmao

[biggun]

Well; if everyone will discuss things like grown up's and ask INTELLIGENT questions, TRULY want to SEEK SOLUTIONS, Looking for a WIN/WIN result!!!!! This Meeting could be the start of some positive action...

[3FLa]

Originally Posted by biggun

Well; if everyone will discuss things like grown up's and ask INTELLIGENT questions, TRULY want to SEEK SOLUTIONS, Looking for a WIN/WIN result!!!!! This Meeting could be the start of some positive action...

The kind of questions wanted--The pre-prepared softball generic questions that can be answered in vague formats. Is that what you want, biggun?

I have been asking real, intelligent questions, seeking real solutions for 15 years and have never, ever received an answer. In fact, the only thing I ever received what a threat from you and others.

From my standpoint it is too late, the CCA must die. And we got 12M to make it happen.

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by 3FLa

The kind of questions wanted--The pre-prepared softball generic questions that can be answered in vague formats. Is that what you want, biggun?

I have been asking real, intelligent questions, seeking real solutions for 15 years and have never, ever received an answer. In fact, the only thing I ever received what a threat from you and others.

From my standpoint it is too late, the CCA must die. And we got 12M to make it happen.

I agree that greatly reducing CCA influence is in the best interests of both Louisiana anglers and Louisiana fish habitat.

I hope folks are careful not to display angst or anger regarding CCA toward LDWF representatives and other non-CCA folks who happen to be at this important meeting simply because CCA made the arrangements.

[marshrunner757]

It'll be a dog and pony show. I'm sure they'll say everything we want to hear instead of their true stance.

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