80 



whose Itvelihoods have depended upon blueffsh, are calling into question the conclusions reached 

 by stock assessors on bluefish. While many of us feel there may be a decline, we cannot 

 conclude that stocks are In the poor condition managers contend they are. Moreover, we are 

 convlnoed that any declines has much less to do with fishing effort and more to do with some of 

 these other factors. The scientists are again reluctant to consider our anecdotal Information. Why 

 would a scientist not want to fully consider Information pertaining to bait shifts and reductions, 

 water temperature changes, shifts In massive bodies of fish to the offshore grounds and other 

 factors? No reason is justified. These factors should be brought Into the equation quickjy. There 

 is another factor, however, that is now getting more attention by managers. As availability 

 decreases (availability not necessarily being a lack of fish but rather fish not being in places where 

 the average fisherman catches them) recreational fishing effort decreases. This decrease in effort 

 is primarily caused by decreased local availability (except In 1 995) and some redirected effort 

 towards offshore species and stripers. Not only has effort declined, but we have seen more 

 restrictive bag limits, implemented during the time of the supposed decline which has discouraged 

 participation and effort. This is inconsistent with a stock decline induced by overfishing. Thus, 

 we must look at as many relevant factors as possible when evaluating stock health and patterns. 



SHOULX> THE ATLANTIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION BE GIVEN 

 EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF BLUEFISH? The United Boatmen 

 are strongly opposed to eliminating the role of the Mid-Atlantic Council In bluefish management 

 and transferring sole responsibility to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). 

 It Is clear that the ASMFC cares little for the public process and until fundamental changes are 

 made to the Commission, it should not be given any more power. 



A look at the other fisheries Involved in this 'reinventing government initiative to streamline 

 the federal bureaucracy' will help further explain why bluefish are a poor choice. Spiny lobster 

 and stone crabs are located primarily in the waters of Florida and can be managed by Florida 

 regulations. The northern anchovy can apparently be managed by the state of Califomia. while 

 Alaska's management authority is sufficient to manage salmon. Bluefish, on the other hand, are 

 a highly migratory fish. They range in the United States from the Gulf coast all the way to the 

 northern most tip of Maine. Indeed, bluefish have an intemational range, (id.) What basis could 

 NMFS have used in taking management of a highly migratory fish from a regional council and 

 placing it with an entity which is responsible for coastal waters? There is only one logical answer 

 and that is politics. This is an entity which is pennitted by its charter to circumvent and/or 

 disregard the public process. I respectfully request that this sub-committee insist that the 

 secretary reject bluefish as a species to be taken over by the commission. 



More and more groups are concluding that the commission is a 'good old boys' networic, 

 by whom decisions are made behind dosed doors. Decisions sometimes appear to be made and 

 voted on based on polrtics and voting blocks. State directors dominate the boards which make 

 substantive decisions regarding the regulations of various fisheries. It is these very boards which 

 tend to make decisions outside of the public eye. Prior to Rollie Schmttten including bluefish in 

 this list to be transferred away from the councils, the commission had already attempted to usurp 

 the mid-Atlantic Council's management of bluefish. In 1995, the ASMFC bluefish boanJ, in a 

 move which shocked even those of us Involved in the fisheries management process for years, 

 effectively circumvented the Magnuson Act and the Council system. That board voted for a three 

 fish bag limit during a joint meeting with the advisory board of the Mid-Atlantic council. The 

 bluefish board had the power to bind the commission. The vote was taken, however, prior to the 



