The fish have lost their voice

If fish had a voice, they would be screaming. Screaming about how difficult it is to survive and thrive with negative climate impacts on water and habitat impacting their reproduction, range, and the food they eat.

Their plight has worsened during the past two years, as fish conservation has taken a back seat to fish production to enhance harvest and our trade balance. The aim of new Executive Orders is to harvest more fish commercially and recreationally rather than focusing on growing fish to abundance so there are more of them in the water for all of us to catch, eat, and/or release.

To right these wrongs, NOAA Fisheries funding and staff need to be restored and enhanced so research and science can continue in light of changing ocean conditions. Executive budgets for the past two years have called for massive NOAA staff and budget cuts. Some have been enacted and others have not. We need to ensure our scientists at NOAA and in this nation that their work is important, vital to this nation and fund their research to protect habitat, fish, and the environment.

We also need to reverse harmful aspects of recent executive orders that would result in the removal of protections for a vast amount of water in our five marine national monuments allowing industrial fishing, deep-sea mining and more. These monuments serve as sanctuaries (incubators) for coral, habitat, and fish to spawn and grow, without human impacts. Without them it will be difficult to grow habitat and fish to sustainable levels.

Other executive orders that need to be halted include those that allow gas/oil exploration and production without EPA constraints, particularly the full public vetting of projects, giving fishers and other stakeholders the opportunity to weigh in on projects. We also need to halt the harmful executive orders that attempt to shut down (repeatedly reversed by the courts) and stifle the production of cheaper renewable energy generated by offshore wind farms and solar energy production. We need to continue to foster the coexistence of renewable energy, fishing, and other uses as it is working as related in a recent report at Sharing the Seas - Fishing and Offshore Wind - Inspire Environmental.

And we need to right the wrongs outlined in executive order 14430, the Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation.

“There are a few worthwhile pieces (in this order) including better recreational data improvements, mobile reporting, and stronger recognition of recreational fishing’s economic value,” said the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA) on their blog post at A President’s Executive Order: Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation - American Saltwater Guides Association.

“Our major concern is that broader provisions could be used to weaken conservation safeguards, substitute unproven data systems for existing science, expand access in protected areas, or redefine restoration around hatchery ‘production’ rather than rebuilding wild fish and habitat,” said the ASGA.

It is time we pulled together as citizens of this nation to right the wrongs to preserve our planet, the environment, habitat, and give the fish their voice back so they can grow to abundance for all of us.

New Right Whale Slow Zone

On Nov. 2, the Cape Cod buoy operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution detected the presence of right whales in Cape Cod Bay, Mass. So a Right Whale Slow Zone is in effect through Nov. 17.

Visit the Right Whale Slow Zones and Dynamic Management Areas website for a full list of active Slow Zones.

Mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside Dynamic Management Areas and Slow Zones where endangered right whales have been detected.

Vessel strikes are one of the primary causes of injury and death for right whales. Slower speeds are known to reduce the severity of impacts to whales when strikes occur and may provide boat and vessel operators an opportunity to avoid a collision.

Visit NOAA’s website at Reducing Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales | NOAA Fisheries for more information.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass and bluefish: “The striped bass bite is still on along the southern coastal shore as well as up the Providence and Seekonk rivers, which means the fish are still in the bay and can be caught there,” said Dave Henualt of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.

Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Pay attention to the tides, current, and areas holding bait and striped bass. With fewer fish around, finding the right conditions can make all the difference. The beaches, breachways, and inlets are still worth checking, especially when the water is moving. With the changing of weather, I would expect some fish to start moving around again.”

Squid

“Squid fishing has been on,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. “We have customers coming from New York and New Jersey to take advantage of our squid fishery. The bite has been good at Gould Island, Newport and often at the DEM/Ft. Wetherill facility in Jamestown.”

Tautog

Tautog fishing has been outstanding. The Frances Fleet party boats, out of Pt. Judith, Narragansett, are reporting a great tautog bite, with some customers returning with full limits of tautog (five fish) and some nice keeper black sea bass mixed in. Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “The bite has remained steady, as the water temperatures strata dropping, more fish will gradually move toward their winter holding areas in deeper water. Keeping your bait in the strike zone is important, so make sure you are using enough weight to stay on the bottom.”

Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said the tautog bite is outstanding with anglers catch fish everywhere … up the Barrington and Warren rivers, in Providence at India Point Park, and all the way down the bay as well as off Newport, Jamestown and Narragansett.”

Freshwater

Rhode Island fall trout stocking updates are available at www.dem.ri.gov/troutwaters. In Massachusetts visit Mass Wildlife at Trout stocking report | Mass.gov .

Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net  or visit www.noflukefishing.com .