Quote:
Originally Posted by MdCrappie
Are you saying that "Legal Netting" or "Illegal Netting" has left this taste?
If "Legal" is your choice then I would have to ask you about "driving".
Does "Drunk" driving leave a bad taste? If so then how about "Sober" (or legal) driving? Get the analogy?
If you are "disturbed" by "Illegal" netting and approve banning "ALL" netting, then wouldn't that be the same as banning "All" driving because of "Drunk" driving?
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Unfortunatly, illegal netting is influencing public opinion of ALL netting. The public has been saturated with watermen poaching enormace quantities of fish in the 5 year "sting" operation with the feds; raiding oyster santuaries; and now performing illegal netting. It's a shame the leadership of the watermen allowed this to continue for so long.
Your analogy with drunk driving may not be a good one to pursue. Here's why. I'm sure there was a time where drinking and driving was if not legal, it was considered not so major an offense. I can remember stories of the police either escorting the drunk home, or letting him "sleep it off" and be on his way when sober. Drunk driving was treated with a "wink of the eye". Many watermen have had this curtesy extended to them throughout the years.
Eventually, drunk driving was taken seriously and it was BANNED. Now, if you are caught driving, even just "under the influance", you will lose your license after only a few convictions.
It's a shame your leadership didn't call for the loss of the waterman's license years ago when this practice was being committed. NOW, Larry Simm's is calling for the loss of license for those convicted of this LATEST crime. TOO LATE to influence public opinion. The damage has been done!
So you see, there was a progression from the "wink,wink" of drunk driving to the public demand of banning drunk driving. We may be seeing a progression from the "wink, wink" of poaching, to a ban on all netting.
The continued poaching of natural resourses by a few, has tarnished the many. The time to call for more stringent measures on the habitual offenders was long ago, not now.
I'm sorry the legal netters will be impacted by the actions of the few. I don't see a ban on netting taking place, but it appears that MSSA will have an easier time asking for a reallocation of the quota.
Let me repeat, I don't see a ban on netting taking place, but it appears that MSSA will have an easier time to asking for a reallocation of the quota.
5th (Marty)