TWRC and TWRA possibly the worst

[AlabamaSwamper]

Fisheries agency in the country!

What in the heck was the TWRC thinking by taking the restrictions off paddle fish?

They put restrictions on some fish in some lakes with absolutely no data to back it up (like they time they were put on the spot about the 15" rule by the other two states in a meeting on Pickwick and the 34" rule on catfish) then they TWRC completely throws their hands up on the paddle fish battle.

Then again, the TWRC has shown no backbone. At least it appears the TWRA wasn't behind this one.

 

[trealtree]

What did they change it to? Is this for commercial fisherman or sport?

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

If you enjoy paddle fish and this don't change, you better catch them while you can because they will be extinct in Tennessee waters in the near future.

Let's all pray PETA don't file lawsuits to stop hunting because the TWRC will probably cave in to them.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Ovaries of a female paddlefish can weight 5 pounds or more, making a single paddlefish worth several hundreds of dollars.
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission finally settled it's long-standing dispute with commercial fishermen: There are no more regulations on the harvesting of paddlefish.
While the commission voted to keep Watts Bar closed to commercial fishing, the TWRC surprised fishermen and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency biologists alike by removing size and season restrictions on paddlefish. The meetings Wednesday and Thursday at the TWRA's Region II office building were supposed to be a preview of the 2008-2009 commercial fishing regulations.
Instead, many of the regulations governing paddlefish were stripped from the books.
"We're getting out of the egg business," commissioner Boyce Magli of Franklin told the commercial fishermen at the meeting. "The discussion of paddlefish and our management of paddlefish takes up more time than any other two things we deal with.

HMMM, other states have the same problems but are responsible enough to deal with it and protect such a rare fish these days.


"It (The commission) has taken our eye off the ball."
During Wednesday's meeting of the Fisheries Management Committee Magli offered up an amendment to remove the restrictions. The vote was tied, but during a meeting of the full commission Thursday Magli again offered up the amendment and it passed.
Commercial fishermen have a lawsuit pending against TWRA concerning the agency's management practices, specifically those concerning paddlefish. While some of them were happy with the vote, others believe the commission went too far.
"We were only one inch and one week apart," said Chattanooga fishermen Alan Fine of the size limits and season lengths. "We want to work with the agency."
The action by the TWRC doesn't open lakes that are closed to commercial fishing and it doesn't change any of the laws governing nets or other commercial fishing gear.
Commissioners in favor of the move argued the agency spends hundreds of thousands of dollars policing the taking of paddlefish and that money could be spent on sport fishermen. In the past, several hundred thousand TWRA dollars also have been spent on studies of paddlefish.
The new regulations will go into effect in 30 days.
Commissioner Hugh Simonton of Henning, who voted against lifting the restrictions, volunteered to meet with commercial fishermen to try and work out an agreement that includes regulating the commercial taking of paddlefish.
TWRA Chief of Fisheries Bill Reeves disagreed with the commission's action but believes it could allow both sides a cooling-off period.
"This will put all sides in a position to be more considerate of the other side," Reeves said.
One downside for commercial fishermen could be an inability to export paddlefish roe. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could intervene and stop exports because of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species known as CITIES.
"I don't think they are going to allow any exports," Reeves said. "Not without any season or any size limits."
Paddlefish roe is a popular form of caviar, especially in overseas markets. The roe commonly sells for upwards of $100 a pound and a mature paddlefish can have as much as 6 pounds of eggs.
"Let's quit trying to grow these things," Magli said. "Think of the money the agency will save. Think of the manpower the agency can save.
"We can divert that money and manpower to bigger and more sauger, bigger trout . . . We're going to get out of the business."



Boyce Magli of Franklin should be asked to step down immediately. He is irresponsible when it comes to protecting a resource which he is appointed to do!

Surrounding states are not very happy about this as it can and will affect them in the near future.

The TWRC has once again failed the sportsman of this state.

 

[OldHunter]

Unbelievable, in my opinion.

 

[OldHunter]

"We're getting out of the egg business," commissioner Boyce Magli of Franklin told the commercial fishermen at the meeting. "The discussion of paddlefish and our management of paddlefish takes up more time than any other two things we deal with.

I would like to know what 2 things he means. I just ain't getting this.

 

[B.D.]

Absolutely disgusting. Thank you for getting the word out on this.

bd

 

[Crosshairy]

That's pretty ridiculous.

If I wanted to stop expenditures on paddlefish, I would consider cutting funding or advise the wardens to "not spend more than 1% of their time on paddlefish policing".

By stripping the regulations out, even the honest commercial fishermen will begin overharvesting. Even if you left the rules in, at least SOME OF THEM would obey the rules.

That makes no sense.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Ridicoulus!

 

[mike243]

id like to hear what our state bioligists have to say about it,the commision is the same that closed lock 5 ? ,why not leave rules in place instead of dropping them ,somebody needs fired,mike243

 

[trealtree]

What an ignorant decision. This is insane. I will be sending my letters.

 

[trealtree]

letter sent

 

[B.D.]

I hate to badmouth TWRA - especially their biologists - because for the most part they are a very professional group that tries extremely hard to be good stewards of the resource.

Unfortunately, the TWRC - the Commission - seems prone to the worst sort of politics, especially where sucking up to commercial fishermen is concerned.

bd

 

[B.D.]

So that everyone can call the Commissioners and tell them how stupid this decision is, here is contact info for Commissioners - with e-mail where available:


Hugh T. "Skip" Simonton, Jr.
(Statewide)

Business: (731) 738-1061


R. B. "Buddy" Baird
Business: (423) 272-0301
e-mail: [email protected]

Governor Phil Bredesen (Ex-Officio Member)
Business: (615) 741-2001

Michael Chase
(TWRC Secretary)
(East Tennessee - E-2)�District counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Cumberland, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union.
Business: (865) 522-3500

Johnny Fred Coleman
(TWRC Vice-Chairman)
(Middle Tennessee - M-3)�District counties: Clay, DeKalb, Fentress, Grundy, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, and White.

Business: (931) 823-7345

Thomas H. Edwards
(West Tennessee - W-7)�District counties: Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, and Perry.

Residence: (731) 642-4186
e-mail: [email protected]

James H. (Jim) Fyke
Commissioner - Department of Environment and Conservation - (Statewide)
Business: (615) 532-0104

Ken Givens
Commissioner - TN Department of Agriculture
Ellington Agricultural Center - (Statewide)
Business: (615) 837-5202

Mike Hayes
(West Tennessee - W-8)�District counties: Chester, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Madison, Obion, and Weakley.
Business: (731) 253-6878
e-mail: [email protected]

Gary K. Kimsey
(TWRC Chairman)
(East Tennessee - E-4)�District counties: Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Sequatchie, and Rhea.
Business: (423) 337-7713
e-mail: [email protected]

Boyce C. Magli
(Middle Tennessee - M-6)�District counties: Cheatham, Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Maury, Montgomery, Stewart, Wayne, and Williamson.

Business: (615) 794-5484
e-mail: [email protected]



Mitchell S. Parks
(Middle Tennessee - M-5)�District counties: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Davidson, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, and Wilson.
Home: (615) 876-3046


Todd A. Shelton
(East Tennessee - E-1)--District counties:
Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Greene, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington.

Business: (423) 639-5183

Danya L. Welch
(West Tennessee - W-9)�District counties: Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Lauderdale, McNairy, Shelby, and Tipton.

Business: (901) 759-5100

 

[trealtree]

I hate to badmouth TWRA - especially their biologists - because for the most part they are a very professional group that tries extremely hard to be good stewards of the resource.

Unfortunately, the TWRC - the Commission - seems prone to the worst sort of politics, especially where sucking up to commercial fishermen is concerned.

bd

I had a sit down with a commissioner yesterday evening and he said that the TWRA biologists were the modt arrogant m-fers he had ever been around and would not listen to any advice or suggestions. Essentially if they didn't believe in something then there was no way it was gettin passed.

Interesting

 

[trealtree]

That falls right in line with the letter I wrote.

 

[shopson]

Although I didnt always agree with decisions made by TWRA when they made all the decisions, I always tried to abide by them and respected their decisions. They are educated and gather a lot of info for making their decisions. The TWRC on the other hand, well, I'll just keep my mouth shut. I don't want to get riled before I go to bed.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Well,

I read where the good ol commission had the opportunity to fix what they broke and didn't.

Figures. TWRC is now the laughing stock of the fisheries world. At least with biologists of other states. Actually, surrounding states are pretty ticked at this.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

CH,

Although I think they probably do 90% of the time, they sure didn't in the Lock 5 case. This case really has nothing to do with sportsman, it has everything to do with a single animal/fish that will become even more rare in Tennessee waters.

As I said, neighboring states are ticked about this as it affects them also in many ways.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I would bring a federal lawsuit if thats even possible. This will affect the fisheries of other states. This is ridiculous, and a bunch of BS.

 

[trealtree]

letter sent

NO response from my letter. That really shows how much they care. and it was a nice letter.


Mr. Baird,

I have recently heard about what happened at the last commission meeting regarding the reversal of regulations on commercial paddle fishing. I was not there and I do not know what caused this reversal. Could you please explain to me why these regulations were changed and if there was some type of biological reasoning behind this. I have watched the paddlefish populations grow in various rivers that I fish across the state and I enjoy getting out there to try and harvest a few during our very short sport fishing season. I would hate to see the commercial fishermen over harvest this states population of prehistoric fish.

rgds,

 

[Tubakka]

Personally, I'd like to see select harvest for HOOK AND LINE anglers, as these are an INCREDIBLE sportfish and taste probably better than anything else I've put in my mouth....if there were some way to succcessfully and economically farm them [Disney has a small operation down here...but it only supplies a small amount to their own needs] that would completely wipe out t he use for a commercial fishery, but of course, the demands of these fish are somewhat hard to accomodate in that capacity. I do believe that commercial angling has a place in this world, but wow...not like this. If we coudl just find a real use for those big head carp...get rachel ray to do a good recipe on her show or something...yeah right.

I will say this...I was very sad that the day they cut the generators down at Center Hill to find that body on the Cumby, JUSt as I had launched, an dI had my musky gear on board for the striper potential with some big treble hooks, I really really REALLY wanted to try for one of those fish. I've snagged them below Kentucky dam a few times in the past, but man...the yweren't that big. Some of those paddles that day were approach 6-7 feet. They seriously look like basking sharks. Astounding...and to see them swim past brown and rainbow trout was a real treat. Won't be able to see that again anytime soon...

...something needs to be done about this. Pronto.

 

[CamohunterAGAIN]

Ever hear the phrase... "bite the hand that feeds you"

The commercial fishermen were suing the agency over what the agency thought was a good size and limit? Litigation cost money...

So, I guess the agency said....hmmmm why don't you just limit yourselves commercial fishermen.... In a couple of years the fish will be endangered and you will be out of business.

 

[trealtree]

Ever hear the phrase... "bite the hand that feeds you"

The commercial fishermen were suing the agency over what the agency thought was a good size and limit? Litigation cost money...

So, I guess the agency said....hmmmm why don't you just limit yourselves commercial fishermen.... In a couple of years the fish will be endangered and you will be out of business.

I guess they are going to limit themselves just like the fur traders and meat hunters of the early 1900's did, when there was no limit.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Well heck I think Ill just sue them because I think I should be able to do whatever I want and not ever buy a license They oughta bend over for me just like they have for the commercial fishermen Basically they have bowed down to pressure and it will cost those of us who are paying out the wazoo for our licenses.

 

[CamohunterAGAIN]

i didn't say it was right steven... just pointing out that you have to be careful what you ask for...and how you ask.

 

[holstonangler]

How was that costing them any money? I always go opening week and have never seen a game warden or have been checked. Love to fish for them a couple days each year, but snagging is not my way of fishing. It can be alot of fun watching them jump though.

 

[shopson]

Looks like John Sevier to me.

 

[holstonangler]

What ever happened the the TWRA stripping the paddlefish regulations? Just looked in the 2009 fishing guide and everything is the same?

 

[B.D.]

It's my understanding that the Commission saw the error of their ways and the regs were reinstated.

I think a round of thanks is in order for the folks here who stood up for what is right.

bd