Future of Fishing Threatened by PETA Propaganda

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, the article below (For Cod’s Sake Stop Fishing) provides a perfect example of the irrational and false arguments against recreational fishing that we must confront and dispel. Written by a PETA “senior writer,” it appeared, unchallenged, in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead on June 8.

No doubt the organization managed to get it inserted in other media as well.

Particularly note the second paragraph, which alleges that fish can feel pain and fear and “these facts are no longer in question.”

But none of the “facts” cited are supported by credible fisheries scientists.

Here’s the truth:

“When a fish is hooked by an angler, it typically responds with rapid swimming behavior that appears to be a flight response,” says Dr. James Rose, who has spent more than 30 years studying neurological responses  to pain in animals. “Human observers sometimes interpret this flight response to be a reaction to pain, as if the fish was capable of the same kind of pain experience as a human.”

But fish “don’t have the brain systems necessary to experience pain,” he says, adding that “flight responses of fish are a general reaction to many types of potentially threatening stimuli and can’t be taken to represent a response to pain.”

Someone did respond (Anti-Fishing Column Nonsense). But even though the writer did defend fishing for food, she bought into the argument that fish feel pain and fear.

That’s what is insidious and dangerous.  If these zealots can convince enough people that fishing for sport is wrong, they will be well on their way to banning fishing entirely. They've already achieved a ban on catch-and-release fishing in parts of Europe.

I write about this threat and others  in “No Fishing?,” an essay in my new book, Why We Fish.

The threat is very real, my friends. Please don't ignore it.

For cod’s sake stop fishing

Earlier this month, a German angler made headlines for reeling in a 103-pound cod off the coast of Norway. The fish is believed to be the largest cod ever caught anywhere in the world, and if confirmed, the catch will break the existing record, which was set back in 1969. As I looked at the obligatory photos of the grinning angler with his “prize” and giving the “thumbs-up,” my first thought wasn’t, “Atta, boy!” but “How disconnected does a person have to be to take pleasure in killing other living beings – any other living beings?”

Here are two things that anglers should know about their supposedly “harmless” pastime: Fish can feel pain, and they can experience fear. These facts are no longer in question.

Even though fish don’t scream audibly when they are impaled on hooks, their behavior offers evidence of their suffering. When biologist Victoria Braithwaite and her colleagues exposed fish to irritating chemicals, the animals behaved as any of us might: They lost their appetite, their gills beat faster, and they rubbed the affected area of their bodies against the side of the tank.

A study in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found that fish who are exposed to painful heat later show signs of fear and wariness – suggesting that they both experience pain and remember it.

Other studies have shown that fish communicate distress when nets are dipped into their tanks or they are otherwise threatened. Researcher William Tavolga, for example, found that not only do fish grunt when they receive an electric shock, they also begin to grunt as soon as they see the electrode, in anticipation of the painful experience to follow.

Researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada concluded that fish feel fear when they are chased and that their behavior is more than simply a reflex. The “fish are frightened and … they prefer not being frightened,” says Dr. Ian Duncan, who headed the study.

Now think about what all this means. Try to put yourself in the fish’s place. When fish are impaled on an angler’s hook and yanked out of the water, panicking and gasping for breath, they aren’t having a good time. It’s not a game to them. They are scared and in pain and fighting for their lives.

Anglers may not want to hear this, but fishing is nothing more than a cruel blood sport, and killing animals for pleasure – just so that someone can set a world record or pose for a silly photo with a corpse – is inexcusable. It’s time to stop pretending that it’s “good, clean fun” to engage in an activity in which most of the participants aren’t even participating willingly but are, instead, desperately struggling in vain to stay alive.

Moore is a senior writer for the PETA Foundation.

Anti-fishing column nonsense

As an avid fisherwoman married to an avid fisherman and mother to two avid fisher-boys, I just had to write my first-ever letter in response to the Paula Moore opinion column in the June 1 Forum.

If I understand correctly, we are not supposed to fish because it hurts the fishies. I do not discredit the facts presented but, honestly, why someone would test fish for pain tolerance leaves me scratching my head. And I see Moore did not bring the smack-down on those “researchers.” But what of those of us who fish to eat? Are we now required to not fish to eat because it hurts the fish? And is the next step worrying about the feelings of the cows and chickens and pigs?

Good grief. Has she not heard of the circle of life? If we are now supposed to worry about the feelings of fish, then it is nothing but downhill from here – to the dock, to the lake, to the boat to fish.

Slobs Return to Trash Lakes

They were a little late this year, because of a cool spring. But the pigs finally have arrived.  This morning, I picked up this wad of monofilament line (above) left by one of them at a lake near my house. A litter barrel was less than 10 feet away.

Am I upset? Yes, I am. Jerks who do these types of things give anglers a bad name --- and they kill.

Think I’m exaggerating?

Awhile back, I took this photo (below) of a great blue heron that died because of entanglement in discarded fishing line.

If you haven’t already, please take Recycled Fish’s Stewardship Pledge. Following it will be good for you, anglers in general, our waters, and our wildlife.

Photo by Robert Montgomery Okay, now that I have that out of my system.

For the past couple of years, I’ve picked up trash at the access areas at a couple of lakes near my home, once the summer season starts. Mostly I pick up discarded drink containers, fast-food wrappers, and fishing line.

Now that I have Pippa, my new canine companion, she will accompany me on these cleanups. And she seems eager to help.

This morning, she picked up a used feminine hygiene product. Fortunately, I was able to grab the dangling string and pull it out of her mouth.

Ah, yes, I love the pigs.

North Carolina Sportsmen Deserve Better

Photo by Fred Bonner

The sportsmen of North Carolina deserve better from their elected state representatives.

But the only way that they are going to get it is by flooding the offices of those officials with phone calls and e-mails. Even better, they should go in force to Raleigh to express their outrage.

Or how about besieging the capitol building with bass boats? That should convince the politicians that anglers and hunters are a constituency worthy of respect.

Here is what is going on:

 1. This week, the state House of Representatives will consider a Senate budget proposal to cut $9 million --- or nearly half --- of the general appropriation to the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC).

The governor’s version cuts just 1 percent, while the Senate is not recommending such a severe cut to any other agency.

In past years, that appropriation has been used to support work by the agency in areas unrelated to fishing and hunting. Of course, anglers and hunters mostly pay their own way for the latter, through license fees and the state’s share of appropriations from the federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, which consists of excise taxes those sportsmen pay on fishing and hunting gear.

“The WRC cannot make up this deficit from hunting and fishing license fees or the Wildlife Endowment Fund without hurting the traditional programs of the agency,” says the Camo Coalition.

“The WRC has put 120 ongoing projects on hold until the results of the budget proposal by the Senate is resolved.  Without significant restoration of these funds, many of the projects will be scraped. 

“Slashed programs would include critical services such as law enforcement and widely used statewide infrastructure for boating and fishing access areas, game lands, shooting ranges, community fishing sites, and fish hatcheries.”

The agency manages 2 million acres of public game lands; 49 lakes and ponds, including 31 dams; 73 waterfowl impoundments; 1,878 miles of roads; 6 fish hatcheries that produce 7 million fish annually; 58 public fishing areas; 211 public boating access areas; 1,400 navigational aids; and 137 buildings that range from storage buildings and field stations to education centers and a 73,000-square-foot agency headquarters and environmental education center.

“Hunting and fishing is big business in North Carolina,” the coalition adds. “The wildlife related outdoor industry gives a whopping $3.3 billion bonus to the state’s economy every year through direct expenditures by hunters, fishermen, and wildlife enthusiasts.  This stimulus comes from 1.2 million resident anglers and 395,000 non-resident anglers, who spend $1.5 billion directly fishing in North Carolina. 

“Also, 259,000 resident hunters and 77,000 non-resident hunters spend $525 million here each year.  Another 2.4 million wildlife-watching participants spend $930 million directly on their activities in North Carolina each year. 

“The $18 million in general fund appropriation to keep this powerful economic engine that requires very little input or maintenance running is a wise investment by any terms of evaluation.”

Go here to learn more.

Also, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundations says this:

“Please contact House Appropriations Committee Chairman Representative Nelson Dollar and other members of the Committee immediately to voice your opinion. Additionally, consider contacting Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Senator Harry Brown and other members of the Senate Committee to express concerns over the proposed budget.” 

 

 2. North Carolina politicians continue to bow to pressure from commercial fishermen and their friends, refusing to give game fish status to striped bass, speckled sea trout, and redfish (red drum). Both Democrats and Republicans have been responsible for this, with the latter to blame this time around.

“Here we are in 2013 and the Republican Caucus, operating in secret and without warning, killed HB 983, the Fisheries Economic Development Act, commonly called the game fish bill, a week ago under the guise of it being a local issue,” says the Coastal Fisheries Reform Group.

“The Republican Caucus in the House essentially has told the more than 500,000 recreational salt water fishermen in the state that they have no vote, no say in how the salt water fishery is managed. A few coastal Representatives, again with ties to the commercial fishing sector, have decided for all of the state’s recreational fishermen that the commercial fishing industry will manage the fish.”

Only three commercial fishermen caught, sold, and reported selling more than $10,000 worth of estuarine striped bass, speckled trout, and red drum in any combination. These three fish constitute less than one percent of the total annual commercial catch and account for only about $3 million annually and 28 jobs according to the 2012 figures from the Division of Marine Fisheries. 
 

The recreational value of the three fish is $131 million for the same period and supports 1,267 jobs.

“More than 30 species of finfish in inshore waters are open to commercial fishing; not one fish is managed as a game fish,” the reform group continues.

“If game fish had been enacted into law, the commercial sector still would be harvesting over 99 percent of the fish they are harvesting now. Even without the three game fish! 
“The management of fisheries for commercial harvest creates a persistent drag on the population that over time always depletes the population and requires emergency and drastic action to save the fishery.

“We were too late in the case of the gray trout, the sturgeon, the river herring and we are just beginning to see recovery in the red drum, striped bass, and flounder. Extraordinary measures by recreational fishermen have led the way toward recovery with commercial fishermen complaining about government interference all the way.”

Go here to learn more.

Processing Plant Will Take Bite Out of Carp Population

Bighead carp netted in Kentucky Lake. Photo by Steve McCadams.

A plant that can process up to 40,000 pounds of Asian carp daily is about to open in western Kentucky. Most of the finished products likely will be shipped to Asia, where the carp are prized as food fish and the waters are too degraded to support them in harvestable numbers.

 We’re never going to rid our rivers of bighead and silver carp, but making them a valuable commodity will help slow the damage that they do to native fisheries.

 Read more and see a video here.

B.A.S.S. Nation Clubs to Compete for Aquatic Plants Management Award

GProjects by B.A.S.S. Nation members, such as this native water willow restoration in Georgia, will be eligible for a new award starting this year: the AERF-APMS/B.A.S.S. Conservation Aquatic Vegetation Management Award.. Photo by B.A.S.S.Gerald Adrian knows all about hydrilla, an invasive non-native aquatic plant that bass anglers often target as cover for fish. He can also explain why over-proliferation of hydrilla and other invasive aquatic species can spell doom for a top bass fishery.

Adrian, a representative for the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation (AERF) and Aquatic Plant Management Society (APMS), aims to educate the public about the impact of invasive plants. He believes the best way to do so is to expand contacts through the grassroots of the bass angling world.

When Adrian approached B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Noreen Clough with his idea, that goal was the impetus for the new AERF-APMS/B.A.S.S. Conservation Aquatic Vegetation Management Award. The award, worth $2,000, will be presented annually to the B.A.S.S. Nation club that conducts the most outstanding project that addresses control of invasive aquatic plants while promoting the conservation or propagation of native vegetation, or both.

“I am very pleased that the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation and Aquatic Plant Management Society recognize the good work that B.A.S.S. Nation conservation volunteers are doing in restoring native aquatic vegetation and combating invasive plants in our public waters,” Clough said.

“Whether it is putting in native water willows or pulling out noxious weeds, building floating islands or participating in aquatic vegetation management meetings, our B.A.S.S. Nation conservation directors and their volunteers are committed to keeping our waterways healthy. That the foundation recognizes this through a generous awards program makes B.A.S.S. very proud that our efforts are rewarded. It’s a great partnership.”

AERF will fund the award, while APMS will provide a travel stipend for the winning club’s conservation director, or president, to travel to the APMS annual national meeting to give a presentation on the project. The 2014 National APMS meeting — the first at which the winning club will report — will be held in Savannah, Ga.

“This is a long-term commitment for us,” Adrian said. “It’s important for everyone to be aware of the benefits of controlling invasive plants. This gives us a grassroots connection with the anglers that are concerned about these plants and lets us provide an avenue of education for B.A.S.S. members. A lot of anglers think they should let hydrilla grow because it’s good for fishing.”

Adrian explains the negative impacts of hydrilla, which began its U.S. invasion in Florida in the 1960s. It displaces native plants, and it can create an unhealthy aquatic ecosystem.

“Hydrilla can occupy an entire lake,” Adrian said. “It can take a lake over and spread completely across a lake if it’s shallow. A canopy like that reduces oxygen in the water and makes it difficult to forage. Once it gets to a certain point, it impacts a fishery. Large fish can’t move around and get to their prey. What you end up with is a whole bunch of small bass in a lake.”

With a bigger picture of the effects of hydrilla and other non-native plants,  those critical grassroots anglers and weekend fishermen will understand “why we do what we do” in battling non-native plants throughout the country, Adrian says.

The projects, which will be judged by Clough, along with Dr. Mike Netherland of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center and a representative from AERF-APMS, must be submitted to B.A.S.S. conservation by Oct. 31 of a given year, beginning in October 2013, to be eligible for the award, which will be presented during the following year’s Bassmaster Classic.

Criteria for the award include:
· Although the award will be given annually, the project must be a multi-year project with clearly defined and demonstrated short-term goals and long-term objectives.
· The project must include a monitoring plan to determine long-term success.
· The B.A.S.S. Nation club must demonstrate that members have worked cooperatively with the state fisheries and/or wildlife resource agency, the municipality and the project administrator (e.g., Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, etc.).
· Adding a youth component to a project will be a competitive enhancement.
· The project submission must include before and after photographs.
· The project must take place on waters with public access.

From B.A.S.S.