Posted by seahunt on June 21, 2002 at 12:22:31:
In Reply to: Rockfish closure posted by Ken Kurtis on June 21, 2002 at 11:00:32:
Actually, the recovery will probably be much faster than that. A war
closed the Grand Banks for 10 years. At the end of the war, it looked
fully recovered. There are some longer lived bottom fish, but I think
that they are the exception to the rule. Really, if the history of
the Marine Sanctuaries are any example, we should see the fish in
shallow getting strongly replentished in just 3 or 4 years. Heck, I
might even get interested in spearing again if there are fish.
The biggest effect I see from this is on a few divers that dive deeper
to spear, particularly the Halibut hunters (if halibut is on the list).
Frankly, like the commercial fishermen, there is just not that much left
for the sport spear fishers to take anyway.
One question would be as to how this effects the 'live fish' fishers.
They have been really bad for local fish populations, particularly the
Sheepheads and I think that they tend to trap in shallower water, so
they may still be fishing.
Enjoy, seahunt