Posted by Brad on December 03, 2004 at 12:05:33:
In Reply to: Where Have all the Legal Bugs Gone??? posted by Jack on December 03, 2004 at 06:22:22:
Those number of brave hoop-netters who challenge the seas for lobsters from the safety, security, and comfort of thier boats have grown exponentially in the last 3 years...
Not only do the sportfishermen get 'boat limits', they get to deploy up to 5 nets per individual and 10 per boat. Their emergence in the last 3 years has had an unsunstantial impact on the resource. Commercial take was down 12% last year with no end in sight.
Personally, i don't think the local populations can sustain the unprecidented increase in pressure. Also, i think that if one isn't willing to get in the water, they should NOT be entitled to take lobster.
The lobster population should be reserved for the divers, with sustainable leftovers for the commercials!