In Reply to: Hoop nets are really traps posted by Rick_Coleman on May 20, 2013 at 14:57:01:

I seem to remember being vilified by some operators and some fishermen in the industry for pointing out the impending problem with unregulated hoopnetting a number of years ago.

Since that time, it has been fairly well established that a percentage of the hoopnet community have turned out to be exactly what I expected, voracious poachers.

That said, California Fish And Game, (now Fish and Wildlife) has at least made a reasonable attempt to target the poachers.

That fight continues. I have seen divers that poach and sell or barter over the years. The impact has at least fairly minimal, with the hoopnetters, it has been astroniomical.

Additionally, many areas that are available to hoopnetters are closed to divers. This sort of discriminization is unacceptable. California Fish and Wildlife and the other agencies involved have a responsiblilty to see to it that the "rules" apply to all.