Candy

<HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1> <DIV id=post_message_4087>Below are two questions every Recreational Fisherman should be asking:

1. Why should there even be sectors? Doesn't the Resource belong to ALL of us? If the resource belongs to ALL of us, then we are all shareholders. We are all shareholders, so why should a few people get the biggest share while we get thrown scraps without fair compensation?

2. If the Charter Industry unites to become a Commercial Sector, they should split up the Commercial TAC. Ooops, that won't work because the "Historical Catch" quota scheme has locked everyone that isn't already in, OUT. It has also locked the small commercial operators into their "small" status. The "Historical Catch" scheme, if embraced by the Recreational Charters, would do EXACTLY the same thing in the Charter Industry. The big Charter boys guarantee they will stay the big boys and they will NEVER have to worry about competition from you, the small Charter Businesses, because the Quota system will guarantee you will never be able to grow your business.

Charters are either Recreational or they are Commercial. Personally, I believe the Charter Industry will be better off in the Recreational sector but I'm not a Charter Owner so I can't speak for them.

I have always supported the Recreational Charter Industry and even gone to bat to help save them. I thought we were all in this together and we should all stick together. I'm sure there are many Charter Owners that agree with that sentiment. The SOS plan does NOT benefit the entire Charter industry equitably and should be rejected by the majority of Charter Owners because they will loose in the long run.

Any Charter Owner that is on the fence with this issue should remember the 2004 election and Pregnant Pigs. If voters would protect pregnant pigs, what makes you think they wouldn't protect the poor little mistreated private recreational fisherman? Let's see...we have 2.7 million licensed recreational fishermen in Florida and that doesn't include everyone over 65 that isn't required to buy a license...do you think we might have a ground swelling of support? I think even non-fishermen would see the injustice in the system and come to our rescue.

<DIV align=center>I will say it again, lets come up with a win-win plan for Recreational Fishermen, Private and Charter.
I will listen to any ideas that would help accomplish that goal.</DIV>

If you don't want to share your ideas publicly, send me a private e-mail. I'm listening to every idea that comes across my desk.
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