I think some of you are a little off on this one. First of all, I like shrimp. They're hard to catch with a hook though.
Shrimping has a long history in our area. With our fertile bays and waterways we get a large renewable resource of shrimp. Go east to Appalachacola and you'll get oysters and scallops, go to some of the inlets down south and you'll get monster Tarpon, go further south to the Keys and you'll load up on Dolphin and Yellowtail snapper. So really what your seeing is a localized area rich with shrimp.
As for bycatch- it's the same with all non-targeted species. In fact- measures are taken to reduce bycatch as much as possible, I'm sure. No it's not 100% flawless. Neither is fishing with hook and line. How many baits go to waste to catch a keeper snapper? What about the bait dumped after fishing?
I think the problem is not bycatch- but bycatch waste. On one hand, I think the shrimpers should keep the bycatch and convert it to other food sources. Maybe food for feed stock, food for aquacultured or pond raised fish. Or even used as a natural ferilizer. On the other hand, if they keep the bycatch, that mortality rate is 100%. There is no chance a juvenile snapper will make it.
The problem is the waste. Ourcattle/poultry community utilizes every portion of a pig, cow and chicken. There is very minimal waste. Same thing with terrestrial farming. The waste after harvest becomes compost or further re-introduced into the soil. Now the big thing is bio-desiel.
You see my point. the waste is what we get ticked at.
As for the comment that 4 million snapper are killed by bycatch. Seems low to me! Hell I probably killed a million myself this year in the 13-16" range. Seems a shame to let those float off and get eaten by flipper, cudas or just plain floating away and dying. This is called 'limitsor restrictions', but it is really just culling! Plain and simple. Where do the 'experts' think these undersize snappers are going- Back to the bottom to grow up bigger? Nope- They're dying!
What we don't want is Government to get involved any further. All they do is spend our money on 'research' and then limit recreational limits. I don't have all the answers to the problem- but I think I have a better idea than most! I can damn sure tell you what isn't working- and that's the system now!
Also- the reason that imported shrimp and fish are increasing is not a reflection on the health of the fish populations, but rather a Governmentspearheaded program that frowns on American prosperity andrewards foreign product. There was a great post on this a few months ago that had documents and paperwork that supported such claims.
). I dont know why Im just now realizing this but shrimpers bycatch is a waste. Its obvious but I havent really thought about it. Watching Dirty Jobs, I see what they have to pull in (and kill) to get shrimp. Its crazy. I dont see how shrimping is legal. I know all this isnt new but I thought I'd bring it up again just to see what everyone thinks.
