New laws threaten coast, fish
Dear Editor:
Are you aware that the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission [FWCC] is proposing to change the rules on the harvest of Spotted Sea Trout? [New rules would expand the season and double the catch limit]. If passed, the new “law” could possibly be the demise of the Spotted Sea Trout here in Florida.
Commercial saltwater fishing impacts Florida’s economy with over $1 billion annually and over 10,000 jobs. The numbers, both recreational and commercial, add up to one huge chunk of change for Florida annually and that, my friend, is a wonderful thing. But ask yourself, “Am I willing to put at risk the extermination of such a wonder fishery so that a chosen few can gain some quick cash in place of an industry that supports Florida with $5 billion in revenue every year? Am I willing to jeopardize one of the state’s largest tourism magnets and chance the destruction of some of the world’s most wonderful marine nurseries and estuaries so that a chosen few can make some quick cash? Is changing the rules worth the risk?”
Remember what happened to the Redfish stock in the 1980s due to commercial fishing over-harvesting? Redfish in the state of Florida were all but wiped out, and it took many years to bring the Redfish population back to healthy stock levels. Billions of dollars were lost and the fishing tackle industry took a monstrous hit. Not to mention the unknown amount of money spent on getting the stock back to present-day levels.
As recreational anglers, it is in our best interest to do everything we can to see that the rules are not changed in order to ensure the future of the Spotted Sea Trout Fishery. I strongly urge you to write the FWCC today and voice your opinion regarding this matter of great importance.
www. myfwc.com/contact/staff-contacts/senior-staff/commissioners
Capt. Danny Barrow
Director, Snook & Gamefish Foundation
Thank you – Pink Heals Tour
Dear Editor:
All of us at American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life for Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point & Hillsboro Beach, and Making Strides of Boca Raton want to thank the Greater Broward Firefighter Charities, Broward Fire-Rescue and BSO for bringing the Pink Heals Tour to our wonderful city. This tour brings us HOPE for the CURE.
We especially want to thank: BSO Fire Chief Neal De Jesus, Deerfield Fire Chief Chad Brocato and Sheriff Al Lamberti; their outstanding support staff including Doug Watler, Marisol Tambling, Debbie Rittinghouse, Courtney Palmer, Sebastien Locurto; as well as Carol Sjursen, Al Santana of CERT and the Explorers of the Fire Dept. & Police Dept. We also want to thank the Black Pearl Pipe & Drums Bagpiper for returning for our Luminaria Ceremony, along with Broward Fire & Rescue Ladder Truck to take that fabulous photo with all of us encircling HOPE.
Nona Breitenstein, Gordon Vatch, TJ Eagen, Karen Hardy, Lorraine Sylvia, Carlos Sanchez, & Patty Miranda
