Blue Crab Industry Design Team

[Crabbyd]

Big L. & C-Hawk, if at all possible you need to attend these BCDT meetings. I know it may not always convenient but your voices need to be heard. Like I said in my previous post, I have attended these meetings since May (as soon as I knew about them) and the deck is stacked against part-time guys. I'm willing to except one of the two at large seats to represent part-time guys, if enough people want me too, but either way more LCC license holders need to be at these meetings.

I feel there should be a LCC member on the team.  When push comes to shove no one will look out for the LCC's like a LCC card holder.  I have heard too many times about part timers don't belong in the business and that only full timers (TFL's) should continue to crab commercially.  This definitely is something to consider when casting your vote.   

[Crabslayer]

Big L. & C-Hawk, if at all possible you need to attend these BCDT meetings. I know it may not always convenient but your voices need to be heard. Like I said in my previous post, I have attended these meetings since May (as soon as I knew about them) and the deck is stacked against part-time guys. I'm willing to except one of the two at large seats to represent part-time guys, if enough people want me too, but either way more LCC license holders need to be at these meetings.

And over a year ago when I was yelling about "Catch Shares" and for you LCCs to get involved I was called "chicken little."   

[reds]

And over a year ago when I was yelling about "Catch Shares" and for you LCCs to get involved I was called "chicken little."   

Let's face it....Little you ain't.

[genecrabman]

Let's face it....Little you ain't.

Or Chicken SHAT..............

[Mr. Breeze]

Thanks to the many who sent the Authorization to Represent.  Those of you who also sent contact information will recieve a letter from me this week.  Some only gave name, and those who I knew how to contact on the net have recieved emails.  For those who I have no way of contacting, here is what I sent

   Thanks for your ‘authorization to represent’.  Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you sooner, but you know how time is during the crabbing season.  I hope you are catching well.

A quick update on the design team.  At the August meeting, considerable time was spent discussing how the team could become more representative of the fishery as a whole and not just represent the associations.

It was decided that EDF would send one of those nice postcards to every license holder, explaining that there will be 2 at-large seats added to the team, and asking for the license holders to write in the name of the person that they would like to see represent them on the board.  The two people with the most write-ins will fill the two openings.

The postcards will be sent out this week, hopefully.  I ask that you will write my name in and send it back.  I’d really appreciate it if you can recommend me to any other commercial guys that you happen to know or crab near.  I think it’s very important that the independent crabbers have some representation on the design team, to make sure that the little guy is not left out to dry.  I’m concerned that the associations may continue to try to ‘stack the deck’ by instructing their members to write in the name of an association member so that the team continues to be just association members, and does not represent us fairly.  The department has insisted that the new seats be opened to allow all license holders the opportunity to be represented, but did not go as far as to insist that those who filled the seats be independents.

I thank you for your continued support, and wish you a crab on every bait this fall.


Best Regards,
Richard

For those who have no idea about who I am,  I have attended and commented at every meeting of the design team.  I am a Tidal Fish Advisory Commissioner, sit on the TFAC/sfac penalty work group, sat on the crab pot buoy color work group, and have a seat at the Blue Crab Industry Advisory Committee.

I am a Baltimore County crabber who retails his own catch and limits his catch reports by harvesting only premium, rock solid hard crabs.  I am not affiliated with any watermen's association, and am concerned that I and other unaffiliated crabbers have no direct representation on the Design Team.
 

My postcard came in the mail today.  For those that are interested, please write in my name, Richard Young, and send it back.  Elect someone who has been to all the meetings and is actively involved

[Islander]

For those who haven't been able to attend the meetings here is a link with summaries; http://watermenway.com/meetings/meeting-1/

[flounderpounder]

I feel there should be a LCC member on the team.  When push comes to shove no one will look out for the LCC's like a LCC card holder.  I have heard too many times about part timers don't belong in the business and that only full timers (TFL's) should continue to crab commercially.  This definitely is something to consider when casting your vote.   

i know some tfl holders that only crab once or twice a week....if that.....and some are even from here in PA so not all tfl's are in it to make a living

and im pretty sure alot of those 6000 licenses are being held by less than 6000 people i know a few that have 2-3 licenses a man can only be on 1 boat at a time

[reds]

i know some tfl holders that only crab once or twice a week....if that.....and some are even from here in PA so not all tfl's are in it to make a living

and im pretty sure alot of those 6000 licenses are being held by less than 6000 people i know a few that have 2-3 licenses a man can only be on 1 boat at a time

Maryland Law is one license in one fishery. People may tell you they have more then one license, but it is in others name.

[Islander]

And over a year ago when I was yelling about "Catch Shares" and for you LCCs to get involved I was called "chicken little."   

If you had been attending the meetings (including tonight's) you would know that the team is not in favor of "Catch Shares".....

"Statement from the Design Team (9/7/11 Design Team Meeting)

The concept of catch shares has been studied and discussed at length, and the design team
has made the determination that catch shares will not work in our fishery and we are moving
on to other blue crab management alternatives. The blue crab fishery in Maryland is unique on
the Chesapeake Bay and other management alternatives are being explored by the Blue Crab
Design Team." http://watermenway.com/

If you get elected to one of the at large seats, I hope you find time to attend future meetings....

[genecrabman]

You guys better ask EDF to leave...Thats all they believe in.....check them out, CATCH SHARES is all the Know...And OWE'MALLEY has paid them to be there, I think the writing is on the WALL as long as they attend the meetings....JMO


Have the EDF Group offered anything other than A Catch share Program?

Work this out among "IN-STATE" People, EDF is NO GOOD! For Watermen!  JMO AGAIN!

[Big Liar]

I agree 100%.  I replied to their website with the same msg and also wrote it on the voting postcard.  The problem is that if you read the minutes from the first couple of meetings:  It appears that EDF is the only thing that matters.  The DNR encourages Maryland crabbers to work with EDF, but if they choose not to work with EDF - then the crabbers are encouraged to go take a hike.  (Not the other way around)

[genecrabman]

I agree 100%.  I replied to their website with the same msg and also wrote it on the voting postcard.  The problem is that if you read the minutes from the first couple of meetings:  It appears that EDF is the only thing that matters.  The DNR encourages Maryland crabbers to work with EDF, but if they choose not to work with EDF - then the crabbers are encouraged to go take a hike.  (Not the other way around)

Grant Money keeps these guys  RICH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check  some of the Sites...It's all about Politics and BUTT KISSING............check the Sea Grant Sites...The same Names keeping popping up time and time again........The Waterman will be pushed into a corner and  in the end be BLAMED for what EDF does...Thats the way things will work...
Once they get Catch Shares, it will be very easy to reduce the catches year after year until you won't be able to make and money at all...Look what the State of Maryland has done to the Oyster Bottoms..........They'll take Crabbing away just as fast and easy,if you Watermen allow them too........If you know any Snapper/Grouper or Black Sea Bass Fishermen, ask them how shares work......Most of them are out of Business............JMO

[Crabslayer]

Grant Money keeps these guys  RICH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check  some of the Sites...It's all about Politics and BUTT KISSING............check the Sea Grant Sites...The same Names keeping popping up time and time again........The Waterman will be pushed into a corner and  in the end be BLAMED for what EDF does...Thats the way things will work...
Once they get Catch Shares, it will be very easy to reduce the catches year after year until you won't be able to make and money at all...Look what the State of Maryland has done to the Oyster Bottoms..........They'll take Crabbing away just as fast and easy,if you Watermen allow them too........If you know any Snapper/Grouper or Black Sea Bass Fishermen, ask them how shares work......Most of them are out of Business............JMO

Gene, it's not "Catch Shares" anymore.  It's Alternative Fisheries Management.  Same concept new name since they took heat when congress defunded catch shares.

Btw, Tom...remind me when my boat is sinking and I can't get to my life vest not to flag you down for assistance.  I'd rather drown then to accept help from you especially for not knowing what happened to me last week.

[SlickCam]

Any word on the voting and who is going to be added to the design team?  Also, anyone buying the message on watermanway.com from the design team about not pursuing catch shares??? I'm just skeptical I guess.  I'm not opposed to change, but catch shares are not the answer for us.   

[Mr. Breeze]

Any word on the voting and who is going to be added to the design team?  Also, anyone buying the message on watermanway.com from the design team about not pursuing catch shares??? I'm just skeptical I guess.  I'm not opposed to change, but catch shares are not the answer for us.   

Agreed that catch shares will not work in the MD Blue Crab fishery.  There is room for improvement in the management of the fishery, however, and pieces of different programs from around the world can be looked at and evaluated.  No word yet on the at large winners, but te votes are being tallied.

[reds]

Any word on the voting and who is going to be added to the design team?  Also, anyone buying the message on watermanway.com from the design team about not pursuing catch shares??? I'm just skeptical I guess.  I'm not opposed to change, but catch shares are not the answer for us.   

I heard our buddy Gene from NC, got a mention as an addition to the design team. The powers that be said no, to even tempered.

[genecrabman]

I heard our buddy Gene from NC, got a mention as an addition to the design team. The powers that be said no, to even tempered.

I would asked for the EDF Group to be Kicked Out at the first Meeting, Reds............Then we could discuss something more reasonable..As long as they're a "Part" of the Gang, thats what I'm sure they want...And thanks for the Mention Guys.........

[Mr. Breeze]

Agreed that catch shares will not work in the MD Blue Crab fishery.  There is room for improvement in the management of the fishery, however, and pieces of different programs from around the world can be looked at and evaluated.  No word yet on the at large winners, but te votes are being tallied.

Thanks to all who sent the postcard back with my name on it.  Got a call today saying that I was elected to one of the at-large seats.  Danny Beck got the other one.

[rdbeard]

Congrats Rich. What will you do with the rest of your spare time? Just kidding. I know you do alot to be part of the decicions being made for comm. crabbers and the industry. just say no to catchshares and any managment plan that will use those control dates and catch history that DNR has been pushing for.

[reds]

Thanks to all who sent the postcard back with my name on it.  Got a call today saying that I was elected to one of the at-large seats.  Danny Beck got the other one.

Hmmmm. Danny Beck belongs to the MWA.

Independent Huh?

Sure covers all the bases. 6000 licenses. 14 members to represent 15 percent of them.

[overdrive]

Im a lcc holder, how do i get on bord? Anyone with any info please email me!

[rdbeard]

Too late to get onboard but anyone can attend the meetings and make comments i think, go to watermansway.com.

[Mr. Ray III]

Im a lcc holder, how do i get on bord? Anyone with any info please email me!

Haha the voting happend a WHILE ago.  If your just tuning in, I don't think many people would want you to represent them. 

[Summertop]

Haha the voting happend a WHILE ago.  If your just tuning in, I don't think many people would want you to represent them.  

He has no vote, and the representation he gets or is so called going to get is shat, especially when cuts happen again  or shares happen, then it will be everyone on that board  holding the "big boy license" driving the bus right over every LCC holder all over again. 

[decapod]

There was a kid that wanted to crab.  Did the app. program   with a  crabber  n his area.  got a lic.   then the guy he had worked for tore his boat up n nov. with his pots out. the kid lends the guy his boat to use for a month no strings   no charge      to help him   this spring the 18 yr old  kid  gets  a visit from  the state of MD because  he was tryn to sell his softcrabs out of the house.  Can you believe that it was the guy he let use his boat  that he helped   that put the state on him    and called the state   over  and  over to try to run this kid out of bussiness.  This bothers me very much.