Johnny Zero

[Crabslayer]

https://foxbaltimore.com/newsletter-daily/baltimore-county-expands-crab-pot-debris-removal-begins-oyster-shell-recycling#

Johnny Zero has his priorities screwed up.

[Hawkeye]

when I looked at the photo - he kind of looks like that disbarred lawyer - Michael Cohen.

[Mr. Ray III]

I friggin hate how these people think ghost pots keep catching.  If a dirty pot catches so good, why does every crab potter work so hard to keep their pots clean?  They must be power washing every day or running them through a dip tank just because its so much fun. 

[Mikie]

Evidently, the people in charge don't pay attention to the information that the actual people who are recovering these derelict crab pots report. Everyone I've ever talked to who has been involved in the recovery program says the same thing, the pots are either falling apart or so covered in marine growth that nothing will go in them. It may be nice to remove the trash from the bottom, but it really doesn't appear to have much of an effect on the survival of the crab population.

[Seaweed]

Let's remove all that fantastic oyster and YOY fish habitat

[Crabslayer]

Let's remove all that fantastic oyster and YOY fish habitat

Hey I was going to say the same thing!

[blueswmer]

You have to vilify them before you can regulate them, This isn't about conservation this is about control, Just ask the mullet Gill netters in Florida they will fill you in!

[Wolfetone]

Wait a minute. Somewhere between them being active pots and derelict ghost pots, they have to be catching and killing creatures. How long from when a pot is lost, till it loses it catching ability? 1 month, 3 months? a year? How fouled to they have to be to no longer inadvertently trap wildlife? Seems there are plenty of examples of derelict traps with recent crabs. https://chesapeakebaymagazine.com/vims-to-lead-abandoned-crab-pot-program-awarded-largest-grant-in-its-history/

[Wolfetone]

What was wrong with the data in this study? https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/research/regional-impact-assessment-derelict-fishing-gear-chesapeake-bay

Results
This study found that derelict crab pots in both Maryland and Virginia compete with active crab pots, killing approximately 3.3 million blue crabs annually, and capturing more than 40 non-target fish species. Using a model over a six-year period from 2008-2014, the researchers found that targeted removal of derelict crab pots in high-density fishing areas led to an estimated increase in harvest of 38 million pounds across the Chesapeake Bay. This 23.8% increase resulted in estimated gains of $33.5 million. Over the six year period, $4.18 million were spent to remove 34,408 derelict pots, resulting in increased gear efficiency for the active commercial fishery and an additional 29.8 million pounds in harvest valued at $21.3 million. This figure includes the payment to the participants and the purchase of the equipment (side scan units) they used to locate the derelict gear. It does not include funding to collect, coordinate, and analyze the data.

[Mikie]

Here's one of the problems from your study: *Estimated figures were created using a statistical model over a six-year period from 2008-2014. Monetary values are in 2014 dollars."

Most of these "Studies" are made up of figures developed from "Statistical Models" that don't necessarily have any solid backing from actual , physical examination, of the situations in question. Maryland DNR is currently re-evaluating it's Winter Crab Dredge Survey methodology, because the figures they have been producing for a number of years don't match with reality. Just another example of the old computer situation, "Garbage In - Garbage Out".

[Crabslayer]

Wow Mikie, you sound like you know what you're talking about.  Maybe you oughta work for DNR. 

[Mikie]

Wow Mikie, you sound like you know what you're talking about.  Maybe you oughta work for DNR. 

At this point in my life I'm not looking for ANY job. Just about any government connected job is too corrupted by politics to honestly be effective. Took me a lot of years to finally realize just how deep politics pervades just about every facet of our lives.

[Mr. Ray III]

Wow Mikie, you sound like you know what you're talking about.  Maybe you oughta work for DNR. 

If he sounds like he knows what he is talking about, he's overqualified. 

[Crabslayer]

If he sounds like he knows what he is talking about, he's overqualified. 

Good point Gwasshoppa. 

[vw_buggsy]

I don't see much harm in removing them. I've seen much more stupid initiatives get a lot of funding. I doubt they have as much impact as stated, but I also doubt they have 0 negative impact. Garbage is garbage and if somebody wants to do some cleaning up I'm generally for it.