|
|
|
|
|
Fishing Politics in Washington, DC
The fact that Blue Crabs are disappearing from the Chesapeake is a sad inconvenience, but campaign contributions from developers and polluter's lobbyists make up for their demise. Just keep the media away! I have worked with Skippers and Captains for over 30 years and know most would sooner be out fishing than dealing with the politicians and professional lobbyists in Washington, DC. Recreational Anglers have to rely on local activists, and few understand the workings of Washington. Most politicians know this and tend to promise them everything, knowing that soon they would leave DC and go back to their boats. It's hard telling a hard working Charter Skipper that despite assurances submitting a Bill does not mean it will ever see light of day again. Most get lost in the Committees. Fishing and the sea are not the usual successful career path to Congress, from Law School, thus few in Washington have any understanding of the issues at stake.
The desire to increase the commercial fishing catch to satisfy a mushrooming population, the desire to satisfy tens of millions of recreational anglers, and the desire to conserve fish stocks decimated by pollution, and over fishing is an ongoing battle in Washington, DC and in Legislative Assemblies around the country, and around the world. Let us not forget that the fish in the sea do not understand national borders, nor recognize the high tech fishing fleets, especially from Asia ripping through their habitat. The ability to optimize commercial catches has outstripped natures ability to reproduce. The destruction of spawning grounds and nursery feeding areas, a byproduct of Urban sprawl and the runoff of toxic chemicals from industry and agriculture. The battle lines are drawn, and have been drawn for over a century, but the decline in fishing stocks is now at crisis levels. Commercial Fishermen need employment, and bigger catches to satisfy the ever increasing demand for fish, Destinations need the income of Fishing Tourism, and the Recreational Fishermen need their peace and quiet to enjoy angling. The ever vocal environmental lobby would prefer both these groups take up knitting, or needlepoint and let the fish breed and multiply in peace. Welcome to Washington, DC!
|
Washington politicians are masters at agreeing with constituents, and visiting delegations demanding change, and doing nothing. They are part of a huge money making power machine that has only one feared predator, the media. Media coverage means gaining, or losing votes and political contributions. It also shines a public spotlight on their activities, or lack thereof. The slow death of the commercial fishing industry and recreational fishing does not fill them with Shock and Awe as would a major Pentagon contract for their district, so they spend their time listening and manipulating to get those Pentagon dollars.
In the 1970's I went to sea on many kinds of fishing boats to see first hand the problems, and safety requirements for clothing and survival equipment. It helped that we had a Survival School, Servicing Depot, Manufacturing operation and a global string of Distributors. Similar experience was gained in Offshore platforms, support vessels and even Oil tankers. This culminated in writing the British Dept of Industry Report on Survival Equipment, as well as many presentations and courses. In the 1980's and 1990's experience was added in leisure and sports fishing from The Great Barrier Reef, to Florida. No Crab fishing off Alaska, but these days I can watch it on Discovery Channel.