I'm glad to hear so many plan to attend. We need as many sportfishers there as possible. I was at the Anacortes meeting and intend to stay active through it all. This time I'll be helping take notes of as many comments as possible. I had written comments I intended to read but got there and learned we'd only have 2 minutes behind a curtain in front of a video camera. I had more to say then 2 minutes worth. I've read the environmental assessment and found a priority list of benefits/threats. Next go around they could accurately describe the economic impact but it's a lower priority than protecting the Orca's The charters and others are still put out of business. I made sure my testimony and email comments talked of how sportsfishers and fishing charters provide the benefit of education. We volunteer and complete habitat enhancement projects and our charter clients (mine are mostly non-boat owners or city dwellers) see first hand things like sealyons, seals and Orca's.) NOAA staff actually made a note and said, 'Good point, education'. That's because education is a high priority. It's a lot harder to justify destroying what their goals say they are trying to create. A couple people at the last meeting told of poor or harrassing behavior by Soundwatch. Anyone with such observations, please put it in your written comments. Soundwatch is being privately promoted to have police like enforcement capability and they can write you up for a $10,000 fine. This proposal will fine you if an Orca changes directions to come check you out. You didn't plan to be in it's path. Imagine paddling a kayak fast enough to stay 200 yds away...Ka-ching $10K. The Orca's don't stay in the no-go zone. There's an association in the San Juan Islands, very well funded, who have sponsored this no-go zone. They also want a no wake zone through out the islands that didn't become part of this proposal. They promote their assoc. and Soundwatch to both have full police type authority. They are also excluded from provisions of this proposal. NOAA has also not answered the question of how they determined treaty tribes to be exempt from Federal regulations. How did they make that determination? Are they using a court precedent?
Hope to see you at the Seattle meeting.
Deb Stevens/Fishcatcher Charters