One of the MAJOR obstacles to any management program in this state is transparency. It almost seems this is by design. To keep the three major players at odds with each other. Take the North of Falcon process for example. Why are the negotiations with the NT Commercial guys taken off to a separate room? Why are the Tribal negotiations done in private?

As long as the various groups appear to be doing things in secret, there will be distrust and suspicion. When we cant trust the other party, then the tendency is to assume the worst. I'm so tired of being sidelined by decisions made between the Co-managers and the NT Commercials that we had no input or recourse at all. I understand that their point of view is that we (recreational sportsmen) are not in it for a living. We don't rely on the fish for a livelihood, so in the big picture, we don't really count as far as how the "MEAT/MONEY" is managed.

There is no incentive, in fact, no reason at all that they should be transparent other than the conservation and well being of the stocks. But in reality, they will continue to pound the hell out of the stocks with the mindset that if "they" don't get the money from them, "someone else" will.

There is a movement to move recreational fishing to C&R. It seems wonderful and all warm and fuzzy to think by doing so we will be helping the stock recovery. But the sad truth is, the beautiful fish you gently handle and release unharmed swims away and gets tangled and dies in a nylon net! (or, that is the perception) so why not bonk it and put it in your freezer.After all, if you don't, someone else will!