Lobster Punch Card in the Works

[lobzila]

There is a new proposal for a punch card similar to the Abalone card used by the divers in Northern California. I just finished reading it and it is for assesment of the impact recreactional fishing on lobsters. And with the recent surge in popularity of lobster fishing (Hooping and Diving), I wonder if limit changes are next? The only part I didn't care for was the filling out of the card before you went out. It is supposed to go into effect at the start of next season. But with any new regulation, it will take some break in time.
What do you guys think?


http://www.oal.ca.gov/pdfs/notice/42z-2007.pdf

[Burndog]

It's a effort to help DFG find out what's going on out there... What types of devises we are using and how effective.

Reference:

Section 29.91 — Spiny Lobster Report Card
Requirements for Ocean Waters
A Spiny Lobster Report Card is proposed to collect
needed information on recreational catch, effort, and
gear used in the recreational lobster fishery. The Department
presently has no effective method to assess
recreational take levels or differences in gear efficiency
in this fishery, and this new report card will collect vital
recreational catch and effort data to enhance assessment
of the spiny lobster resources and fishery.
This is a new section to contain the proposed new
spiny lobster report card requirement. The proposed revisions
are outlined below:
1) All individuals must have a Spiny Lobster Report
Card in their possession while fishing for or taking
lobster.
a) In the case of a person diving from a boat, the
report card may be kept in the boat, or in the case of
a person diving from the shore, the report card may
be kept within 500 yards on the shore.
2) Individuals must complete and return the card
pursuant to the regulations in this Section and
Section 1.74.
3) Prior to beginning fishing activity, the cardholder
must record the month, day, location and gear code
on the first available line on the report card.
4) When the cardholder moves to another location
code, or finishes fishing for the day, he or she must
immediately record on the card the number of
lobster kept from that location.
5) In the event an individual completely fills in all
lines and returns a Spiny Lobster Report Card, an
additional card may be purchased.


Could mean conical hoop specs change.

Seems this years pressure has increased dramatically as more people get into hoop netting. Next year, even more shoulder to shoulder hoop netting. I expect the large increases in hoop netting popularity are causing concern to the DFG who is lacking in man power to effectively monitor if the pressure is too extreme.

[progress_1]

Im sure there will be more than just that.

[Sushi Grade]

Im not oppossed to it. It's used in many other fisheries and deer hunts with great success.
It will provide a great deal of real time information and statistics on the health of the population and the sustanability of the fishery. Let's just hope that the information provided by these cards helps sustain the fishery and is not used in a negative way by the DFG and their comrades, such as closures.
If you consider the growth and poularity of this recreational fishery now adays something like this was bound to happen and may have even needed to happen to help protect our lobster fishing in the future, future being a "KEY" word.

[aeon]

This is exactly the TOOL they need to setup our new MLPA's lets all make sure we turn in our gps secret spots as well

I would be all for this if it was to be used to scientifically monitor the lobster harvest but for some reason i do not trust them.

Bill