NOAA "No-Go" zone meeting

Fishtech1 · Sep-22-2009, 12:17 PM

NOAA Fisheries Service listed the Southern Resident killer whales as endangered under the Endangered Species (ESA) on Nov. 18, 2005. The agency identified vessel effects, including physical interference and sound, as a potential contributing factor in the population’s decline.

The proposed regulations would set up, beginning in spring of 2010, a half-mile-wide “No-Go Zone” along the entire west side of San Juan Island from May 1 through the end of September where many types of vessels, including recreational anglers, would be prohibited from entering.

Public Meetings: The Northwest Region will hold public meetings on the proposed vessel regulations, below, so people can learn more about them and provide comments. The meetings will be:

Sept. 24, 2009, 7-9 p.m., Pier One Main Warehouse, 100 Commercial Avenue, Anacortes, Wash.

Sept. 30, 2009, 7-9 p.m., Seattle Aquarium, Pier 59, Seattle, Wash.
Oct. 5, 2009, 7-9 p.m., The Grange Hall, First Street, Friday Harbor, Wash.

Full-Pull · Sep-22-2009, 02:59 PM

Can't make it to Anacortes on 9/24.

But driving down fom Bellingham to Seattle on 9/30, with a couple of BD'ers.

Still have one open seat, if anyone wants a ride.

- Ted

monashee · Sep-22-2009, 03:39 PM

What NOAA is doing effectively shuts down the west side of San Juan Island for fishing. Will Rosario Channel be next? The Orcas use that too.
See this web site for more info.
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/Whales-Dolphins-Porpoise/Killer-Whales/ESA-Status/Orca-Vessel-Regs.cfm
I’ll be in Anacortes for the meeting.

Thrasher_1 · Sep-22-2009, 03:45 PM

It wouldn't stop at the West side of San Juans, and Rosario. It would go until it has fully taken a stronghold on the entire islands, treating them as a safe haven sanctuary for all the marine life.

We all need to strive to attend the meetings.

outtadablu · Sep-22-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrasher_1

It wouldn't stop at the West side of San Juans, and Rosario. It would go until it has fully taken a stronghold on the entire islands, treating them as a safe haven sanctuary for all the marine life.

We all need to strive to attend the meetings.

I intend to head up to the meeting in Anacortes on the 24th. It is inconvenient to make the trip, but if we don't all put aside some time now, your gonna have the whole summer to think about it sometime in the future when WDFG has "Special Fisheries Tag Drawings", where a few names are drawn each year to have the opportunity to go salmon fishing in the San Juans or the whole sound, or any where the Orcas MIGHT swim.

If you can find the time to fish, then you better find the time to protect what you have.

PoolMan · Sep-22-2009, 04:30 PM

Check out the So Cal MLPA thread to see something similalr going on down south and how we have reacted for good and bad.

J-Ship · Sep-22-2009, 05:16 PM

HA! What do you know, just in time for the meeting here comes the negative press for us....

Boaters Putting Orcas In Danger In South Sound - Seattle News Story - KIRO Seattle

cj6530 · Sep-22-2009, 06:41 PM

I was out fishing eagle point on Sunday and there were orcas all over the south end of the islands. In my opinion they were being harassed by boaters. I don't know if that the harassment contributes to their mortality rate but they were being harassed. They did not have any room to breath without a group of boaters breathing down their necks taking pics. This has to be stressfull for them. As well I did see a fisherman who had being fishing all day(eagle point) stop a 100 ft away from a pod snapping pics with his dog and chick next to him. I love to fish the area......but I also admit that boaters harass the whales. I don't think the area has to be closed to fishing to solve the problem. Instead I think there should be a ban on knowingly stopping/and or paying any attention, or simply boating with in a half mile of them.

Plus1 · Sep-22-2009, 07:12 PM

"You are highly encouraged to attend to better understand the proposal and have the opportunity to have your questions and concerns addressed. The public meeting is an ideal opportunity to underscore how the “No-Go Zone” would personally impact you and to educate agency staff about the light impact of recreational angling (trolling motors, low speeds, etc) on killer whales based on your own experiences. "

fishnazzi · Sep-22-2009, 07:49 PM

Hi Guys!!!! Planning on being at the Seattle meeting. Glad to see so many(more then 1 or 2) taking an aggressive stand. Love all the posts, it shows that guys are starting to think.

Sorry I have been kinda gone fished my ass of Fri-sun. Yesterday was kinda of a rough go but I'm almost healed up now. Hope to meet some of you at the Seattle meeting.

Thrasher_1 · Sep-22-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnazzi

Hi Guys!!!! Planning on being at the Seattle meeting. Glad to see so many(more then 1 or 2) taking an aggressive stand. Love all the posts, it shows that guys are starting to think.

Sorry I have been kinda gone fished my ass of Fri-sun. Yesterday was kinda of a rough go but I'm almost healed up now. Hope to meet some of you at the Seattle meeting.

Troy, what kind of boat were you in Sat/Sun? We saw someone that looked similar to you, but we didn't think it was you....or was it? 2 tone green boat. Older boat? We were going to

but we didn't know what that would get us.

fishnazzi · Sep-22-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrasher_1

Troy, what kind of boat were you in Sat/Sun? We saw someone that looked similar to you, but we didn't think it was you....or was it? 2 tone green boat. Older boat? We were going to

but we didn't know what that would get us.

I'm sure it was me..............ugly old green whore. Hell I'm looking at the picture of your boat , did we meet on the dock at pull out time on Saturday???