08-14-2003, 07:52 AM
[#000099][size 2]Tired of seals stealing your fish? [/size][/#000099]
SAN DIEGO - For anglers tired of seals stealing their fish, relief might be on the way - someday.
Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.11th.), chairman of the House Resources Committee, will hold a hearing Aug. 19 in San Diego about the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), focusing on the seal population.
Pombo, whose district covers a portion of the California Delta, will hear testimony on the impact of the exploding populations of California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals.
In particular, testimony will focus on recreational and commercial fisheries, marinas, public beaches, and private recreational and commercial vessels at anchor.
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. at the Shedd Auditorium of the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham St.
The Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife & Oceans of the House Resources Committee will conduct the hearing. While there will be no general public testimony, anyone interested is encouraged to submit written testimony and to attend the hearing.
Robert Fletcher, president of the Sportfishing Association of California, is among those invited to speak.
“California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals have thrived under the protection of the MMPA, and are more and more creating problems for citizens on docks, bait receivers, beaches, and with the sportfishing and private boating community,” Fletcher said about the situation.
“Congress must understand that we have our backs to the wall and need their help in developing ways to co-exist with these increasingly aggressive hordes of seals and sea lions. Making federal dollars available for development of non-lethal deterrents would be a great start. Marine-mammal protection needs to give way to marine-mammal management,” he added.
In addition, the public record will remain open for 10 days after the hearing, and e-mailed comments will be accepted during that time at the House Resources Committee address at [url "mailto:resources.committee@mail.house.gov"][#0000ff]resources.committee@mail.house.gov[/#0000ff][/url]
Along with Fletcher, those invited to testify include Ken Franke Jr., owner of the sportfishing boat Outer Limits and a lieutenant with the San Diego Harbor Police; Buck Everingham, owner of Everingham Bros. Live Bait in San Diego; Steve Rebuck, fisheries consultant from Central California; Frank Emerson, head of the Fisheries Alliance of California, headquartered in Monterey, and Dr. Brent Stewart, marine-mammal biologist with Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute.
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Wayne Gilchrist (R-Md.1st.), in a letter inviting Fletcher to testify, stated that “the subcommittee is interested in hearing testimony regarding these marine mammals and the types of interactions occurring with humans. Have injuries occurred to people or the marine mammals? Can measures be taken to reduce these interactions?
“Have the increased marine-mammal populations and their needs for haulouts and rookeries led to the loss of access to public areas or private property? What effects, if any, have these increased marine-mammal populations had on recreational and commercial fishing operations? Have these increasing populations of marine mammals had any effect on other marine species? What type of actions, if any, should Congress take to address these issues?” he added.
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SAN DIEGO - For anglers tired of seals stealing their fish, relief might be on the way - someday.
Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.11th.), chairman of the House Resources Committee, will hold a hearing Aug. 19 in San Diego about the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), focusing on the seal population.
Pombo, whose district covers a portion of the California Delta, will hear testimony on the impact of the exploding populations of California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals.
In particular, testimony will focus on recreational and commercial fisheries, marinas, public beaches, and private recreational and commercial vessels at anchor.
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. at the Shedd Auditorium of the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham St.
The Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife & Oceans of the House Resources Committee will conduct the hearing. While there will be no general public testimony, anyone interested is encouraged to submit written testimony and to attend the hearing.
Robert Fletcher, president of the Sportfishing Association of California, is among those invited to speak.
“California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals have thrived under the protection of the MMPA, and are more and more creating problems for citizens on docks, bait receivers, beaches, and with the sportfishing and private boating community,” Fletcher said about the situation.
“Congress must understand that we have our backs to the wall and need their help in developing ways to co-exist with these increasingly aggressive hordes of seals and sea lions. Making federal dollars available for development of non-lethal deterrents would be a great start. Marine-mammal protection needs to give way to marine-mammal management,” he added.
In addition, the public record will remain open for 10 days after the hearing, and e-mailed comments will be accepted during that time at the House Resources Committee address at [url "mailto:resources.committee@mail.house.gov"][#0000ff]resources.committee@mail.house.gov[/#0000ff][/url]
Along with Fletcher, those invited to testify include Ken Franke Jr., owner of the sportfishing boat Outer Limits and a lieutenant with the San Diego Harbor Police; Buck Everingham, owner of Everingham Bros. Live Bait in San Diego; Steve Rebuck, fisheries consultant from Central California; Frank Emerson, head of the Fisheries Alliance of California, headquartered in Monterey, and Dr. Brent Stewart, marine-mammal biologist with Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute.
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Wayne Gilchrist (R-Md.1st.), in a letter inviting Fletcher to testify, stated that “the subcommittee is interested in hearing testimony regarding these marine mammals and the types of interactions occurring with humans. Have injuries occurred to people or the marine mammals? Can measures be taken to reduce these interactions?
“Have the increased marine-mammal populations and their needs for haulouts and rookeries led to the loss of access to public areas or private property? What effects, if any, have these increased marine-mammal populations had on recreational and commercial fishing operations? Have these increasing populations of marine mammals had any effect on other marine species? What type of actions, if any, should Congress take to address these issues?” he added.
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