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NINE MILE HOLE &RED FISH BAY 'NO MOTOR ZONES' DEFEATED
RFA-TX Says JFK Causeway Becomes Texas Elitist's Next Target
(1/18/2012)
The
Texas chapter of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA-TX) is
actively following a critical issue of concern for anglers there,
specifically the designation of the JFK Causeway area as a State
Scientific Area. According to RFA-TX chairman Jim Smarr, the
initiative is not being done for scientific reasons, but simply
for the benefit of what he calls "elitists" attempting to
implement 'No Motor Zones' in Texas waters through backdoor
efforts related to former Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD) staff.
"For the
last 10 years, a movement to restrict motorized traffic in our bay
systems has been the dream of the former TPWD Director of Coastal
Fisheries, Dr. Larry McKinney, and a single wade fisherman," Smarr
said, explaining how some personal goals to restrict a specific
area of prime fishing area at the Nine Mile Hole has become
bundled in efforts to protect sea grass.
"Ten
plus years ago Dr. McKinney started to talk about the importance
of sea grass in our coastal ecosystem. A Sea Grass Task Force was
formed, with key, handpicked participants. The task force was told
over the course of many meetings, that sea grass in Texas was
being badly damaged by prop scars, and that sea grass, once
damaged by prop scars, would need seven years to recover. Florida
studies were widely cited. Unfortunately for Dr. McKinney, the
substrate in Florida is vastly different from Texas, a fact which
he failed to share with the task force. This total disregard for
facts was glaring to many," Smarr said.
"An
expert from Florida, Jim Anderson, from Sea Grass Recovery, a
company whose entire energy has been directed towards repairing
prop scars, who at the time had been contracted by Texas Parks and
Wildlife, and had advised them of his findings, confided in me
that sea grass recovery in Texas could be between one, and three
years at most, due to our nutrient rich substrate," Smarr added.
In
recent years, efforts have been made to push for a State
Scientific Research Area (SSRA) by Coastal Fisheries Division of
Texas Parks and Wildlife, with the results of the initial Sea
Grass Task Force study leading to restricted areas at Nine Mile
Hole and Red Fish Bay. Smarr said a 'No Motor Zone' provision was
enacted for the Nine Mile Hole, though "Nine Mile Hole SSRA"
eventually expired under the sunset provision in Texas law.
"The Red
Fish Bay SSRA was left in place, but without a 'No Motor'
provision," Smarr said, adding "due to the hard work of many
concerned individuals, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners
realized that the data being given them about sea grass damage
recovery time frame was simply not true."
Efforts
to carve out 'no motor zones' have continued in recent years,
which Smarr says have been divisive of the recreational community
at large in Texas.
"A
simple fight between a wade fisherman and a fellow boater in Nine
Mile Hole, has spawned years of efforts to lock motorized traffic
out of some of our most productive flats. Sea grass protection has
been used as the excuse to grant a wish list for a very small user
group, focused on a private area, with 'No Motor Zones' much like
high fence deer hunting, but on public land," Smarr said, adding
"no concern has been given to the 900,000 saltwater anglers who
are good stewards of our bays and estuaries."
RFA-TX
believes strongly that little or no consideration has been given
to how such a small group could have such drastic impacts on the
way we are allowed to access our bay systems throughout the entire
Texas coast, particularly with the lack of real and independent
science showing just cause for the restrictive access.
"We at
RFA recognize the importance of protecting and maintaining our sea
grass in a healthy condition, and we will fight to protect it from
genuine threats of damage," Smarr said, adding "we also recognize
the potential misuse of sea grass issues, such as SSRA and Limited
Impact Fishing Areas (LIFA) by those who would seek to cite false
sea grass protection issues as a means to deny angler boat access
to various areas of our bays and estuaries. There is more and
healthier sea grass along the Texas coast now, than ever before."
"If TPWD
is serious about protecting sea grass, then let us work together
with the Texas Legislature, and submit a bill that would protect
sea grass statewide, with a reasonable fine for the wanton
destruction of sea grass," Smarr said, adding "TPWD can conduct
scientific research without a Scientific Research Area
designation. We feel TPWD Coastal Fisheries is using the
designation to achieve further restrictions such as 'No Motor
Zones' now disguised as the new, more politically correct Low
Impact Fishing Areas pushed for by a very small user group."
"There
is no valid, scientific reason for Scientific Research Area
designations," Smarr said while adding "in an effort to solve the
sea grass issue once and for all, we would like to see all
Scientific Research Area designations removed with a State Wide
Protection Provision for wanton destruction of sea grass. To
implement ten plus SSRA's to appease a small user group wanting
'No Motor Zones' to implement 'Low Impact Fishing Areas' is not
acceptable to the Recreational Anglers of Texas," he added.
RFA-TX
members are encouraged to
click here to contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
and fill out the simple public comment form before the January 24,
2012 deadline.
"The
silent majority of our 900,000 Texas saltwater anglers need to
voice our opinions on this issue, since the powerful elite
minority is certainly being heard by the Commission," Smarr added.
You can
also email the Director of Coastal Fisheries, Robin Riechers, a
response to SSA's and No Motor Zones disguised as the new
environmental left's softer, gentler, term 'Limited Impact Fishing
Area or LIFA. The statement by TPWD that no LIFAs (No Motor Zones)
can be implemented without a State Scientific Research Area or
State Park designation is a very important consideration to
remember.
Contact
Robin Riechers, Director of Coastal Fisheries at
Robin.Riechers@tpwd.state.tx.us.
Go to
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/201201_jfk_scientific_area.phtml
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