BajaNomad

Commercial Fishing pressure at BOLA

vacaenbaja - 4-28-2014 at 11:46 AM

Has anyone heard that that there is a rising concern amongst
the panga fishing guides that the commercial fleet is
wiping out the fish before they even reach the bay. Also that
the commercial catch size is mostly comprised of smaller fish?
Last year when I was there I heard complaints that the
commercial fleet was north of the bay wrapping up all of the
large fish before they ever made their way down to the bay.

[Edited on 4-28-2014 by vacaenbaja]

Mula - 4-28-2014 at 11:48 AM

I don't know about BOLA but in Lopez there is talk of a sport fishing co-operative to control the sport fishers.

Fishing is changing - both commercial and sport in Mexico.

mtgoat666 - 4-28-2014 at 12:27 PM

well, the commercial fishing pressure has changed things very much over the past 80 years, concern this year is about the same as concern 50 years ago, just a different spin on same-old-same-old. the damage was done many decades ago, and continues on, due to unrelenting fishing pressure.
current fishermen are just chasing whatever swims/sells in a damaged ecosytem. Fish one economic species until it is mostly gone, then fish the next economic species, repeat when necessary.
For an interesting history of fishing pressures/changes in SOC, you should read this recent (2014) book: Telling Our Way to the Sea: A Voyage of Discovery in the Sea of Cortez; by Aaron Hirsh

Osprey - 4-28-2014 at 02:21 PM

Not that any of us can do much about it but grumbling is a good start. The problem is with the dialogue >> what kind of commercial fishing? If the grumblers drive charter pangas for sport fishing, do they (you) mean huge seiners taking millions of tons of every kind of fish in the sea or does the term include larger charter boats or perhaps special pangas using hooks, longlines and/or nets (those who sell the fish to commercial buyers)? Too many synacdoches muddies already murky water all over the SOC where and as the pressure moves.

vacaenbaja - 4-28-2014 at 03:01 PM

Unfortunately for BOLA Sportfishing is the life blood of the town. Not much
doing in ranching or agriculture. Not enough water for that or expansion.
I hope they get a grip on their resouce management.

watizname - 4-28-2014 at 04:08 PM

I think the culprits are the huge seiners taking the millions of tons of everything that swims. No limits. Just quotas. I bet if the SOC was closed to the seiners for a few years, the fishing would come back gangbusters. It has happened on the Calif coast, with halibut, white sea bass, and now the rockfish. Even the panga guys like Pompano posted a while ago with truckloads of Sierra couldn't make a dent if the seiners were shut out. My 20 centavos worth. :coolup:

freediverbrian - 4-28-2014 at 06:06 PM

Every one likes to point at the other guy, and say there is the problem . when we all must look in in mirror and say what can i do to help. Helping with conservation or legislation. it is very frustrating in baja with no enforcement of the law. no answer here just me trying to see the big picture

Osprey - 4-28-2014 at 06:44 PM

Brian, I don't think there is a freediver mirror or a tin boat mirror. I think the factory ships are the culprits and if we all focus on that, make our voices heard, (given the legal and legitimate platform) it might help the fishery in ways we can't even imagine.

woody with a view - 4-28-2014 at 07:05 PM

right on, Qsprey.


now, how to get started affecting change?

Russ - 4-28-2014 at 08:22 PM

I know most of you do your fishing from a boat so the concern you have is just. However many in the SOC remember when you could catch shore fish without any effort. The local gill nets have made that a quest now.

Floatflyer - 4-28-2014 at 08:42 PM

If this type of pressure is just getting to BOLA you should consider yourself lucky you have missed the netters this long. We get the pleasure of hearing trawlers all night long way too many times per month in front and INSIDE the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park.

Hook - 4-28-2014 at 08:54 PM

The only thing more distressing than guys like freediverbrian equating the sportfishers with the commercial fishermen is the effects of the commercial fishermen themselves.........if that makes any sense.

We sporties could probably take ten times our limits and still not scratch the surface of the effects of the commercials.

mtgoat666 - 4-28-2014 at 09:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
The only thing more distressing than guys like freediverbrian equating the sportfishers with the commercial fishermen is the effects of the commercial fishermen themselves.........if that makes any sense.

We sporties could probably take ten times our limits and still not scratch the surface of the effects of the commercials.


every little bit counts.

think global, act local.

Skipjack Joe - 4-28-2014 at 10:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by freediverbrian

Every one likes to point at the other guy, and say there is the problem . when we all must look in in mirror and say what can i do to help.



Absolutely agree with you.

The fact that one form of fishing removes more fish than the other does not mean that sport fishermen shouldn't practice conservation. And none of those guides do.

watizname - 4-29-2014 at 10:37 PM

It's up to the individual to do the right thing. Stick to the limits and don't take more than you can use. Some for the freezer, for later, as long as you're within the limits is acceptable I believe. :cool:

whistler - 4-29-2014 at 11:12 PM

trawlers fish rockfish,gill netters fish halibut and white seabass.Seiners take a lot but not these.

grizzlyfsh95 - 4-30-2014 at 08:12 AM

Brilliant policy. Subsidize the net boats, and expand into the entire SOC; while at the same time promote tourism. The tourist spends thousands of dollars to come down here to catch a few game fish, and is disappointed, and will not come back to his overpriced hotel room on the corridor, or to the overpriced taxis and restaurants.
They are interrupting the food chain, and eventually even the Marlin and Sailfish will stop coming into SOC. (Not to mention the huge mess they create with the puffer fish bi-kill, and the trash they throw from the boats).

Hook - 4-30-2014 at 08:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by grizzlyfsh95
Brilliant policy. Subsidize the net boats, and expand into the entire SOC; while at the same time promote tourism. The tourist spends thousands of dollars to come down here to catch a few game fish, and is disappointed, and will not come back to his overpriced hotel room on the corridor, or to the overpriced taxis and restaurants.
They are interrupting the food chain, and eventually even the Marlin and Sailfish will stop coming into SOC. (Not to mention the huge mess they create with the puffer fish bi-kill, and the trash they throw from the boats).


Amen, brutha, amen.

freediverbrian - 4-30-2014 at 05:09 PM

When I commented on this thread it was not my intention to start a us against them war of words . Or to sound like a ex-fish killer smoker, drinker,ect holier than thou," now I have found the light".No , I wanted to to just raise a question about a problem we all can see in the depletion of our fisheries. It is not a question i pretend to have the answers to . But with some discussion and a little conservation we can effect a change.

Osprey - 4-30-2014 at 05:24 PM

Brian, you care and you let forum members know you wish things would change. That's more than a reason to post your thoughts here. The dialogue you started has us all asking questions about how we see it, what we know about it, what can be done. Don't stop.

chuckie - 4-30-2014 at 05:26 PM

Brian, I feel you are well intended, but without the Mexican Govt, being on board, we are all peeing in the wind...It all helps, of course....I have lived in Baja for +30 years....Have signed petitions, carried same to La Paz....Argued, swore, done it all..Money talks...we aint got it....

freediverbrian - 4-30-2014 at 05:46 PM

Thirty years ago I never thought I would see beach clean ups. Baby steps

mulegemichael - 5-1-2014 at 07:15 AM

those shrimp draggers aren't to be discounted either.....taking EVERYTHING from the sea!