Thoughts on CCA meeting tonight on state of Calcasieu fishery

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by jlincecum

Focus needs to be shifted from finding problems and pointing fingers to finding solutions for the problems

Right, but even recognizing certain phenomena as real problems necessarily includes implicit suggestions regarding responsibility for those problems.

Recognizing historical long term saltwater intrusion and land loss implicitly suggests fault with dredging such a deep and wide ship channel with inadequate mitigation strategies. Recognizing recent land loss and saltwater intrusion implicitly suggests poor weir management from 2005-2011.

Recognizing oyster reef destruction since 2005 implicitly suggests inadequate regulatory oversight by LDWF and LWFC as well as mistaken priorities by local conservation groups pushing other agenda items. It also implicitly suggests that local oyster harvesters have put profit over habitat conservation.

"Finding solutions for the problems" requires parties that have erred in past policies and priorities shift their focus and make concerted efforts to address the problems. The required shift in focus is unlikely for parties that remain in denial about past mistakes.

Real progress is unlikely if CCA and LDWF continue to focus on management by limit reduction when the real priority needs to be habitat conservation. We have a generation of anglers who have been deceived that reducing limits is a sound method of "doing something for conservation" when the preserving the habitat is much more important.