1@32 founder, Ross Squire, ponders the efforts that have successfully led to the Atlantic States new regulations and reduced striped bass harvest.
By Ross Squire
[dropcap]I[/dropcap] write this still on a high from New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announcement that NY had opted to select 1@28″ as the regulation for the entire recreational sector. Depending on how Rhode Island decides on their 2015 regulations, we could conceivable have every state from Maine to New York electing to go with a one fish bag limit for the entire recreational sector. No special treatment for the party boat and for-hire fleet; no additional fish; nothing but an even playing field for all members of the recreational sector. This really is an incredible result and demonstrates to the ASMFC, that even when offered a conservation equivalency back door, responsible state fisheries managers can choose what is best for the fish they manage – at least they did in this case.
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I run a consulting business and one of the things that is important is looking back on our projects to determine what worked well and what didn’t. This time of reflection is important to continually improve our business operations and to develop best practices to help ensure that our future services are effective and satisfy our clients. In that same spirit, it is wise to do the same with the 1@32 Pledge.
In recent days and weeks there have been a number of kudos sent my way and for those I am thankful and grateful. Truth be told I am a surfcasting addict and the 1@32 Pledge was formed out of utter disgust at the inaction of the ASMFC and fisheries managers to act. What started as a one man crusade, resonated with many others, and quickly grew and took on a life of its own. So while I appreciate the kudos, there are so many that deserve credit and acknowledgment too. The problem is that there are too many to mention and that if I try I know that I will leave some people out that should be mentioned. So let me just say my own personal thanks to those of you that shared your guidance and experience in how to deal with fisheries managers, those who wrote incredibly informative articles and blog posts, those that donated products, time and services, those that offered advice, those that took on leadership roles in states up and down the coast (mostly up), and those that made phone calls, wrote letters, attended meetings, and sent emails. You know who you are and I say thanks.
I will touch on some areas where I feel the Pledge fell short in a future blog post, but for now, here are some things that I think were critical in gaining the momentum we did in pushing for real harvest reductions:
Having a clear consistent message rooted in the facts – striped bass are on the decline and we need to kill less fish. The 2013 ASMFC provided the data we needed. Our message was rooted in the facts and best available science which gave it credibility.
Keeping the conversation alive – it was important to provide updated and accurate information on what was happening and what was needed. This not only helped to keep people informed but also engaged and motivated. It was also important to present the ideas and words of others in the know and to keep the distractions to a minimum. The writing of Charlie Witek and John McMurray were incredibly effective and helpful.
Leveraging social media – Facebook and social media is what drives the Pledge. We are in a new age of activism and the ability to leverage the reach and power of Facebook and other social media outlets played and will continue to play a critical role in getting out the message and organizing people.
Keeping the conversation civil – with very, very few exceptions, all conversations were civil. For me, some of the greatest contributions came from people on the other side of this debate. The insight into their mindset and concerns was extremely helpful in crafting our message and our talking points.
Checking egos at the door – let’s face it, we all have egos. However I have seen other conservation groups get derailed by egos and personal agendas. We had none of that in the year and a half that the Pledge has been in existence. The message of the Pledge aligned perfectly with the CPR (Catch Photo Release), SOS (Save Our Stripers), My Limit is One, NYCRF, and other groups.
Appreciation for the other side – I oppose the arguments that I have heard from the for-hire industry and those not favoring real harvest reductions. But I came away from the ASMFC Mystic meeting recognizing that those on the other side truly believe that the way that they see things is correct. I also wonder how I would be reacting if my mortgage payment and ability to provide for my family was potentially impacted by new regulations. I don’t have to agree with those opposed to the 1@32 Pledge but it does help to understand their motivations.
Perseverance – while there was incredible support for the idea of the Pledge early on, we also ran into a number of people and organizations that questioned whether the Pledge was a good thing for fisheries management or worth the time and effort in continuing. Sometimes you just have to push ahead.
I am not sure where the Pledge goes from here. The Pledge was formed as in interim step until the ASMFC got their act together. It appears to me that some things still need to get done:
we need to make sure that ASMFC state representatives truly reflect the opinions of the public they serve (yes, I am talking about NJ)
we need to get more effort focused on seriously reducing poaching in the commercial and recreational sectors, and
we need to look at the changes that are necessary to see that it never takes this long for the ASMFC to act in the future, and
we need to do more to appeal to the young anglers just entering our sport so that they will serve as responsible stewards of the resource. They are our future.
Only time will tell if the new striped bass regulations are sufficient to support the rebuilding of the striped bass fishery. Above all else, we need a few strong young of year classes to help infuse more new fish into the fishery.
I will leave you with one more thought…COME ON RHODE ISLAND!
