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Old 08-12-2010, 09:41 AM   #1
GandyGirl
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Inside the Gulf Council

Let me preface this post by telling you that I am not a spear fishermen, I am a kayak angler. I understand the contention that surrounds your relationship with the Gulf Council and I hope I can help change that.

I want to inform you all of my recent employment with the Gulf Of Mexico Fishery Management Council. I’ve been hired as the fishery outreach specialist tasked with the goal “to improve attitudes toward and increase awareness of the Gulf Council, and to increase participation in the Council process.” (GMGMC Draft Communications Plan, 2005) My stated responsibilities with the Council include:
• Assists in communicating the Council’s management goals, strategies, and activities to the public as well as soliciting the involvement of the public in the development of these management goals, strategies, and activities.
• Organizes and conducts outreach and education via stakeholder meetings and workshops on various fishery management topics. May also present information at fishing forums, to fishing groups, and other related activities
• Plans outreach and education programs to communicate complicated issues, as well as conducts program evaluation and analysis.
• Assists in providing a communication link between the Council and its constituents. This is accomplished using a wide variety of mechanisms that insure the public is aware of and involved in Council actions and decisions. Incumbent interacts with diverse interests on a region-wide basis.
• Incumbent communicates complex technical information pertaining to fisheries management, and explains how fishermen are affected by Council actions.
• The incumbent plays a key role in determining how the public is affected by various fishery management plans, and perceives and understands the Council process
(Position description Document, 7/2010)

Basically, the Council has hired me to help close the gap between the decision makers, and the people that are affected by them.
I started working for the Council at the beginning of this month, and I have been busy formulating a strategic plan that will connect and inform the public to the council process, findings, and happenings. I am also working on finding ways to encourage public involvement in the creation of council recommendations and priorities.
Through archived forum threads, and personal conversations, I have begun to gain a greater understanding of the public’s perceptions of the Council. I have identified a number of different questions that seem to linger about regulations, council procedures, data collection, and fishery management plans. In response to the immediate informational needs am planning to write a blog that will highlight my experiences as a fishermen learning about the Gulf Council. I am also brewing up an informal focus group composed of local recreational fishermen to help me further identify communication issues with the end goal of fostering a better relationship between the Council and the public.
I understand that my position with the council automatically makes me one of them. I hope that over the course of time I can earn your trust and respect through a continued dedication to closing the gap between Council and fishermen. Stay tuned, and expect to see a lot more of me.
Enjoy the water.
Your Chum,
Emily Muehlstein (Gandy Girl)
Fisheries Outreach Specialist
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Old 08-12-2010, 09:59 AM   #2
SpearMax
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Smile Re: Inside the Gulf Council

Quote:
Originally Posted by GandyGirl View Post
Let me preface this post by telling you that I am not a spear fishermen, I am a kayak angler. I understand the contention that surrounds your relationship with the Gulf Council and I hope I can help change that.

I want to inform you all of my recent employment with the Gulf Of Mexico Fishery Management Council. I’ve been hired as the fishery outreach specialist tasked with the goal “to improve attitudes toward and increase awareness of the Gulf Council, and to increase participation in the Council process.” (GMGMC Draft Communications Plan, 2005) My stated responsibilities with the Council include:
• Assists in communicating the Council’s management goals, strategies, and activities to the public as well as soliciting the involvement of the public in the development of these management goals, strategies, and activities.
• Organizes and conducts outreach and education via stakeholder meetings and workshops on various fishery management topics. May also present information at fishing forums, to fishing groups, and other related activities
• Plans outreach and education programs to communicate complicated issues, as well as conducts program evaluation and analysis.
• Assists in providing a communication link between the Council and its constituents. This is accomplished using a wide variety of mechanisms that insure the public is aware of and involved in Council actions and decisions. Incumbent interacts with diverse interests on a region-wide basis.
• Incumbent communicates complex technical information pertaining to fisheries management, and explains how fishermen are affected by Council actions.
• The incumbent plays a key role in determining how the public is affected by various fishery management plans, and perceives and understands the Council process
(Position description Document, 7/2010)

Basically, the Council has hired me to help close the gap between the decision makers, and the people that are affected by them.
I started working for the Council at the beginning of this month, and I have been busy formulating a strategic plan that will connect and inform the public to the council process, findings, and happenings. I am also working on finding ways to encourage public involvement in the creation of council recommendations and priorities.
Through archived forum threads, and personal conversations, I have begun to gain a greater understanding of the public’s perceptions of the Council. I have identified a number of different questions that seem to linger about regulations, council procedures, data collection, and fishery management plans. In response to the immediate informational needs am planning to write a blog that will highlight my experiences as a fishermen learning about the Gulf Council. I am also brewing up an informal focus group composed of local recreational fishermen to help me further identify communication issues with the end goal of fostering a better relationship between the Council and the public.
I understand that my position with the council automatically makes me one of them. I hope that over the course of time I can earn your trust and respect through a continued dedication to closing the gap between Council and fishermen. Stay tuned, and expect to see a lot more of me.
Enjoy the water.
Your Chum,
Emily Muehlstein (Gandy Girl)
Fisheries Outreach Specialist
Welcome Emily!

I personally am very glad the Council has decided to hire you to help facilitate better communication between that government body and the fishermen and women on the Internet and out in the field. I think it is a good move on their part. Quite a few of the problems of the past can be attributed to poor communication.

I understand you want to learn to Spearfish and are a certified diver, but have just not pulled a speargun trigger. I am sure members of this board can remedy that challenge for you.

Just remember these words of wisdom:

I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.

Chinese Proverb


Good luck in your new position! Tony

You seem to have a pretty good attitude toward fishing in this photo.

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Old 08-12-2010, 12:15 PM   #3
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

Quote:
Originally Posted by SpearMax View Post

Just remember these words of wisdom:

I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.

Chinese Proverb
I can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take a butcher's word for it.

-Chris Farley in "Tommy Boy"
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Old 08-12-2010, 12:39 PM   #4
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

Quote:
Originally Posted by inletsurf View Post
I can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take a butcher's word for it.

-Chris Farley in "Tommy Boy"
Yes, Steve, but you MUST do in order to understand, so now, get busy.
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Old 08-12-2010, 04:59 PM   #5
Louis Rossignol
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

Quote:
Basically, the Council has hired me to help close the gap between the decision makers, and the people that are affected by them.
I started working for the Council at the beginning of this month, and I have been busy formulating a strategic plan that will connect and inform the public to the council process, findings, and happenings. I am also working on finding ways to encourage public involvement in the creation of council recommendations and priorities.
Through archived forum threads, and personal conversations, I have begun to gain a greater understanding of the public’s perceptions of the Council. I have identified a number of different questions that seem to linger about regulations, council procedures, data collection, and fishery management plans. In response to the immediate informational needs am planning to write a blog that will highlight my experiences as a fishermen learning about the Gulf Council. I am also brewing up an informal focus group composed of local recreational fishermen to help me further identify communication issues with the end goal of fostering a better relationship between the Council and the public.
I understand that my position with the council automatically makes me one of them. I hope that over the course of time I can earn your trust and respect through a continued dedication to closing the gap between Council and fishermen. Stay tuned, and expect to see a lot more of me.
Enjoy the water.
Your Chum,
Emily Muehlstein (Gandy Girl)
Fisheries Outreach Specialist
Honey, good luck,

For the last 15+ years the Gulf Council has told us/fishermen, we don't really give a crap what your public comments are, we are going to screw you on your fish limits anyway and when we're not doing that, we're going to close your season for no apparent reason. We will also stoop to lying and distortion of any statistics we have to achieve this goal.

The Gulf Council has never taken the word of the only group that actually knows what's under the water and for instance, when I tried to participate in the process, I was thrown out for bucking the system. They didn't want to hear that regulations needed to be relaxed and instead insisted on a Catch Share system for the recreational sector.

IMHO, the only way you can change the public's attitude to the Gulf Council is to fire everyone on it and start over, with people that know our waters, fishermen/divers. Make all sectors equal, because God put the fish in the Gulf for everyone, not just a select few.
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Old 08-12-2010, 06:22 PM   #6
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

Gandy Girl
As you can see there is quite a bit of resentment from fishermen and spearo's. We need to look at the fact that you are here and that is something; stick with it and good luck. The council has to change how it does business that is for sure. We need real science not just politics. OH yeh! I have been diving the central gulf since the 1960's. The population of most species is pathetic. The Council let them trap and long line it to death while running the small bandit guys out of business. Why even their mothers wouldn't trust their decisions is the red snapper issue. Never in 50 years have I ever seen anything like the numbers and size of American Red snapper. It is the most populous specie including bait on most sites. To not acknowledge this is absurd. You have a hard job. The real problem is NOAA comes under the Department of Commerce. Individuals should have first rights over commercial interest but it has not been the case.
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Old 08-13-2010, 07:56 AM   #7
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

What we need is for the council to listen to regular folks. I understand exactly what the council is doing and i think they communicate it pretty well. all you have to do is look at the allocations and regulations.
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Old 08-13-2010, 08:17 PM   #8
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

If you can convince us that real science dictates policy you should have a bright future.
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Old 08-14-2010, 12:00 PM   #9
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

What might be more helpful here is to look at this new hire as a positive thing instead of all of the obvious negative posts.
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Old 08-14-2010, 02:22 PM   #10
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

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Originally Posted by diverlen View Post
What might be more helpful here is to look at this new hire as a positive thing instead of all of the obvious negative posts.
Agree, but I doubt that any posts here will do any good. It appears that we were spammed by the new government employee. However this is Spam I welcome
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Old 08-14-2010, 05:53 PM   #11
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

Quote:
Originally Posted by diverlen View Post
What might be more helpful here is to look at this new hire as a positive thing instead of all of the obvious negative posts.
I would not call this lady's self introduction SPAM .

I do think that her presence here should serve as a pretty strong reminder that we need to be conservative with the material that we post on this board. After all, a government agency IS watching, this board (and others).

I doubt she can do much about past history; I see no reason why we should not welcome the apparent attempt by a governental agency to use this forum to solicit feedback and input, especially from members that posses a wealth of personal knowledge and historical persepective.
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Old 08-14-2010, 06:59 PM   #12
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

jfjf:

I agree with your post above. This is the first time that someone from the Gulf Council, or their staff, has actually reached out to the spearfishing community. Emily seems sincere, and I think we should not only give her the benifit of the doubt, but make an attempt to work with her.

The Gulf Council has been a difficult group to deal with. I spent a number of years on their Reef Fish Advisory Panel--progresive is not a term I would use to describe the Gulf Council. Consider the fish trap issue--Florida banned wire fish traps in 1980--it took the Gulf Council, and NMFS, over a quarter of a century (27 years) to finally "phase out" the gear that was obviously so destructive to many of us. I could go on and on with this, but I think you all get my point.

However, times may be changing. The fact that the Gulf Council has hired a fishery outreach specialist says much. It is refreshing to see a new face that is reaching out. Maybe, Emily can make a difference. I hope that you all give her a chance. Don
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Old 08-15-2010, 06:28 AM   #13
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

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Originally Posted by Summerland Key View Post
jfjf:

I agree with your post above. This is the first time that someone from the Gulf Council, or their staff, has actually reached out to the spearfishing community. Emily seems sincere, and I think we should not only give her the benifit of the doubt, but make an attempt to work with her.

The Gulf Council has been a difficult group to deal with. I spent a number of years on their Reef Fish Advisory Panel--progresive is not a term I would use to describe the Gulf Council. Consider the fish trap issue--Florida banned wire fish traps in 1980--it took the Gulf Council, and NMFS, over a quarter of a century (27 years) to finally "phase out" the gear that was obviously so destructive to many of us. I could go on and on with this, but I think you all get my point.

However, times may be changing. The fact that the Gulf Council has hired a fishery outreach specialist says much. It is refreshing to see a new face that is reaching out. Maybe, Emily can make a difference. I hope that you all give her a chance. Don
Thanks Don for this enlightening post. Better than I ever could have said it.
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Old 08-15-2010, 07:56 AM   #14
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

Is there a peer of yours at the MAFMC?
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Old 08-15-2010, 10:19 AM   #15
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Re: Inside the Gulf Council

Welcome

A step in the right direction!!

If you a re serious about reaching out to us, I hope you can take my comments as constructive, I apologize for the heated tone, this issue is very near and dear to my heart, and it seems we have been fighting a losing battle.


Where are you based ?
I'd be happy to take you out and show you the ropes, as best as I can ( we mostly freedive) from ft pierce to islamorada..



What the council needs to know, for my perspective, is that although the commercial sector is loudest and has the most leverage and money for representation. The public is a sleeping giant, however inderect their influence on the public as whole is, both monetarily and for the health of the society as a whole, they will someday, when the shenanigans they have been upto are eventually revealed, there will be no escaping the shame and disgust that will be self evident once the truth comes to the surface, which it always does... I am convinced this agency is more broken, than most..... their attempt to reach out to us, is revealing in that they may finally be seeing the writing on the wall....wait untill it becomes a defening roar, it will happen!!


Why are there no trip limits on the commercial guys?


Would it not have made more sense, instead of closing grouper alll together, for EVERYONE why not close ONLY commercial harvest down during those months and cut the bag limit by 50 percent and even increase the minimun size

Why is GROUPER still allowed to be sold at market during the closure???

Regarless of where it was harvested, does this not leave much room for abuse??????

This would surely help the stock, whileat the same time leaving some room for the recreationals to have some kind of fairness. and wont zap all the recreational $$$ dollars out of the economy


Why are the public input meeting mostly held on weekdays, during work hours????? I contend that its because they favor paid participants , as in lobbiests for the commercial sector, the "public" aspect is somewhat of a sham... The nature of being recreational goes hand in hand with having a real job to pay the bills.


So after all these years, They finally decide to hire one person to laise with us? why not use us to help truly determine the state of the fisheries, instead of some so called scientist like craptree, with an obvious horse in the race( ha owns or is closely linked to commercial longline boats). a joke to be sure, but a step in the right direction



Why are Lobster fisherman allowed to drop 50 pound wooden bulldozers strung on a line by the thousands onto the reef? have you personally seen the scars these leave on live bottom after a big storm, not only that every time the drop them whatever they land on is history....Corals, Forget it,
this is what the everyday fisherman doesn't see

The single best thing to happen to fisherman was the nett ban

What part did the council play in that????


I hope, I did not come across as too harsh, but that reality as I see it....

I look forward to more dicusion and any insight you can provide

thanks for the intrudiction

welcome to the board

please excuse our beligerant fishreman ways
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