Tampa Bay's seagrass destruction by boaters is inexcusable and irresponsible. There are two thoughts about stopping this destruction. The majority side says do nothing and leave the responsibility for changing boater behavior to law enforcement. The other side says take action with a management plan that's positive and meaningful. Cost associated with enforcement in today's financial climate is a "pie in the sky attitude," not reality. To those guides and sport fishermen who support enforcement over management, policies stopping outboard destruction of seagrasses amounts to saying, "We care little about the bay's underwater habitat, the nurseries for juvenile fish." ...more

February 4, 2009

Citing statistics that nearly a third of seafood species have declined 90 percent worldwide, then blaming it on recreational fishermen in the United States is so preposterous that it's not even worth talking about. Well, it wouldn't be if the suggestion did not continue to rope in general news reporters, as evidenced by the Associated Press report published Saturday in The Tampa Tribune. ...more

July 9, 2008