You can submit comments here: https://p2a.co/cRLh3Im
MUCC 1-pager here: https://mucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/5108OppositionOnePager-3.pdf
This is what I sent to my Rep:
Hello Representative Coffia,
My Name is Ben Lamb, and I live (IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER)
I am writing today to express my opposition to HB 5108, which I noticed that you are a cosponsor of. While I appreciate Michigan's commercial fishing heritage and the jobs they provide (especially in our district), I am very concerned with the allowance of commercial activities over-taking the recreational aspect of fishing, which could lead to an over-harvest and a massive reduction in other economically important sectors such as tourism and charter fishing.
This bill would also bring back gill-netting, a practice that has been banned since 1970 due to its indiscriminate killing methods. That means that people using gill-nets will be taking every species regardless of what the target species is. In contrast, recreational anglers must obey slot limits, creel limits and a host of other regulations to ensure that the species is managed correctly. The threat of overharvest is very real with gill-nets.
Economically, Michigan - and Leelanau County - benefits far more through our commercial sport fishing charters, guides and outfitters, as well as our hospitality industry, restaurants and so many other businesses that exist in our tourist economy dependent county. The sport fishing economy of Michigan is currently around $2.3 billion dollars per year, versus the $5.4 million commercial fishery. It doesn't seem practical to put a major economic driver in jeopardy while eliminating hard won conservation gains relative to managing fisheries in a sustainable, thoughtful manner.
The market hunting and fishing days of old depleted our wildlife resources. It makes no sense to go back to those days, especially after the decades of hard work to restore those fisheries and enhance them, the massive expenditure of angler dollars, and constant vigilance that our state wildlife managers and local hunters and anglers employ to ensure that our current bounty can be passed on down to the next generation.
Rather than move a contentious bill forward, I encourage you to help pull back on this effort and find some common ground between the commercial fishery people and the recreational people who fund and support the resource that helps create Northern Michigan's fantastic quality of life that we all love and cherish.
Thank you for your service, it is greatly appreciated!
MUCC 1-pager here: https://mucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/5108OppositionOnePager-3.pdf
This is what I sent to my Rep:
Hello Representative Coffia,
My Name is Ben Lamb, and I live (IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER)
I am writing today to express my opposition to HB 5108, which I noticed that you are a cosponsor of. While I appreciate Michigan's commercial fishing heritage and the jobs they provide (especially in our district), I am very concerned with the allowance of commercial activities over-taking the recreational aspect of fishing, which could lead to an over-harvest and a massive reduction in other economically important sectors such as tourism and charter fishing.
This bill would also bring back gill-netting, a practice that has been banned since 1970 due to its indiscriminate killing methods. That means that people using gill-nets will be taking every species regardless of what the target species is. In contrast, recreational anglers must obey slot limits, creel limits and a host of other regulations to ensure that the species is managed correctly. The threat of overharvest is very real with gill-nets.
Economically, Michigan - and Leelanau County - benefits far more through our commercial sport fishing charters, guides and outfitters, as well as our hospitality industry, restaurants and so many other businesses that exist in our tourist economy dependent county. The sport fishing economy of Michigan is currently around $2.3 billion dollars per year, versus the $5.4 million commercial fishery. It doesn't seem practical to put a major economic driver in jeopardy while eliminating hard won conservation gains relative to managing fisheries in a sustainable, thoughtful manner.
The market hunting and fishing days of old depleted our wildlife resources. It makes no sense to go back to those days, especially after the decades of hard work to restore those fisheries and enhance them, the massive expenditure of angler dollars, and constant vigilance that our state wildlife managers and local hunters and anglers employ to ensure that our current bounty can be passed on down to the next generation.
Rather than move a contentious bill forward, I encourage you to help pull back on this effort and find some common ground between the commercial fishery people and the recreational people who fund and support the resource that helps create Northern Michigan's fantastic quality of life that we all love and cherish.
Thank you for your service, it is greatly appreciated!
