09-20-2006, 11:17 PM
It was nice to meet some more members at the RAC meeting last night and see how the process works. I went more to hear about the changes to hunting then fishing but wanted to stay and see how things work as there were no changes offered on any of the hunting issues.
I understand there needs to be procedures but if you can't make exceptions to the procedures why have the meetings and ask for input? The biologist for Yuba admitted that the only reason for no recommendation was that he didn't give it to his boss in time this spring. It sounded like they just didn't have the information early enough for the bigger bosses to consider so it was left out. No good reason not to open Yuba but then again no threat to the perch if it didn't so it was left out. When questioned the biologist said that the perch population was healthy and that anglers couldn't do much to dent it at all. I think that statement right there gave most of the board what they needed to know to vote.
I don't agree with the two members that voted no but respect their right to do so. I hope their votes were based on more then the new rules hadn't been followed. I also hope they didn't base their votes on a lack of a study. Studies are nice but not everything.
If Yuba is open to the taking of perch in 07 then the system worked and the people were heard. If it isn't opened up this year I think the system still worked but maybe the new deadlines for information need a little work so items aren't missed just because the question was asked later on.
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I understand there needs to be procedures but if you can't make exceptions to the procedures why have the meetings and ask for input? The biologist for Yuba admitted that the only reason for no recommendation was that he didn't give it to his boss in time this spring. It sounded like they just didn't have the information early enough for the bigger bosses to consider so it was left out. No good reason not to open Yuba but then again no threat to the perch if it didn't so it was left out. When questioned the biologist said that the perch population was healthy and that anglers couldn't do much to dent it at all. I think that statement right there gave most of the board what they needed to know to vote.
I don't agree with the two members that voted no but respect their right to do so. I hope their votes were based on more then the new rules hadn't been followed. I also hope they didn't base their votes on a lack of a study. Studies are nice but not everything.
If Yuba is open to the taking of perch in 07 then the system worked and the people were heard. If it isn't opened up this year I think the system still worked but maybe the new deadlines for information need a little work so items aren't missed just because the question was asked later on.
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