I am taking liberty to communicate Rob Miller's EXCELLENT summary (BAM rep to NRC Workgroup for proposed MI FO-219 changes) from the 9/15/11 NRC meeting. He presented a cogent and well-constructed comment in support of the proposed changes which will be of great benefit to all bowfishing sportsmen. However, there is a new wrinkle that could delay or even cancel the proposed changes! Please read the ALL of the following, and GET ACTIVE! If you do submit comment to the NRC, be sure to copy Rob so he will be well-informed for upcoming NRC meetings!
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"Members,
First and foremost I would like to thank the 4 of you that I am aware of that took a minute or too out of your schedule to offer insight to the NRC on this issue, without input this decision could go any direction. The input that I was made aware of from our 4 members was very well put together and well received, again Thank you.
I did make the trip to Saulte Ste Marie, but only for the public comment period which started at 5:30 PM. Through briefings from MUCC and the fisheries department this is what was learned;
-Michigan Darkhouse Angling Association has spoke out against this resolution, this is why;
-MDAA is not happy with the bodies of water (I believe29) that are still listed per FO219 as off limits to spearing. They are working toward full implementation of spearing and at this time are not willing to accept this proposal as a compromise.
-MDAA has gone beyond the warm waters committee and NRC to the legislature. Again they are asking that this is not accepted as listed currently with these restrictions. It sounds like there is some political pressures being put upon Director Stokes to not approve this until the restrictions are fully debated and or explained.
-Speaking with the MDAA, they have stated their intent is not to hold our portion back, but in reality that is what is currently happening.
-My understanding is that this will come again for discussion at the October and maybe November NRC meetings before it can hopefully be voted on at the December meeting. I believe these meetings are in the Lansing area and again are open to the public.
Much like the MDAA I am not 100% satisfied with these changes as we are still restricted on trout waters, which makes no sense. I am still asking members to speak to this point through a letter or whatever to our NRC members. Nonetheless we as BAM are supporting this FO219 because it is a great improvement to what we have been used to. This is with hopes of addressing the trout area closures at a future time. Our position has been to support these changes and hope for implementation before next years season is scheduled.
To follow are comments I offered at this meeting:
Thanks for this opportunity, Rob Miller with Warmwaters Resources Committee and Bowfishing Association of Michigan commenting on FO219.
As warmwaters member I would like to offer support to the FO219 proposed changes. This committee has been working with all sides of these issues and is offering here a good simplified compromise to spearing regulations by reducing the number of restrictions and opening/extending opportunities while trying to maintain a few lakes with strict take regulations. I am aware that no sides have received exactly what they have asked for, that’s what a compromise is. My expertise is not with pike nor musky. My main interest is with roughfish bowfishing. Now I would like to talk as a representative to the Bowfisng Association Michigan BAM.
BAM is in full support of these FO219 proposed changes. As with other interests we are not being offered a homerun with this, as this order still restricts rough fish bowfishing on trout waters. We fully intend to continue to work through committee to further reduce these restrictions in the near future. The removal of rough fish is by all counts beneficial to our waterways and helps enhance the habitat of our desired game fish. Non game fish compete for resources and habitat, cause destruction of substrate and interfere with aquatic ecosystems by the depletion of items such as vegetation. We strongly feel that our historical season limitations are/were based on pike and musky issues and we were generalized in as rough fish bowfishing was not well represented. All research we can find clearly shows that there is absolutely no scientific research that goes against removal of these roughfish. Research actually shows benefits of removing these fish from our waterways. I have with me information from Lake Wingra (Wisconsin) which clearly illustrates the damage and turbidity carp cause our waterways. The photo offered is a 2 acre enclosure in a 300 acre lake after 1 year of no carp in the enclosure.
BAM together with MUCC has been working on, and three times since 2001 unanimously passed resolutions to simplifying and loosening restrictions on bowfishing.
Currently BAM is working with Mary Benson MDNR on getting our youth involved. (thanks to Bran Gilson)
BAM is receiving requests from several lake associations to host competition shoots on their lakes to help rid them of these destructive rough fish. BAM very much applauds MUCC, MDNR, Warmwaters Committee in these proposed changes and we look forward to their implementation. We are hopeful that you folks that are NRC members and Director Stokes will support this. Furthermore we are hopeful that if questions or concerns exist we will be made aware of them so that we can help with the clarification and solution.
Thanks
BAM rep. Rob Miller
Amy Trotter (MUCC) also spoke in support of this. The entire meeting can be viewed via MUCC at
www.mucc.org the public comment was at the end of the meeting.
Comments I received from the commissioners were from commissioner Brown who asked:
-What happens to these fish after removal?
My answer: Some are buried, some are worked into the ground for fertilizer, some are sent to a fertilizer plant for processing, very few are ate by humans.
-What happens to the mercury in these fish when they are brought from the waterways and deposited on the ground, what environmental effects does this bring?
I had to step back on this and offered to answer at the next meeting. ----I NEED SOME HELP HERE?
Above is my best synopsis of where we are and what is coming in the immediate future.
As always, get involved or settle for the consequences,
Thanks,
Rob Miller
If you’re unable to attend the meeting but wish to submit written comments on Agenda items, please write to: Natural
Resources Commission, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909 or e-mail:
whippled1@michigan.gov . If you would like
further information or would like to address the Commission, please contact Debbie Whipple at 517-373-2352 or e-mail:
whippled1@michigan.gov . Persons registering on or before the Friday preceding the meeting will be allowed up to five
(5) minutes for their presentation. Persons registering after the Friday preceding the meeting or at the meeting will be
allowed up to three (3) minutes. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations should contact Debbie Whipple.
Look for this Agenda and other Natural Resources Commission items at:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnre and click on
the “Natural Resources Commission” Quick Link."
