Obama to ban sport fishing?
Written by Thomas Berry | | opinion@toledofreep.comAre you among the millions of Americans who enjoy fishing? Enjoy it while you can.
An ESPN story bodes ill for the future for fishing in America.
Has some disaster befallen our waters and our fish? No. Rather, disaster may soon befall your liberty to fish.
President Obama is being pressured by environmentalists to ban by executive order sport fishing in America. Although the involvement in the proposal of a bureaucracy called the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force implies that the ban would apply only to oceanic waters, it may well also extend to all coastal areas, lakes and inland waters – including the Maumee River and the Great Lakes.
Although the Administration ostensibly invited public comment on the proposal – an invitation that was apparently never publicized to the public and that has now been closed – the only input that seems to have been welcomed was from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and other hardcore environmentalist and animal rights organizations.
These organizations are unequivocal in their advocacy for the purported rights of animals and the limiting of human activity, including fishing, that they think infringes on those purported rights. But rigging so-called input on proposed actions to favor desired outcomes is how this Administration does business.
The news comes soon after the announcement that the federal government would fund action to protect the Great Lakes fishing and boating industries from the invasive Asian Carp. Now that action is being taken to save the fisheries from this threat, the Administration in typically uncoordinated style wants to kill the fishing industry itself. But beyond the irony, the implications of this proposed ban are startling.
The IFAW and WWF have already shut down bear hunting in northern Ontario, with disastrous results to the local economies. Now the President is open to killing a recreational industry that employs an estimated million Americans. This from a president who ostentatiously claims to have a laser-like focus on jobs! The laser he’s focusing on these jobs is one of destruction. Rather than protecting jobs of which his supporters sniffingly disapprove, he would rather expand the foul symbiosis of addiction to government welfare and votes to keep those who are doling out the handouts perpetually in power.
Businesses that cater to sport fishing, from boat sales and charters to equipment vendors to motels and campgrounds, will shut down. State and local governments will lose untold millions of dollars in critically needed revenues from taxes and license fees, even as they face soaring costs from shortsighted financial decisions and unfunded mandates forced on them from on high.
But the worst blow will be to your liberty. Even if you do not fish, this executive order will have frightening implications for your rights.
In theory, our government is supposed to protect our rights and represent our interests. But with the stroke of a pen, the President will ban a perfectly legal and safe activity that millions of people peacefully enjoy, entirely within their rights. And he will do it at the demand of extremists to whom your liberty and your rights are immaterial. All that matters to the WWF, IFAW and other such extremist groups is the forced implementation of their agenda, regardless of the damage done to people’s rights, employment and happiness. Fishing causes fish distress, therefore it is politically incorrect, therefore it must be banned.
What happens next? If this ban is signed into law, look for your right to keep and bear arms to be eroded. Guns are politically incorrect, therefore they too must be banned. (By the way, the old chestnut about only criminals having guns if guns are outlawed is true. That’s why violent crime has increased whenever law-abiding citizens are disarmed.)
Efforts will be made to criminalize all hunting. After all, if fishing must be banned because it stresses out a crappie, how much more must hunting be banned for bringing pain to a deer? Better, apparently, to let the deer among us suffer disease, pestilence and starvation due to the effects of overpopulation until we can reintroduce wolves and cougars to prey on them – and on our pets, if they are not also banned, and us as well.
And if and when health care demolition becomes law, you can bet that the government, again at the demand of extremists, will ban much more. It will strive to control as much of your life, from what you are allowed to eat to where and how you are allowed to work to what you drive to where you live, as possible. Your freedom to choose for yourself? Doesn’t matter. The greater concern to this Administration and those who have its ear is the unchecked increase of government power.
Thomas Berry, for the Children of Liberty
This story is ridiculous. Interest groups asks a lot of people to do a lot of things. That does not mean they will happen or even be considered. The Toledo Free Press is irresponsible for allowing this story to be published. What a shame.
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 5:05 pmThis article is simply a scare tactic, reactionary dribble by the fringe group known as Children of Liberty and should be buried deep within the newspaper and not listed as a top news story. It is exactly the same as all the wing nuts who thought Obama was going to come in and ban gun ownership. Did not happen and is not going to happen. Is the president perfect no? does he leave a lot to be desired? yes. Do Americans need to be vigilant about freedoms under any president? Absolutley. But please tell me what actual civil liberty and freedom you have lost in the last year; not what you theoretically might lose if the predictions of some wingnut (left or right) says so, but what have you actually lost as far as personal freedoms….
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 5:06 pmAfter all of the speculation that feeds this absurd fear mongering in that piece to which Mr. Berry refers is this one tidbit leading off paragraph 8 that is telling:
“Led by NOAA’s Jane Lubchenco, the task force has shown no overt dislike of recreational angling.”
What? The devil you say. The task force throughout this process has shown no dislike for recreational angling…but since she and the TF have not said anything at all, we are certain that a ban is immenent. Brilliant…and I mean that in the most sarcastic way possible.
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 6:16 pmAs an avowed Radical Muslim, Obama wants to destroy all we hold dear. Especially Asian Carp. Why does Obama hate Asian Carp and America SO much!?
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 6:24 pmIt is astounding that The Toledo Free Press allows such trash to maintain on their site.
Seriously, I am at a lose of words.
If this nut wants to write this trash on some blog, so be it. But for a supposed respected press to publish it! MY GOD.
Toledo has talent but this sure aint it. And if the FP continues to post trash like this they will never attach it and this ‘paper’ will be destined for failure.
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 6:55 pmI certainly would not put this past Pres. Obama. He wants to control all aspects of our lives through the healthcare bill he is trying to pass, so this would go right along with it. Also, he doesn’t want people to be self-relient, and this ban would add towards that. I am glad that the Free Press printed this story.
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 7:35 pmThat is because you are stupid.
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 8:34 pmI see a degree of paranoia that often requires medication. Get well soon!
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 8:37 pmThis has been roundly debunked. FOX News has reported that there is NO basis for the wild rumor that Obama was trying to ban fishing. I hope you will post a retraction and make it clear that a mistake was made. More importantly please fact check in the future.
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 8:57 pmhey “you are stupid” This is a real story. As a matter of fact, it was a feature on our morning radio. It is just something else the spineless mainstream media will not mention. I can’t believe it either but honestly I can’t believe alot of the past couple of administration’s policies. COMMUNIST AMERICA,WE HAVE ARRIVED
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 9:39 pmObaMao,a dedicated Marxist tool…not too sharp and, as stale as Karl Marx’s corpse !
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 9:57 pmOr, should I say corps ?
There is another possibility here. What if Obama were trying to draw out “radical fringe groups” who may be his enemies in order to find out who and where they are? It’s a tactic of urban warfare, you cause a stress to a civilian population by committing an horrific act to a child or innocent and you watch to see who comes out of hiding to attack you. They are the ones you take out first. Obama is always on the attack, whether it’s against guns private property, businesses, insurance companies, or any other freedoms, eventually there will be a response from someone.
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 11:39 pmFor those of you that think think this is nonsense please tell me why the Ocean Task force wants to include the Great Lakes in its report? Its not an ocean? Tell me why when the ESPN report is called a hoax, then we are told that that they are trying to save the Bluefin Tuna? Why not ban the fishing of and sale of Bluefin Tuna? Besides tell me how many Bluefin Tuna are in the Great Lakes? Tell me what Marine Spatial Planning is? You dont know, do you? Go Google that and you will find that this is already being done in Europe. Why are we doing everything that Europe is doing? They are doing it to control access to a body of water(s). Its another way to restrict people from fishing. Since the Mississippi River dumps into the Gulf of Mexico they will want to control all activities up to and including all waters feeding into that great river. That includes the Ohio River too. Go and Google the Term “fish ban” and see how many rivers are being shut down as you read this article. Look at all of the environmental groups that are behind this. Smells to me our government is wanting to ban fishing? Couple this with the recent report of 100% of fish tested in all US waters have Mercury in them. Are they trying to scare us away from fishing altogether?
Our government wants to end Mountain Top Removal(MTR)of coal, pass cap and trade sending a gallon of gas to $7.00 a gallon or more. Build wind farms that dont work unless you have 10MPH of wind 24/7 and 365 days a year. Its not working in Europe and it will not work here.
Read the Task Force Report. Its on the Internet. That is if you have the stomach to do so.
PEOPLE PLEASE WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! THIS GOVERNMENT DOESNT WANT YOU AS A FRIEND UNLESS YOU ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP.
I encourage everyone to research what I have listed in my comments and then come back and tell me that I am wrong.
This comment was posted on March 11th, 2010 at 11:58 pmHey C,
So when AG Eric Holder says the Assault Weapons Ban is coming back we have nothing to fear?
This comment was posted on March 12th, 2010 at 12:55 amCongratulations to the Free Press for being open to a variety of just views. It’s funny to read the comments – whenever anyone criticizes one of Obama’s whack-job crusades, they are immediately as “scare mongers” by leftists. The idea of extending prohibitive bureaucratic interference into sport is entirely in keeping with all other aspects of Obama’s philosophy, and the threat to sport fishing is very real. Keep up the good work, editors!
This comment was posted on March 12th, 2010 at 9:37 amOBAMA TO BAN (Insert activity here)
Do you like (activity)? Disaster may soon befall your liberty to do said activity.
President Obama may ban that activity because some interest group is opposed to it. If you care about freedom, and guns, you should FEAR GOVERNMENT!!!
Please join our group, the Americans for a American Century for True American Patriots and Liberty Group. Click here to donate and pay my salary.
See, I can write articles just like Thomas Berry. Here’s the template. Find something people like. Say Obama is going to ban it. Start a group with a patriotic sounding name.
If you yell loud enough, you might even get a talk show!
I’m glad that the Free Press printed this story too. It’s nice to be reminded how far journalism has fallen.
This comment was posted on March 12th, 2010 at 11:32 amThis story is false. Don’t believe me. Don’t believe the MSM. How about FOX News, no friend of the administration:
Federal Plan for U.S. Waters Will Not End Recreational Fishing, Officials Say
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/10/federal-plan-waters-end-recreational-fishing-wh-says/
I agree with FishHead. Read the interim docs yourself. They are widely available—and worth noting that the final report is not even out yet… You will find NOTHING on there about limiting or banning recreational fishing.
You will find info on marine spatial planning. It is about making sure that the ecosystems that we fish on are healthy and support a variety of uses. The idea that the Great Lakes are now being treated on-par with the oceans is a good thing. Far more resources go to the coasts…this is an elevation of importance for the Lakes.
Take a breath folks. You are already excluded from some portions of the lakes by state DNRs looking out for fish stocks or envrionmentally sensitive areas. And there are already fishing and hunting seasons in place to ensure that we have animals around for generations. No uproar about that these days. This kerfuffle is about something else—a cynical group of commercial interests politicizing an apolitical issue. You’ve been hoodwinked and you should be angry about that, not pushing debunked lies.
This comment was posted on March 12th, 2010 at 1:11 pmIt’s amazing to me that so many people embrace the logic that “if I can’t imagine it to be true, it must not be true”. And even if it turns out to be not true, what could possibly be wrong with someone responding if they are afraid that their rights might be threatened?
This comment was posted on March 12th, 2010 at 4:18 pmDear C, Maybe, just maybe, a loss of 8 MILLION JOBS ain’t much to you…it certainly is to those who are standing in the unemployment lines. ( GW, had 4.5 % unemployment !)
This comment was posted on March 12th, 2010 at 4:49 pmOr possibly, the loss of 27 million homes due to ObaMao’s economic terrorism isn’t much to you either.
ObaMao’s, foreign policy has alienated Poland, the Czech Rep.,Brazil,germany, etc.,though I’m thinking you care little of that also.
Maybe, bailing out the wasteful unions and thieving Wall Str. cronies of ObaMarx,pleases you to a tee.
Yeah, the losses you DO NOT SEE, are very evident to those who do not have their head so far up their colon, the only thing they see is the scat that the Demonrats, want YOU to swallow.
Please, swallow my share also !! And, ENJOY !!
I can’t and won’t put anything past this “man-child” president. I’ll fish irregardless of whatever bill/law is passed. That goes for hunting should that day every occur too. And if they want to come and take my guns and others…. go ahead… I dare them…..can u say a million Ruby Ridges????
This comment was posted on March 12th, 2010 at 6:46 pmthe hell? they keep deleating my comments
This comment was posted on March 12th, 2010 at 9:47 pmComments from “uh-huh” were deleted due to the use of racial slurs.
This comment was posted on March 13th, 2010 at 8:41 amJosh, you are correct in stating the final report is not out yet. How do you explain the final paragraph on page 30 of the report that states “It will allow for the reduction of cumulative impacts from human uses on marine eco-systems”. Please define for the readers of yours and my comments what you feel “human uses” would entail.
Does that not mean recreational fishing and boating to be included as a part of the new regulations that will be put in place to protect a body of water. Couple this with the reported land grab of federal lands in the West being considered at this time.
I am sorry, but I feel that you are the one who is wrong on this issue.
This comment was posted on March 14th, 2010 at 10:44 pmJust for everyone’s information I have just learned of a AP story written by Michael Casey on 3/13/10 reporting on a two week long UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES)Conference that started on 3/13/10 in DOHA, Qatar.
175 nations are meeting right now to discuss banning Bluefin Tuna and other endangered species fishing and their sale internationally. Japan is already saying they will ignore the ban if imposed(They still eat whales too). Japan consumes 80% of all Bluefin tuna caught in the world. Its called “o-toro” in the sushi bars in that country. It sells for about $20.00 a plate. This conference is considering banning other species as well such as the shark and other endangered species. Europe and America is for the ban while African and Asian countries are against the proposed bans.
For those of you that said that the ESPN story was wrong. Here’s the fish ban we were talking about and the Obama administration has lied to you again.
As for a solution to the problem, I already have one. Since it appears that the people on the African and Asian continents do not have enough food to eat and this is forcing them to remove more fish from their coastal waters to feed themselves. Add to this the population is not likely to go down anytime soon, why doesnt the UN spend its time showing these people how to raise beef in these countries? Thats right BEEF! Think of what is needed to raise beef. Grains, grass and water is all thats needed.
Instead of UN paying for the delegations from a 175 countries to fly and stay in hotels and eat and drink lavishly for a 2 week conference. Why not put that money towards preparing massive areas across Africa and elsewhere to raise cattle. The leftovers or waste they can feed to the carnivores out in the wild areas to keep them from eating other endangered animals thus increasing the numbers of endangered predators and other endangered species alike. At the same time they are generating many tons of manure/dung to fertilize their own fields that will grow even more grains needed for the cattle and the local people to live off of.
We could stop sending tons of food/financial aid to these countries and use that money here in the US to spend on our folks who need it just as bad. It would employ many people here stateside and in Africa to build the equipment needed to raise the crops, drill water wells, maintain the tractors/transports and might even put a few Americans work in the process.
This plan would reduce the coastal and deep sea overfishing, increase employment and reduce starvation in many areas of these countries and would be a moneysaver for us.
NOW THERE IS A FISH STORY YOU COULD BELIEVE IN!
It will never happen because the UN is a joke, full of incompetence and corruption. The UN wants nothing more than to rob from the rich countries with a UN GLOBAL POVERTY TAX(be sure to Google that, because they want you to pay for it). This will allow the dictators of these poor countries to steal the money and use it for their own power and greed.
THAT IS A FISH STORY THAT YOU DONT WANT TO HEAR!
Give a man a burger and feed him for a day. Teach him how to raise cattle and farm his own food and he will leave us alone and propser greatly.
FISH HEAD 2010
This comment was posted on March 15th, 2010 at 4:56 amQuite Honestly, I think this is another ploy to put people against PRESIDENT OBOMA!! When a new president is elected there is ALWAYS some animal activist to try and put a bill forward to stop any and all recretational activities. Wether it be hunting, fishing to just plain ol hicking in the good ol outdoors… Where does it stop?? In regards to the health bill…. what does it have to do with fishing??? HELLO PEOPLE!!!!! Thats another story, and yes we are all going to question the health bill until it gets passed, or not!
This comment was posted on March 15th, 2010 at 11:41 pmYou know as me being a soldier I am sad to say things of this nature have become more of an apparent truth upon our nation. Although I see it very illogical for the Obama administration to conjure up some ideological thought like this and expect the American’s to be okay it is improbable. My personal belief in this topic is that this report is not 100 percent accurate on what was said but there are many interest groups that names not need to be mentioned that would love to see something like this pass. But I am not one to see such a vague and social unacceptable executive decision pass as this is proposed in the above statement. Fellow Americans I feel like there is no need to worry. As an Angler and Hunter my whole life growing up on the coastal region of Florida there is no concern it wouldn’t work and the economy could not afford such a loss in business.
This comment was posted on March 16th, 2010 at 8:46 pm@johnny s, does the s stand for stupid simple minded sorry @%% moron,you believe that would really happen,i tell you some people believe anything they’re told(HEY LOOK THE SKY IS FALLING,LOOK A DANCING FROG)you must be the joke of the town,people,people,people,this is a scare tactic from the right wing cause they know they’re wrong,try having a free mind johnny.
This comment was posted on March 17th, 2010 at 10:19 pmIt’s sad and amazing how many wingnuts we have in this country that believe this dribble even when it has be withdrawn by ESPN – the original source.
This comment was posted on March 18th, 2010 at 12:01 amWhy does the liberal left never debate the facts as it is presented to them from the document itself? How do you define the final paragraph on pg 30 that states “It will allow for the reduction of cumulative impacts from human use on Marine eco-sytems.
As far as this being a right wing scare tactic it is not. As far as anyone believing anything, all one has to do is again look to the liberals that bought into the Hope and Change thing hook,line and sinker and what do we have now? We have a president that will not show the American flag during Haiti Relief operations, destroyed the domestic auto market and their dealers, wants to pass a Healthcare Reform bill that cuts 500 billion dollars to the people who need it most(senior citizens), He bails out the Big Banks and the rich while telling the hard working middle class of America too bad, you lose, deal with it. Did you forget his campaign promise of no taxes if you made less than 250,000.00 a year, what has happened to that?
He bows to foreign leaders whose religion allows the raping of babies,women and animals if it is done right(http://weaselzippers.net on 3/15/2010–”RELIGION OF EVIL: IRAN’S AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI’S BOOK OF RULES FOR HAVING SEX WITH CHILDREN AND ANIMALS)Did I forget the safe schools czar handing out graphic sexual materials to young children. The list can on and on.
My point is this, the people who dont believe something is wrong in America can continue what you want to believe. You are supporting a traitor to our American way of life. The left has deserted Toledo and the manufacturing economy of that area in a total shambles and all you people can say is “WE WANT MORE OF IT!”
Do you vacation in Detriot, Michigan? Your liberal way of thinking has destroyed that former great city has it not.
Keep on drinking that Liberal Kool-Aid as your children will not be able to find a higher paying job other than in a McDonalds. I know you will enjoy them living with you for the rest of days you have on this planet. Forget about them having a checking account or putting any money in a bank because you are now their bank, when they need money they are coming to you to get it.
Get your slimey hands out of the taxpayers pockets and found one of you out of work liberal friends to put them into so that you both can feel that Hopey Change-y work for both of you.
Does your friend feel that yet?
This comment was posted on March 19th, 2010 at 1:57 pmI really had written a lot of gobbled goop but lost it with an inadvertent strike of the escape key. So, to sum it up, this thing is just another loss of individual rights and freedoms to bigger self interest groups and enterprises. What you and I love and cherish as an individual has no bearing on politics. It’s all about big money and what’s in it for the politicans.
This is just another case in point. This one I believe serves mostly the big commercial fishing industry. This groups has already done lots to restrict the recreational fisherman from taking fish while they take billions of tons of fish annually. Not only are they the ones that are depleting our fishery, but, they are killing and destroying other species and eco systems with their methods of fishing by using nets and miles and miles of muliti hooked lines. If anything should be done to protect the fishery it should be done in the commerical fishing industry. There needs to more regulation placed within the commercial fishing industry regulating the way they catch and harvest fish. They should have to employ the same methods for harvesting fish as the recreational fishermen. As a matter of fact ban commercial fishing entirely and there would be more fish for everyone. If you want to eat fish by golly get a license and buy a pole and go catch you some. Everyone would be happier and there would be less sea turtles, dolphins, sea creatures, and water fowl killed and mangled in the process.
Ok, thought two, individual rights don’t matter as long as there are commercial interest and money to be made. Politicians don’t represent you and me. They don’t know us or care about us, they are in it for themselves and the money. Yeah it’s time for a change and Mr. Obama we didn’t mean just a complexion change. Do something for the people for a change and quit ruining our lives. You can start by dumping this ridiculous idea about banning recreational fishing and then do something actually useful like banning lobbyist from paying for you and the rest of the beauacarts to vote on things that only benefit them. Hey how about looking out for us individuals out here. Oh, that’s right you don’t know us.
This comment was posted on March 21st, 2010 at 2:43 pmUN CITIES conference update–The conference has ended without a Bluefin Tuna ban being voted on or passed.
Many delegates left with hangovers and numerous butt prints were left on the hotels public Xerox copiers. Many delegates left the conference with other people and other sexes underwear that will have to be explained upon arriving back at home base.
This leaves our government no choice but to institute whatever policy that makes them feel good. This is no way to tell what will happen next since they dont even know themselves but you can be assured it will against anyone who uses any body of water for their personal enjoyment
Look for a ban on anyone having a good time at the waters edge resulting in stiff fines and jail time for even breathing and expelling CO2 into the atomsphere. Belching and breaking wind would be included on that list for a possible ticket and a free trip before a judge of their choice with a stuffed kangaroo in the corner.
I am going to pull that “Talking Bass” off my wall and put him in a pan because before they are done I am sure we wont even be able to enjoy that.
Yes, I do have some issues with that “Hope and Change” thing that we were promised. I am sure you do too.
This comment was posted on March 23rd, 2010 at 4:13 am