Debates on fisheries issues need more reason, less emotion

loading...

As each year’s legislative session approaches, emotions are sure to run high when constituents struggle to make their voices heard, and to sway the state’s lawmakers in a particular direction.

Outdoor issues tend to get especially heated, as folks from diametrically opposing positions try to drown each other out and gather needed support for their given causes.

Unfortunately, one of this year’s most heated battles doesn’t – at least on the surface – seem to involve people from completely opposite camps at all.

Those on each side of a pair of fisheries bills love to spend time outdoors. Those on both sides love to catch fish.

In these cases – the debates over LDs 163 and 285 – the respective angler groups disagree adamantly.

Pitted against each other: Some ice anglers and bait dealers on one side, and a group of fly fishermen on the other.

Of course, that’s a drastic oversimplification of the situation: There is likely plenty of overlap between the groups including, I’m sure, some ice anglers who fly fish, and some fly fishermen who like to drill a hole in the ice and spend the day on a frozen pond.

The bottom line: In a quest to win the day, the rhetoric is doing nobody any good.

At issue in LD 163 is the fate of four baitfish that some want to ban from a list of approved bait in Maine. LD 285 is seeking to make it illegal to use live fish as bait on some brook trout waters that produce self-sustaining populations of trout.

Simply disagreeing about those bills, and choosing to debate the merits of them, is fine. But the name-calling that has taken place, largely on Internet message boards, is ugly and unnecessary.

All fly fishermen are not elitists who want to tell others how to fish. All ice anglers are not fish-killing slobs. And just because you sell bait, that doesn’t mean you don’t care about the future health of our fisheries.

No matter what you read on the Internet message boards.

I’m not one who buys the good old boys’ party line – the one that tells sportsmen and sportswomen that any public disagreement among us is bound to weaken our overall position.

I also don’t buy the “slippery slope” argument that makes its way into editorials and floor debate every year. Those who resort to that old scare tactic tell us that any reasoned compromise by (take your pick) gun owners, hunters, fishermen, trappers … any compromise at all … starts us down that slippery slope, and by giving in on any one issue, we’re much closer to losing everything we hold dear. Everything.

Poppycock. (I’ve never said “poppycock” in a column before, but I’m quite sure my editors won’t let me use the words that were my first choice).

As for LDs 163 and 285, a good round of reasoned (and sometimes heated) debate just shows how much we care about our fishing here in Maine.

It also might do us all a bit of good to take a step back and look for a bit of common ground … and discard the personal attacks altogether.

Orono ice party planned

After a chilly week of weather, the youngsters in your life are probably eager to get outside and blow off a little steam.

The Orono Parks & Recreation Department may have just the program: An ice party will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Gould’s Landing on Pushaw Lake.

The event is free and includes use of ice fishing traps, bait and a lunch for all participants. A bonfire will be staged and hot chocolate will be available, just in case it’s still a bit on the nippy side. And organizers plan to have an ice skating area available as well (just bring your own skates).

The party is co-sponsored by the Orono Fire Department and the Parks & Recreation Department, and the event will be held, weather permitting; a rain date of March 17 has been established if the clouds roll in this week.

Organizers caution that children being dropped off at the event must have a permission slip filled out before parents leave.

Kenduskeag applications ready

This week’s frigid dip in temperatures notwithstanding, it’s not too early to start planning for one of the area’s rites of spring.

Organizers are busily putting together all the logistics for the 41st annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, and registration materials are available at the Bangor Parks & Recreation office on Main Street, Epic Sports, the Old Town Canoe Store and the Ski Rack in Bangor.

This year’s race will be held April 21, and preregistration packets will be accepted until 1 p.m. April 20. Miss that deadline and you’ll end up paying $30 per paddler, rather than the $18 per paddler rate you get by planning ahead.

Participants must be at least 12 years old, and those under 16 must have an adult in the boat with them.

The Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race caps a busy early schedule of local racing, as whitewater enthusiasts begin racing March 31 on the St. George River, then head to the Passagassawakeag, Souadabscook Stream and Marsh Stream in consecutive weeks preceding the Kenduskeag.

For more information on the Kenduskeag race, call 992-4490 or go to the city’s Web site at www.bangormaine.gov, following the links to parks and recreation.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.