Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Lionfish problem is our own negligence

On Nov. 25, 2002, I wrote a letter to the editor warning of dire consequences to our reef, our biosphere, with elimination of the offshore ballyhoo.

As late as 1975 there were untold numbers of reef ballyhoo. In the winter, like right now, there were exploding schools of ballyhoo being chased by game fish all up an down the reef line. One need only go out with a plug rod and floating and sinking lures and follow the spraying ballyhoo to hook up with tuna, kingfish, cero mackerel, cobia, amberjack, grouper, snapper and numerous other species. You could see it all in shallow water, 10 to 20 feet deep, and clear, incredible sport fishing.

To say there was millions of ballyhoo was probably an understatement. Due to commercial overfishing, rogue plundering, poaching, slaughtering, some awesome number of tons shipped out and ineffective regulations, this magnificent resource went the way of the American buffalo, and is tottering on the edge with the ivory-billed woodpecker and passenger pigeon. The harbor in winter was choked with their lovely presence -- thousands in every little niche and cove.

Skyrocketing kingfish leaping for ballyhoo -- gone. Hordes of big cero are gone. Ballyhoo are omnivorous feeders. Lionfish eggs would be decimated, a tasty treat. Ban commercial ballyhoo netting on the reef -- allow hook and line and cast-nets at the most.

Less than 1 percent of these fish remain -- there are some still available in the backcountry.

Jerry Weinstock

Key West

County must continue to fight FEMA program

After two years of persistent citizen activism, our Monroe County commissioners made history on Feb. 17 when they passed a resolution requesting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency terminate the pilot inspection program, which requires home-owners seeking the renewal of their FEMA flood insurance policies to have a downstairs enclosure inspection.

Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro presented the resolution and Commissioner Kim Wigington valiantly seconded the motion, followed by Commissioners George Neugent and Heather Carruthers, who also voted in favor of the resolution.

This show of local governmental support for the end of the pilot could provide a green light for Washington officials to make the policy decision to end this inequitable program. Ending this pilot could be the first step in Monroe County's mission to be treated like the other 21,000 communities in the National Flood Insurance Program. It should be noted that terminating the FEMA pilot will only end the downstairs enclosure inspection that is required when renewing FEMA flood insurance. All other downstairs enclosure inspections will continue, as they are a part of local Monroe County ordinances.

A teleconference was held on Feb. 25 between Atlanta FEMA and Monroe County. This teleconference was scheduled as a result of Citizens Not Serfs and Commissioner Di Gennaro's efforts to end the pilot. Monroe County respectfully asked to end the pilot and, as everyone expected, Atlanta quickly denied the request. This denial means very little in our county's mission to end the pilot program, since it has been clear since the beginning that relief from this devastating program would only come from Washington.

The passing of this resolution ensures that this issue will remain in [the] spotlight until a fair conclusion is reached. The effects of the program have been devastating, causing residents to be kicked out of their homes and lose their jobs during a time of national economic hardship. This pilot is in direct conflict with the National Recovery Program. County officials must now continue to aggressively pursue the termination of the pilot. ...

John November

Citizens Not Serfs

Summerland Key

Former Keys residents are forever enamored

You're a blue-gold flag, Conch Republic, the flag, and forever with beads, may you wave. You're the emblem of the island we love, the home of the drunk and depraved. Every Conch beats true for the gold and blue, where the host with the most is in drag.

"We seceded where others fail." Now we all fly the blue-gold flag. Happy Conch Republic Days from a family of former residents. We will always love you, Key West.

Jason Klein

Germantown, Md.