I am sick of reading about our inability to wipe out invasive species while also being berated for wiping out others.
I think we need to remember we're the apex predator on the planet and start snuffing some lower life.
We should also start doing something about the people who harbor such life on their property.
Every time someone comes up with a suggestion like, "Kill them all" some animal rights freak starts freaking out and stops any real slaughter of the imports.
ReplyDeleteSeriously. Wanna get rid of iguana and tegu? Simple. Allow the harvest, heck, encourage the harvest with a bounty. Same with that So. Florida city overrun by chickens. Or St. Pete with the stupid parrots. Feral hogs? It should be a 24-7-365 open season on public or private land, only questions asked is if you damage property (and you should be able to hunt with a suppressor.) Same with snakes. Screw the 12-20 snake permit holders, hold multiple classes and let the public go hog wild on those slithering bastards. Same with nile crocs, or any other invasive.
Want to really hear bitching? Start talking about removing everyone's invasive plants from their precious green spaces and private property. It's okay if it's Kudzu, but Mimosa, or Japanese Dogwood, or Chinaberry, Schefflera or Australian Pine? The yelling and screaming would scare a deaf man.
"We should also start doing something about the people who harbor such life on their property."
DeleteWhen the doubles-each-time compliance fines start adding up, people get damned pro-active about snuffing things.
The FWC has an annual lionfish elimination tournament, where the person who kills the most lionfish gets a trophy and some swag. http://fwcreefrangers.com/about/lionfish-festival/ The fish are still there. They've put forth lionfish recipes and handling information, and feature restaurants that serve lionfish. Still there.
ReplyDeleteThere's a big list of species that should be eliminated. We're just not that good at it. It's why I don't believe we're actually wiping out the species they say we are, or we're starting the next great mass extinction (as Greta says).
Prizes do not adequately recompense the fishermen for their investment into the gear required, so your pool to eradicate them is people who're already in the hobby for other reasons.
DeleteProblem 2:
License Requirements
A recreational fishing license is not required for recreational fishers targeting lionfish while using a polespear, Hawaiian sling, handheld net, or any other spearing deveice that is specifically designed for lionfish.
A recreational fishing license is required (unless exempt) for all other methods of harvesting lionfish, including hook and line and spearguns. Purchase your recreational saltwater fishing license today!
The sale of commercially harvested lionfish requires a Saltwater Products License.
Eliminate the license requirements and make it "Kill all you want, don't care how, do what you want with the meat."
Put a bounty on 'em!
ReplyDelete