Tag Archives: Jonathan Gonzales

Report: Sharks in peril off coast because of gillnets, Advocates disagree

Pacific-swordfish_photo-credit-Britannica-KidsThe report, “California Driftnet Fishery: The True Costs of a 20th Century Fishery in the 21st Century,” issued by Marin’s Turtle Island Restoration Network, says the California driftnet fishery is taking a toll on shark populations. But supporters of the gillnet fishery note it is already monitored by federal authorities and question data in the report. “There are good regulations in place and the populations are strong,” said Jonathan Gonzales, president of the Ventura County Commercial Fishermen Association, adding that data show thresher shark populations are improving. “There is no overfishing like there once was. It’s really a success story.” “We see this report as highly sensational and grossly inaccurate,” said Diane Pleschner-Steele, executive director of the California Wetfish Producers Association. The California Fisheries and Seafood Institute — in a letter addressing a bill to eliminate gillnets — states 90 percent of the fish caught by nets in the swordfish fishery either go to market or are released alive. Read the story here 09:51

Who Fights for Fishermen?!! – Volunteer Advocate Jonathan Gonzales, Santa Barbara, California

eatusseafoodIf you’re a California Driftnet Fisherman, You don’t have many friends. Under constant attack by Big Green, and their paid eco hitmen, they have managed to find one! That friend, at one time wasn’t very friendly towards them. Until he invested his time to learn about the fishery, and the people in it. It’s not a very big fishery, but the Pew/Oceana people have branded it the dirtiest, most damaging fishery there is. Thankfully, Jonathan Gonzales is there with the truth. Click here to read his letter, and view his ENGO choking presentation at the last PFMC meeting. Thank you, Jon. 15:28

At the Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting Today, A Citizen Made a Public Comment

Sometimes I wonder why I invest time listening to Fishery Council Meetings. I listen to plenty of them. Today, I was tuned into the PFMC webinar, listening to Public Comments, and a fella named Jonathan Gonzales from Santa Barbara California made his. You’ve got to read it, and look at the presentation he put together. I listened, but didn’t see the slides he put together, but, they are in this power point. Leave a comment here. You’ll want to be ready to be impressed. I am. Read it here 22:09 On September 13, this was released by Center for Biological Diversity.  New Data Shows California Drift Gillnets Not Sustainable, Continue to Kill Marine Mammals. “Every year that drift gillnets are used off the California coast to catch swordfish, the result is that iconic whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and thousands of fish are ensnared and killed as bycatch,” said Geoff Shester, California campaign director for Oceana. “Ultimately this gear type must be fully prohibited off the West Coast so we can have a sustainable swordfish fishery.” Jeff Shester is in Jon’s power point. I wonder what he thinks of it! 22:11

David vs. Goliath – How the Truth Triumphed Over Emotion and Saved a Sustainable California Fishery

eatusseafoodOn February 20, 2014 California Assembly Member Paul Fong introduced legislation (AB 2019) that would outlaw the use of drift gillnet (DGN) gear in California, which is mainly used to target swordfish and sharks. Oceana and the Turtle Island Restoration Network sponsored AB 2019 while claiming that CA gillnets are “curtains of death.”  Read more here  12:56