"Wayne.B" wrote in message
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I couldn't agree more, but what we really need is an effective
lobbying force. Unfortunately the industry for the most part is a
collection of cottage businesses and have their hands full just
protecting their own intersts let alone ours. It's important that we
all come to realize that our interests are intertwined.
.........................................

Speaking of intertwining interests, albeit conflicting.... In our waters of
the PNW, salmon come first, Indian Tribes second, followed by the rest of
us. Almost all of our salmon are now hatchery fish. In fact, many runs
would be extinct, if not for the hatcheries. We have a local river which
floods the valley, nearly every time it rains. They could dredge the silt
and solve the problem, but they won't, because it might affect the imaginary
"natural" fishie's (if any) habitat.

Then the Feds protect seals and sea lions. Their population has exploded.
Guess what they like to eat? The orcas used to come down and feast on the
sea dogs, keeping their numbers in balance, but ever since they built the
nuclear sub base, the orcas don't seem to like passing through the
underwater sonar fields. Waterfront owners are forced to spend big bucks to
ensure that their septic systems don't pollute the water, even as the
disproportionate number of sea dogs are pooping it up, badly.

There used to be state-funded mooring buoys, but the state can't afford to
maintain them anymore. There used to be dozens of gas docks, but Fed
environmental regulations and the associated cost have made it unprofitable
to run one. The closest gas dock to our port is 60 miles away. And so it
goes.

Unc