For some, the conspiracy seems to have everything to do with fish and their habitat. They believe that a massive movement is pushing managers toward using exclusively catch shares as a management tool. For others, that theory is a bunch of BS conjured up by anti-regulation crackpots with too much time on their hands and too little brainpower to figure out something constructive to do. I come down somewhere in between those two extremes but definitely lean toward the latter end of the spectrum. I happen to believe that catch shares can be a very useful management tool in certain situations. I also believe there are people within the federal fisheries management hierarchy who think catch shares should be one of the tools in the management toolbox. But a great conspiracy? Gimme a break!
Some conspiracy advocates continue to promote the idea that one or two environmental members of the RFMCs have the power to sway every vote with their "marching orders" from Dr. Lubchenco. I am fairly close to what is happening at the councils, and I have yet to see this. They may win some issues by converting others to their ideas, but one or two votes in a group of 10 to 17 don't win by sheer force.
When we get down to the grass-roots level, organizations like the Coastal Conservation Association, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, American Sportfishing Association, International Game Fish Association and The Billfish Foundation are all accused of taking substantial funding from environmental organizations in return for support of catch shares in recreational fishing management.
Read the complete article from Salt Water Sportsman.