As you present the facts about the mesh sizes of the gill net that releases the juvenile fish compared to the cast net that catches them, thus reducing the fresh from Florida fish being harvested; as you plead for the right of fishermen to make a living fishing full time as so many want to do, also consider this:
Before the net ban, mullet was 45¢ a pound in the round and today it sells for $3 a pound. Before the ban, twice a week a truck full of fish on ice – not just mullet but pompano, grouper, sheepshead, trout, mackerel, redfish – went by road to fish markets in Plant City, Riverview, Brandon, Live Oak, Lakeland, Orlando and many others. They were bringing fresh from Florida fish for working people to eat.
This does not exist today. Many shop for fish at the supermarkets. Are these fish fresh from Florida? For the past 20 years, much of these fish came from an island off the coast of Bangladesh where fishermen were kept as slaves. This was written up by The Associated Press. One man had not seen his mother for 20 years. There is a cemetery with 70 bodies. The companies were identified that bought the fish harvested for over 20 years by slaves. The fish were sold in our supermarkets. Look at the source of shrimp sold at Walmart. It is China. As one writer asked: Are your shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico or the Gulf of Thailand? Not Fresh From Florida.
It is reported that 77% of what is sold in the restaurants as redfish is not redfish. How much of what is sold in our supermarkets is raised in ponds polluted with mercury or lead?
In Cortez, there are 12 places where one can buy fresh or cooked seafood. About 5,000 people come every day to eat at the restaurants. Most of them are tourists – people who can afford to pay the price. These are not the people who live in Florida and work in our hospitals, our 7/11s, our hotels, grocery stores and our auto repair shops. Most folks cannot afford to eat fresh from Florida seafood.
Repealing the net ban will give Floridians the opportunity to again eat fresh fish. The trucks will ride to fish markets. Fish with the Omega 3 is good brain food. I am convinced we could use some.
Dr. Mary Fulford Green
Cortez, Florida
