Chumming Fleets are Declineing

[Norm Bartlett]

At last a prayer is answered!

Norm

[Bob Allen]

what are you talking about...Bob Allen???

[BILL H]

At last a prayer is answered!

Norm
Norm,
What do you base this on? I'm not asking because I doubt your statement. I would just like to get the facts.

If you:bigangel: have such a direct pipeline to the Almighty, perhaps you should pray for world peace, also.:D

[Norm Bartlett]

Bob Allen-I just have been observing the numbers of boats that I see at the destination chumming locations such as Love Pt, Hackets, The Hill and so on. Live lining and trolling are the two most popular methods of fishing this year. In an article by Gene Muller for the Washington Times the new owners of Buzzs Marina said "even without Bartlett's charges that chum does great harm to the bays ecology, they can see the day coming when few people will use chum." "If chum pollutes the water ", Mike Henderson said, "why would the Clean Marina Handbook ask that we not dump fish scraps and fish carcasses in the waters of our marina , but instead take them out to deep water and drop it there? Wouldn't that pollute the water too?" Mike and Christy Henderson are the new owners of BUZZ's Marina. They sell around $1500 worth of chum per month during the season according to Mueller's article.

Mike's question is a good one! If it pollutes the water in the marina, it pollutes the bay water as well and its a violation of the CLEAN WATER ACT an annodoted code of Maryland law!

The Clean Marina Handbook is put out by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Norm

[BILL H]

Norm,


"If chum pollutes the water ", Mike Henderson said, "why would the Clean Marina Handbook ask that we not dump fish scraps and fish carcasses in the waters of our marina , but instead take them out to deep water and drop it there? Wouldn't that pollute the water too?"

Mike's question is a good one! If it pollutes the water in the marina, it pollutes the bay water as well and its a violation of the CLEAN WATER ACT an annodoted code of Maryland law!

The Clean Marina Handbook is put out by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Norm

The Maryland Clean Marina Handbook addresses fish waste in a couple of places in its 155 pages (pages 78, 85, 88, and 151). Generally it covers the same points in a couple of different ways, but it really is looking at the impact in a confined area with poor circulation:

Fish Scraps
For safety reasons, marinas are often located in sheltered
areas– that will protect boats from wind and waves
during a storm. The same features that protect boats
during a storm, however, also limit the exchange of water.
Poor exchange, or flushing, means that any waste which is
discharged into the water may stay in the same general area
for an extended length of time.
Fish cleaning may pose a problem if the guts are discarded
into a poorly flushed marina basin. Fish waste is
smelly and unsightly. Also, lifesustaining oxygen is removed
from the water column as bacteria decompose the innards.
Avoid problems by following these tips. Ÿ Do not discard fish waste in
poorly flushed areas.

Ÿ Find out what your marina’s disposal policy is.
Ÿ Bag waste and dispose at home or in a dumpster.
Ÿ Dispose over deep water. It generally discusses the impact of fish scraps in enclosed areas, and as you pointed out, it does advocate disposal over deep water as one of the options. I did notice that at least the Maryland version no longer identifies converting the fish waste to chum as one of the best management practices.

However, I still am of the opinion that chum is not covered by the CWA, but I have agreed to politely disagree with you on this issue until it is settled.

How is that effort progressing?

[B-Faithful]

I just moved and was on vacation in SC so havent fished lately. Give me a week or two to get out again :fishing2:

I wont do it in a marina but in the deep open tidal waters of the bay :rockon:

What marine power do you run Norm?

[capt.george]

---Norm , I havent pulled a rope on my grinder in 5 yrs ---Why fish for Dinks when Quality fish are being caught by Prefered methods ---LTJ, Trolling , & Livelining always was & will be Superior to the Mesh Bag or Chumming Spoon--geo.

[Sandtiger]

Chumming..............

:soapbox: :soapbox:

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[uncle phill]

---Norm , I havent pulled a rope on my grinder in 5 yrs ---Why fish for Dinks when Quality fish are being caught by Prefered methods ---LTJ, Trolling , & Livelining always was & will be Superior to the Mesh Bag or Chumming Spoon--geo.

Awesome, I know why Capt Skip thinks so highly of you. :yes:

[Norm Bartlett]

Bill H - The Clean Marina Handbook is a contradiction to the CLEAN WATER ACT which says it is illegal to discharge a pollutant into navigatable waters from a point source without a permit. On the back of the cover page there is a disclaimer by the EPA and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. It reads as follows:

"Reprinted in 2002 with funding from the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency's Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program. Although this project is funded in part by the EPA, It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the EPA"

"This manual is intended as an educational tool for marina operators and boaters. It does not constitute a complete reference to State, Federal, or local laws. Relying on information in this book will not protect you legally. This book may not be relied upon to creat a right or benefit substantive or precedural, enforceable law at law or in equity by any person."

"The Department of Natural Resources, contributing agencies, organizations, and individuals cannot assume any liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information in this publication Inclusion in this publication is not an indorsement of the companies listed. Final determination of the proper handling and disposal of waste is the sole respondsibility of the generator".

Norm