(FL) Felon helps draft grouper rules

[DoYouEverWonder]

December 8, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - One of the architects of a $35-million plan to help the embattled grouper fishing industry was once sent to federal prison for his role in a criminal conspiracy involving illegal grouper fishing.

Dean A. Pruitt, 46, of Clearwater admitted to using "deceit, craft, trickery, and dishonesty" to undermine federal enforcement of grouper regulations in the early 1990s.

Pruitt, who spent four months in federal prison, is part of a nine-member committee that helped the Southern Offshore Fishing Association, based in Madeira Beach, draft a plan to "buy back" some federal fishing permits.

The idea is to reduce the number of fishermen and make the industry more profitable for those who remain.

"To have individuals like that on the committee certainly undermines the credibility of the proposed buyout," said Ted Forsgren, executive director for the Florida Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/08/State/Felon_helps_draft_gro.shtml


So even though felons are not allowed to vote in this state, that shouldn't get in the way of Jeb appointing them to a committee that oversees the very thing they went to jail for. At least the guy knows what a grouper looks like, I suppose?

[pokercat999]

1. Tell me how long should he pay for his crime.

He was sentenced apparently served his time and "paid his debt to society". Now it seems Ted Forsgren (quoted in the story) wants to continue to punish him.....for how long, the rest of his life?

He sounds like someone that disagreed with the fishing regulations imposed by the feds and ignored the new law/regs. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do, if you get caught you pay the price, but that is all you should pay. This freeper idea that a felon is a felon forever is just plain wrong a felon should be forgiven after he/she completes any punishment (fines/time). If you want to punish someone for life then be above board and make the penalty a life sentence in jail!

But you are right he probably knows more about grouper fishermen and their troubles than any marine biologist and I'm sure he can differentiate between a grouper and say a shark.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. So maybe Jeb

should appoint OJ to a committee that oversees DCF? OJ lives in FL, wasn't even convicted, but seems to be an expert on spousal abuse. Sounds like he would be very qualified for the job according to your standards.

[pokercat999]

10. Not the same at all, OJ isn't a convicted felon.

I doubt OJ is qualified to serve on said committee however we're not sure weather our grouper fisherman is qualified or not. My point is, he shouldn't be disqualified for a felony he committed and then "PAID THE FULL PRICE" required by society.
Surely you can understand this or are you a freeper religious nut too, wanting to punish over and over again for the same crime?

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Please read my posts

My point is not that he shouldn't be able to go back to his livelihood and live a normal, productive life. However having the governor appoint you to a government committee is a privalege and not a right.

I would much rather he have his voting rights restored instead.

[pokercat999]

13. OK except for the felony conviction what else

disqualifies him from serving on the committee. His education, his experience ok fine then please state a legitimate reason for disqualifying him not something for which he has paid the full price. That or advocate for the life time punishment you seem to want to dish out.

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. His past indicates a pattern of behavior

that has no respect for the sea or the laws of the state. He admitted to repeatedly violating the law in assorted different ways. Despite serving his time, there is no indication that this man has changed his habits.

In a state with millions of people, 10,000's of whom happened to be in commercial fishing, I am sure there were many other more appropriate and qualified people who would be willing to serve on this committee. I think being a law abiding citizen should be required for getting such an appointment.

[pokercat999]

16. What world do you live in?

"I think being a law abiding citizen should be required for getting such an appointment."

jeez you can't possibility be this naive.

and if he isn't now a law abiding citizen why isn't he being arrested for his current crimes?

Again he paid the price for his former crimes and if that isn't enough to put him back in good standing then I say you must give him a punishment that WILL be enough to but him back in good standing. But to continue to be punished by society after fulfilling the legal requirements of your court ordered punishment is totally unfair and of itself should be a crime.

Can't you see my point it's not about his qualifications it's about holding his past over his head like am axe. He has PAID! enough already

by the way I don't even know this character.

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. Then you sure seem to be obsessed with him?

I'm not saying he hasn't paid, but one more time, to be appointed to a GOVERNMENT Committee is a PRIVILAGE not a right.

Obviously, you have alot more tolerence for people who like to rape the sea then I do. Just because he hasn't gotten 'caught' again doesn't mean he's changed his ways. If you can show some indication that he has, then I would be willing to reconsider my position.

[pokercat999]

23. I'm sorry I don't have at my command the

language to make you understand what I am trying to say. This has nothing to do with a committee but as his status as a citizen of the US. You and others would like to keep him in 2nd class status as you would all felons who have finished their punishment. I think that is just plain wrong headed and a freeper type notion.

[WhiteTara]

22. not allowing the fox to guard the

henhouse is not a "lifetime" punishment. Why should someone who admitted to deceiving have the rights to set up the rules? As for knowing more than a marine biologist? Probably about how to deceive, but more about marine biology? :crazy:

[TreasonousBastard]

3. It does seem like he adds a bit of expertise...

to the committee. And it's not like he's sneaking in there with a hidden agenda-- everyone pretty well knows where he stands.

So what's the big deal?

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. There are 1000's of other commercial fishermen

who have not gone to jail for using illegal methods of fishing, that I'm sure would have been happy to serve on such a committee.

[Lochloosa]

5. I'll tell you the big deal!

I have watched commercial fishermen rape our waters in Florida my whole life. I grew up on the coast, my grandfather was a Charter Captain and have been around fishermen my whole life. Most are good, honest and hard working. Then you have people like Pruitt that could give a shit about legal limits. How many times do you think he "loaded the boat" before he was finally caught? Now he is allowed to make policy decisions? The Coastal Conservation Association has been fighting for the sport fishermen in Florida for years against overwhelming odds.

Statements like this says it all. "If the longlines were in the water, they were to cut the longline gear loose and tell authorities they were fishing for shark, not grouper, the records say."

What do you think happened to that longline? It floated away and captured unknown numbers of fish to die and rot. This guy doesn't give a shit.

And pokercat999's response that "But you are right he probably knows more about grouper fishermen and their troubles than any marine biologist and I'm sure he can differentiate between a grouper and say a shark." is just bullshit. When Pruitt caught a shark he most likely "finned" it and threw the still living shark back in the water. The Japanese pay a dear price for those fins. Makes great soup.
The marine biologist working here are dedicated to saving our fish for everyone. Commercial and Sport Fishermen alike.

Please!

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Well, I've been peripherally involved with both...

the sportfishing and commercial fishing industries over the years and my response was pretty much toungue-in-cheek. The buyout plan is probably bullshit and doomed, with any luck, but I really don't know enough of the details to be sure.

What I really think is that more fishing grounds should be pretty much closed down and off limits to everybody. Fat chance of that, though.

Fisheries around the world are collapsing and some species are nearing extinction. "Mining" the seas for fish with the use of longlines and bottom draggers are only part of the problem, but they are a huge part. Even sportfishing is putting enormous pressure on blue marlin, tuna, some sharks, and others. Add fish mining to the problems of loss of wetland breeding areas, salinity and temperature changes, dead reefs, and the other environmental problems and the ocean could very well run out of fish.

Close down the fisheries and treat displaced fishermen, processors and others like we should properly treat any other displaced businesses and workers.

But, again, fat chance.

And, yeah, I know this guy is, or at least was, a scumbag. Four months isn't much, but I guess cutting lines and killing a few thousand fish for no reason doesn't count for much nowadays. They'd impound his boat and he'd likely do a few more years if they found a couple of joints aboard.

[obxhead]

20. I believe

Pockercat999 was referring to your dismissal based upon a felony conviction.

[Sinistrous]

7. If you want to protect the fisheries from bad practices

how better to learn what the bad practices are than from someone who has done all or most of them. I would not be suprised that this guy also knows some effective ways to counter wasteful practices, ooverfishing, etc., and could recommend good means of enforceing the rules.

Isn't there a TV show that shows people how easy it is for a cat-burgler to get into their houses and loot their stuff, and then give recommendations on how to make their places secure?

How about the movie "To Catch a Thief"?

Sinistrous

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. All of the legitimate fishermen

know all the tricks too. They just make the decision not to use those practices because they know in the long run they are only hurting themselves.

BTW: In Jeb's world felons do not have the right to vote, even after they have served their time. So if he doesn't think they should be able to vote, why does he think it's okay to appoint them to a committee? It is not a constitutional right to serve on these committees. It is a privilege.

[Orsino]

6. They could only find eight committee members...

...without "felon" on their resumes? Is Pruitt really the ninth most qualified person for the position?

Geez.

[pokercat999]

12. You are the kind of person

I was actually writing about. All you can see is FELON. He may not be qualified I don't know but I do know that disqualifying him for a crime for which he has paid the full price according to the law used by our society is WRONG! How about that stuff you stole years ago (maybe a pencil from work or the tax deduction you weren't entitled to take) should you be considered a thief or cheat all your life? Are you so much better than your brother,,,,who are you to judge, over and over again? So speak to his real qualifications, tell us how he knows nothing about the grouper fisherman's life, troubles and worries, you may be right, but NOT because he was a one time felon.

jeez

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. Read the story

We are talking numereous and repeated violations of commerical fishing laws that were deliberate. What this guy does is a lot worse then stealing a pencil when he was a kid.

[Orsino]

19. Jeez yourself.

Of course all we can see is the felony.

Whether or not he really committed the felony of which he was convicted, and whether or not that felony should be a felony, I'm amazed that such a person was even seriously considered, much less chosen. I'm amazed that he would allow himself to be considered. I thought that that only happened in Bush Administrations.

If you have convincing evidence of the superiority of his qualifications, though, or special knowledge of the circumstances of his felony conviction, I can promise to listen seriously.

[soup]

18. Moving beyond the fact this guy is a felon,

what will this partial buy-back do to the fishing industry?

Is it designed to squeeze out the 'little guy'? It sounds like long-lining will continue, but only by the 'have mores' - sort of a winner take all regulation.

from the article:
>> "This plan is a thinly veiled initiative by large scale dealers and longline operators to circumvent the regulatory process," Martin Fisher and William Tucker wrote in an open letter to their fellow commercial fishermen. "They have enlisted the support of Congressman (C.W. Bill) Young to enact legislation that will enable them to further monopolize the grouper quota."

Fishermen who hold federal reef fish permits were asked to vote on the buyout proposal earlier this fall.

The results of the referendum were 38 percent in favor and 62 percent opposed. But those initial results will not stand.

The marine fisheries service, one of two federal agencies the Pruitts admitted defrauding, will "weight" the votes based on the catch history of the permit holders. <<

Granted, I know very little about the subject, so my take on it may be way off. Tried to find a bit more on the subject and came across this:

>snip< In his resignation letter dated Feb. 9 former Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council member James B. Fensom warned Gov. Jeb Bush to be wary of the buyout plan. Fensom, who was appointed to the council as a recreational fishing representative, told Bush that the "single most important regulation that should be implemented in the Gulf of Mexico is to completely eliminate bottom longlines."

The proposed, partial longline buyout would not help rebuild grouper stocks, Fensom said.

"Buying out latent permits and buying out the least successful grouper fishermen will not benefit the grouper fishery," Fensom wrote to Bush. "Those who support the partial buyout of bottom longline fishermen have been hoodwinked." >snip<
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/22/Sports/To_help_or_harm_fishi.shtml

*sigh* Everything seems so twisted. Sometimes I think I'm just getting to old for this crap. There seems to be no simplicity left anywhere. (Except in the addlepated mind of *dear leader who stated - "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - whatever the hell THAT means.)

[DoYouEverWonder]

21. Maybe this is why Jeb wants to stake the deck

because they want to look like they're doing something about the problem, while they are actually planning to make it worse? Thanks for the info.