Why Max Why?
January 8th, 2007 by admin
Max Mayfield is a familiar face to anyone who has lived through hurricane season in Florida. Last week, Max retired as director of the National Hurricane Center after more than three decades on the job. Unfortunately, it seems that he needs help in finding constructive ways to spend his free time.
An Associated Press story that ran on Friday in the Gainesville Sun reported on a fishing trip Mr. Mayfield and his son took in the Florida Keys. The “highlight” of the day was the capture- and release- of a 200-pound goliath grouper who Max called, “The biggest fish I’ve ever caught in my lifetime.” Because of their vulnerability to overfishing, it has been illegal to directly kill goliath groupers since 1990.
Catch-and-release fishing is promoted as an ethical way to fish, but it is likely that the fish who Max pulled up from the ocean and who lay on the deck of the boat while pictures were taken, did not survive after being released back into the water. Hooks often tear up a fish’s sensitive mouth, dooming the animal to suffer a slow and agonizing death. Careless handling can cause broken jaws (resulting in starvation), internal injuries, and loss of a protective body coating essential to their survival. These conditions, combined with stress and exhaustion, can lead to death even days after release. Simply removing a fish from water is harmful. Changes in pressure and temperature caused by pulling a fish up from deep water can be fatal.
Visit ARFF’s website to learn more about fishing.