Saving Seafood

NOAA considers moving Miami headquarters amid budget cuts

June 29, 2017 — The federal agency that oversees hurricane research and manages fisheries along the nation’s southeast coast faces an overhaul and potential downsizing that could cripple partnerships that have made Miami a leader in the world of marine and atmospheric science.

While unrelated, the timing of the two moves — possibly relocating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries headquarters from Virginia Key to St. Petersburg and pending budget cuts to the climate science program there — amount to a double whammy for the research hub and a brain drain for the region.

“It’s a big hit,” said Ben Kirtman, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and director of NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies or CIMAS. Kirtman fears a “tyranny of distance” would all but end collaborations that began when the Fisheries headquarters opened across the street from the university in 1965.

“In science, it’s very difficult to do interdisciplinary work. It’s a real challenge because you speak difference languages. And that’s where a lot of the big breakthroughs come from,” he said. “When you’re separated by floors in the same building, it’s hard to collaborate, let alone if you’re across the state.”

Built at a time when ocean science was rapidly expanding, the Fisheries headquarters on the scrubby island represented years of collaboration between the agency and Rosenstiel. After the university started a marine lab in 1943, federal fisheries officials opened offices first on the Coral Gables campus, then followed the school labs to Virginia Key. In 1972, a partnership was struck for the cooperative institute, which along with 13 other such agreements around the country provide the basic research for NOAA missions. In 2015, NOAA awarded $125 to CIMAS, which includes Florida International University and other university programs in South Florida, to continue its efforts that include weather research for the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research program.

Read the full story at the Miami Herald

As warming sea devastates coral, Florida Keys economy will suffer

June 25, 2017 — Twenty feet under water, Nature Conservancy biologist Jennifer Stein swims over to several large corals and pulls several laminated cards from her dive belt.

“Disease,” reads one, as she gestures to a coral that exhibits white splotches. “Recent mortality,” reads another card. Along the miles of coral reef off the Florida Keys, Stein and her fellow divers have found countless examples of this essential form of ocean life facing sickness and death.

The pattern of decay is shaping up as one of the sharpest impacts of climate change in the continental United States – and a direct threat to economic activity in the Keys, a haven for diving, fishing and coastal tourism.

The debate over climate change is often framed as one that pits jobs against the need to protect the planet for future generations. In deciding to exit the Paris climate agreement and roll back domestic environmental regulations, the Trump administration said it was working to protect jobs.

But what is happening here – as the warming of the sea devastates the coral reef – is a stark example of how rising temperatures can threaten existing economies.

Read the full story from the Washington Post at the Portland Press Herald

Fishermen react to extended red snapper season

June 15, 2017 — Wesley Heimen has been fishing for over 20 years.

The El Campo native woke up to good news Thursday morning that will make his fishing trips in the summer more pleasant.

The agreement between Texas, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana and the U.S. Department of Commerce will allow recreational anglers to fish for red snapper in federal and state waters for 39 weekend days beginning Friday and running through Labor Day, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

“I found out in the morning from a friend, and I was really excited,” said the 40-year-old. “It’s great that we get the opportunity to fish more in the summer now.”

Fishermen are allowed to fish Friday, Saturday and Sunday with additional open days on July 3, July 4 and Sept. 4.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s old regulation allowed fishing for red snapper for three days from June 1 to June 3.

“We only got three days in the summer session, and now we have 39 weekend days,” Heimen said. “I’m excited for the kids because the red snapper fight hard and they can get some experience catching that type of fish.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife allows fishermen four red snappers in state waters. In federal waters, the NOAA allows two red snappers.

Read the full story at the Victoria Advocate

Red Snapper season extended by 39 days

June 14, 2017 — Red snapper season in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will reopen Friday and extend through Labor Day with certain restrictions, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Wednesday.

The  39-day extension will allow Texas anglers, along with anglers in other gulf states, on private boats to catch red snapper each Friday, Saturday and Sunday during this period. Plus the season will remain open July 3-4 and Sept. 4.

This means anglers may target snapper out to 200 miles from shore during an extra 39 days this summer. In exchange, Texas state waters, which extend out nine nautical miles, will be closed to snapper fishing Monday through Thursday during the extension.

This extension will have no immediate effect on anglers fishing from charter vessels and party boats. Their season began June 1 and runs through July 19, but only in federal waters.

Previously, the summer snapper season for private anglers in federal waters ran from June 1-3 for all gulf states. Texas has a year-round snapper season in state waters, while other gulf states have shorter state seasons.

Anglers on charter vessels and party boats throughout the gulf are not allowed to fish in state waters except during the federal season.

These restrictions are meant to curb overfishing of red snapper, according to federal fisheries managers, which have imposed ever-shortening seasons. The red snapper population is on the rebound, but not fully recovered, according to federal fisheries managers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The size and bag limit for red snapper during the extended federal season will remain the same at two fish that measure at least 16 inches.

Texas rules allow anglers in state waters to keep four fish daily that measure at least 15 inches.The Texas state season will resume after Labor Day.

Florida and Alabama fisheries managers have agreed to forego their fall state-water seasons. Louisiana and Mississippi have agreed to review their fall seasons and may decide to not to reopen their state waters in the fall, according to the Department of Commerce.

Gulf Coast Seafood Alliance Applauds Agreement to Lengthen 2017 Federal Recreational Red Snapper Season, End Non-Compliant State Seasons

WASHINGTON — June 14, 2017 — The following was released today by the Gulf Coast Seafood Alliance:

The Gulf Coast Seafood Alliance (GCSA), a newly formed coalition representing Gulf commercial fishermen, seafood dealers, and restaurants, is pleased that the Department of Commerce and all five Gulf States have agreed to a more fair and equitable 2017 federal recreational red snapper season. We are grateful to Congressman Matt Gaetz for his help in bringing about these negotiations. We also applaud state fisheries managers, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, for their willingness to negotiate with federal regulators and other Gulf States.

The GCSA shared the disappointment and frustration of private anglers over the brevity of the recent three-day federal recreational red snapper season, which took place in the Gulf of Mexico between June 1 and June 4. We support any efforts to extend the federal recreational season by ending the practice of state non-compliant seasons and improving data collection on the red snapper fishery.

Per the newly reached agreement, announced today by the Commerce Department, all five Gulf States have agreed to align their seasons with the federal season for the remainder of the summer. In exchange, private anglers will have 39 weekend days and holidays through Labor Day to fish for red snapper in federal waters.

“Many of the GCSA’s members enjoy catching red snapper in addition to eating them at restaurants and markets,” said Dewey Destin, restaurateur and GCSA member. “It is clear that a three-day federal season for the private angling public is not politically or functionally acceptable. We are encouraged by the agreement reached today by the Commerce Department and the Gulf States, and hopeful for a long-term solution that is amenable to all red snapper stakeholders.”

The decision by states to not comply with federal regulations, as evidenced by conflicting season lengths, bag limits, and catch sizes, forced federal regulators to shorten the federal recreational season to account for high catches in state waters. Because states have agreed to limit this practice for the remainder of the 2017 season, the Commerce Department was presented with a unique opportunity to grant private anglers more days to fish and greater flexibility in when they fish.

The agreement between federal and state regulators applies only to the 2017 fishing season and does not pertain to subsequent fishing seasons. However, federal officials have expressed a desire to work with all stakeholders to prevent this type of emergency situation from reoccurring in the future. The GCSA looks forward to making its voice heard in any such long-term red snapper season negotiations.

About the Gulf Coast Seafood Alliance

The GCSA is a coalition of commercial fishermen, seafood dealers, and restaurants that advocates for the fair and equitable distribution of fish between commercial and recreational fishermen. The GCSA believes that people should have enough fish to catch and enough fish to buy. Our members represent a fishing economy that provides jobs, promotes tourism, and delivers fresh seafood across the Gulf Coast.

Red Snapper Season Could Re-Open Next Week For Private Anglers

June 10, 2017 — An announcement to re-open red snapper season to recreational anglers is expected next week.

“Their voice has been heard all the way to Washington and all the way to the Whitehouse,” says Jeff Boyd, Orange Beach city councilman. “It’s a win.”

If all five Gulf states agree, starting June 17th state and federal waters will be open every Saturday and Sunday for the rest of the summer through Labor Day. “I think it’s a great idea not only for the recreational fisherman but for the charter guys,” says angler Bobby Mason.

The weekends would include July 3rd and 4th and Labor Day. But, there is a catch. The states would have to agree to close their state season on weekdays.

All this in response to the shortest red snapper season in history for private boats. According to federal regulators, there are not enough red snapper to support a season longer than three days. Mason disagrees, “They’re almost an invasive species now. They’re taking over. You go and try to catch grouper and other fish all you get is snapper.”

But it’s not just about fishing. For the city of Orange Beach, Baldwin County and the state of Alabama, it’s about dollars and cents. “This is a revenue impact that is super important to our entire state,” says Boyd.

A multi-billion dollar industry for the city of Orange Beach with a large percentage of those tax dollars heading straight to Montgomery.

Read the full story at WKRG

Red snapper season could be extended starting next week

June 9, 2017 — A decision on extending the federal red snapper season for recreational anglers could come as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, said the acting commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Chris Blankenship, who was appointed to the acting commissioner’s role last week and who has been involved in negotiations to extend the season with federal authorities, said Thursday that he feels an agreement is “very close” in extending the federal recreational season to Labor Day weekend.

The agreement would have to be approved by the five Gulf states – Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas – and the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA, through National Marine Fisheries Service, is charged with managing fisheries in federal waters.

“We are working out the details in each of our own states,” said Blankenship.

Read the full story at AL.com

New protections for threatened dusky sharks taking effect

June 7, 2017 — New protections for a species of threatened East Coast shark go into effect this week.

Dusky sharks range from Maine to Florida and are down to about 20 percent of their 1970s population off the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

The sharks are in decline in part because of years of harvesting them for their meat, oil and fins. It’s already illegal to fish for them off the U.S., but they sometimes get caught as bycatch.

The federal government is rolling out new protections for the shark this week, starting on June 5. One measure requires longline fishing vessels that target fish such as tuna and swordfish to take new precautions when they accidentally catch a dusky shark and release it.

 The environmental group Oceana is suing the federal government for better protection of the sharks. The group contends the new rules to protect dusky sharks don’t go far enough.

Read the Associated Press story at The Gloucester Times 

Officials negotiating extending 2017 Red Snapper season

June 7, 2017 — CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Fisheries directors from Texas and four other gulf states have been meeting with federal decision makers to decide whether or not to extend the 2017 red snapper fishing season for recreational anglers, which began June 1 and ended June 3. It lasted three days.

If extended, the longer federal season would open up more weekends this summer for recreational fishermen to pursue red snapper in the deeper, often more plentiful federal waters – which begin nine miles from the shoreline. On the other hand, it may also threaten year-round access to fishing for red snapper in state waters off Texas.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration allotted only three days this year for recreational anglers to fish in federal waters within the Gulf of Mexico. According to Captain Scott Hickman, who operates a charter boat in the Texas gulf, the short season is the result of high harvesting in Florida, which impacts the regulations placed on anglers in other states.

Read the full story at KRIS-TV

More federal red snapper days possible

June 7, 2017 — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is considering a plan that could lead to more fishing days for red snapper in federal waters.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is offering to add more fishing days for recreational anglers in exchange for the Gulf states agreeing to shorten their red snapper season in state waters.

“Florida would have to give days to get days,” according to an FWC press release.

Current discussion are aiming to align an expanded federal season with weekend and holidays throughout the summer. In exchange, FWC would give up some fishing days in state waters, according to the release.

These changes would apply only to private anglers. No change is being considered to the for-hire season which is open daily until July 19.

The season for private anglers ended Saturday — a mere three days. Since the announcement was made, there has been intense anger from local fisherman and a steady call for a longer season. Local politicians have sent letters to both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which regulates the fishery, and the Department of Congress asking for more days.

Read the full story at the Panama City News Herald