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Southeastern Fisheries Association: Keep Federal Management of Red Snapper

June 14, 2016 — The following opinion piece was released by Southeastern Fisheries Association Executive Director Bob Jones, concerning H.R. 3094, the Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act. The bill “amend[s] the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to transfer to States the authority to manage red snapper fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.” The bill will be subject to full committee markup by the House Natural Resources Committee tomorrow, June 15:

HR 3094 will scuttle, by action and precedence, the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA). We believe the MSA has done much to make US fishery resources sustainable.

Before there was a federal fishery management zone, commercial fishermen brought their issues before the state legislatures. They were assured fair hearings by legislative committees. Then some state fish commissions, in Florida for example, assumed the management without legislative oversight. The Florida Marine Fisheries Commission did come under the Governor and SIX elected Cabinet Officers for a few years where fishery issues were fully discussed. Then an autonomous Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission was established so the commercial fishermen came under a SEVEN person group. In Florida we started out under a 160 member legislature, then down to a SEVEN member commission and now HR 3094 places us and a billion dollar seafood industry under the whims of THREE people with no federal oversight for managing federal resources. Is any other food producing industry subject to THREE unelected people in control of their livelihood?

When the MSA was enacted it established management of Gulf red snapper under a SEVENTEEN person fisheries council composed of all state members except one. The council operates under a mandated set of National Standards. For the most part it operates under the rule of law.

HR 3094 changes the rule of law to the rule of man by creating a FIVE member authority with no elected official oversight. On a FIVE member authority THREE votes is a majority.

“(502 (a) (1) of HR 3094 (says:) Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority that consists of the principal fisheries manager of each of the Gulf coastal States.“

“{c) (i) of HR 3094 (says:) any recommendation by the GSRSMA to reduce quota apportioned to the commercial sector by more than 10 percent shall be reviewed and approved by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.”

This means the ‘Gulf States authority’ will reallocate 9.99% of the red snapper each year from the commercial harvesting sector to the anglers. This Texas/Louisiana CCA inspired ‘authority’ will allocate all the red snapper for themselves in about a decade. That is the true goal of this bill.

HR 3094 was already killed when it was proposed as an amendment to the MSA legislation. It has “risen from the ashes” to once more attempt to reward the only fishing sector without accountability.

HR 3094 needs to be killed just as it was at full committee earlier in the Congress.

View a PDF version here

Red snapper confusion has some seeing red

June 10, 2016 — Next week, expect to hear more talk about confounding math methods than the first time our schoolchildren introduced us adults to Common Core. Then expect to hear that many anglers turned as red in the face as the scales on the red snapper they will again be told they can’t keep when fishing in federal waters.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet in Cocoa Beach for week-long meetings to discuss management of some of the more than 100 species of important food fish and popular game fish it is responsible for handling.

The bulk of the focus during next week’s meetings will be on the red snapper, a fish that is very important to three sectors with very different goals. Red snapper grow large, fight hard, fetch a good price at the market, and have a critical role in the ecosystem of the coral reefs located on the sea floor from North Carolina to Florida’s Treasure Coast.

Commercial fishermen working out of ports from Sebastian and Port Canaveral to the Outer Banks would love to target red snapper year round. Charter boat operators in that same zone are stinging ever since the National Marine Fisheries Service put a halt to red snapper harvest in 2010. Recreational anglers who fish a day or two on the weekend aren’t allowed to take any home for dinner, either.

But next week, the entire world that revolves around the red snapper will have a chance to read and hear the latest data on this prized and valuable resource. The long-awaited red snapper stock assessment was completed in April and peer reviewed in May, so it will be debuted to the world Tuesday and Wednesday.

Read the full story at TC Palm

Fighting Back Against Invasive Lionfish

June 6, 2016 — Invasive lionfish are a massive problem that requires creative solutions. One of the most popular approaches to lionfish management is the lionfish derby: An all-day fishing competition where teams collect as many lionfish as possible to compete for prizes. Often, the events bring together local communities in the evening to learn about (and snack on!) lionfish.

In May, Ocean Conservancy was thrilled to help sponsor the 2016 Sebastian Lionfish Fest hosted by Indian River County, Florida. I sat down with Kendra Cope, Indian River County’s coastal environmental specialist and sea turtle coordinator, to learn more about her efforts.

OC: What inspired you to host this event on lionfish?

Kendra: Lionfish have been seen in all coastal waters inside Indian River County, Florida (IRC) jurisdiction, including our local estuary the Indian River Lagoon. Lionfish are known predators of recreational and economically important Florida native fish like red snapper and grouper and have been observed along the county’s natural nearshore wormrock reefs and constructed artificial reefs.

This area also has a niche for those who love fresh, local, delicious foods. The area is home to many first class chefs who enjoy crafting dishes with new flavors. All of this created a great foundation for the food, fun, and educational outreach provided by the inaugural Sebastian Lionfish Fest.

Read the full story at Ocean Conservancy

FLORIDA: Fishermen worry proposals to protect South Florida’s reefs could impact fishing

June 2, 2016 — A group called Our Florida Reefs is pushing for changes that would help protect 105 miles of South Florida’s coral reef, but it could come at a cost for the local fishing industry.

State officials and community leaders are meeting Wednesday and Thursday in Coconut Creek to discuss plans to help better manage local reefs.

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection set up the Our Florida Reefs project. For the past two years, group members have been researching ways to help dying reefs.

Members of the group are stakeholders from Martin, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. They include business leaders, dive professionals, fishermen, environmentalists and county leaders.

Read the full story at NBC Palm Beach

SAFMC to Meet in Cocoa Beach, FL on June 13-17, 2016

May 27, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Meeting Location:

Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront

1550 N. Atlantic Avenue

Cocoa Beach FL 32931

Phone: 800-445-8667 or 321-799-0003

Agenda Highlights

Mackerel Committee – Discussion on Atlantic cobia management.
Snapper Grouper Committee – Discussions on management of mutton snapper, red snapper, and hogfish.
Data Collection Committee – Discussion on electronic reporting for charter vessels.
Joint Dolphin Wahoo/Snapper Grouper Committees – Discussion on allocations for dolphinfish and yellowtail snapper.

Fishermen hear red snapper options

May 26, 2016 — PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Charter boat captains and recreational anglers had a chance to weigh in how they think the recreational red snapper fishery should be managed during a Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council hearing Tuesday night.

For the past few years the council has managed for-hire vessels and recreational anglers differently. For example, this year for-hire boats will have a 46-day season to fish federal waters while the recreational fishermen will have nine days.

It’s worth noting that recreational fishermen will have a 78-day season in state waters this year that for-hire vessels won’t be able to participate in.

The provision that allows the two groups to be managed differently at the federal level is set to expire at the end of 2017. The council offered three options to the few dozen fishermen who showed up for the meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

Read the full story at the Panama City News Herald

Whole Foods Market to sell invasive lionfish starting Wednesday

May 26, 2016 — Whole Foods is set to sell fresh lionfish in seafood departments, hoping to take a bite out of the non-native, invasive species hurting Florida’s offshore reefs.

Starting Wednesday, 26 Florida Whole Foods stores will begin selling the whole delicate white fish for $8.99 a pound through May 31. The fish will be priced at $9.99 per pound starting June 1.

The economically-priced fish, which has 18 venomous spines, is safe to consume once the spines have been removed. “Once caught and placed on ice, the lionfish physically cannot release venom from the gland, ensuring safe consumption for shoppers,” says the release. The flesh is not poisonous.

Read the full story at the Sun Sentinel

NOAA Fisheries Announces New Snapper-Grouper Regs for South Atlantic

May 24, 2016 — The final rule for Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 35) published on May 23, 2016 (81 FR 32249). Regulations will be effective June 22, 2016.

The final rule will:

Remove dog snapper, black snapper, mahogany snapper, and schoolmaster from the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan. These species have extremely low landings, and regulations governing their harvest differ in state and federal waters. The State of Florida has indicated that it will extend state regulations for Florida registered vessels for these species into federal waters if they are removed from the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan, thereby creating a more consistent regulatory environment.
Revise regulations for the use of golden tilefish longline endorsements. Specifically, this final rule will clarify that vessels that have valid or renewable golden tilefish longline endorsements, anytime during the golden tilefish fishing year, are not eligible to fish for golden tilefish under the hook-and-line quota. This rule will ensure that fishery participants holding longline endorsements are not allowed to fish under both the hook-and-line quota and the longline quota within the same fishing year. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council reaffirmed that this was their intent when it implemented the longline endorsement program for golden tilefish under Amendment 18B to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan (78 FR 23858, April 23, 2013).

Read the full story at The Outdoor Wire

NOAA Fisheries Announces New Regulations for Snapper- Grouper in the South Atlantic

May 23, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The final rule for Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 35) published on May 23, 2016 (81 FR 32249). Regulations will be effective June 22, 2016.

The final rule will:

Remove dog snapper, black snapper, mahogany snapper, and schoolmaster from the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan. These species have extremely low landings, and regulations governing their harvest differ in state and federal waters. The State of Florida has indicated that it will extend state regulations for Florida registered vessels for these species into federal waters if they are removed from the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan, thereby creating a more consistent regulatory environment.
Revise regulations for the use of golden tilefish longline endorsements. Specifically, this final rule will clarify that vessels that have valid or renewable golden tilefish longline endorsements, anytime during the golden tilefish fishing year, are not eligible to fish for golden tilefish under the hook-and-line quota. This rule will ensure that fishery participants holding longline endorsements are not allowed to fish under both the hook-and-line quota and the longline quota within the same fishing year. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council reaffirmed that this was their intent when it implemented the longline endorsement program for golden tilefish under Amendment 18B to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan (78 FR 23858, April 23, 2013).

Atlantic red snapper closure extended through 2016

May 20, 2016 — Local anglers won’t be allowed to keep red snapper this year after federal fishery regulators announced Thursday they will keep the fish closed to harvesting, part of the government’s years-long and controversial plan to increase the species’ abundance.

The closure applies to red snapper caught in federal waters from Florida to North Carolina, a vast area ranging from 3 to 200 miles offshore where virtually all red snapper in the Atlantic Ocean are caught.

Red snapper have been strictly regulated since 2010 after a study by the federal government found that the species had been overfished for decades to dangerously low levels.

Read the full story at the Florida Times-Union