Saving Seafood

ASMFC 74th Annual Meeting Details, Preliminary Agenda and Public Comment Guidelines

August 28, 2015 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Please find below the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 74th Annual Meeting, which will be held November 2-5, 2015 at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort in St. Augustine, FL. This email contains meeting details, including the preliminary agenda. All of the business meetings scheduled during this week (with the exception of closed sessions) are open to the public, free of charge.

Our Florida Commissioners have been working hard on the meeting details and are looking forward to welcoming you all to St. Augustine. Similar to our previous Annual Meetings in Florida, this meeting will be held jointly with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 66th Annual Meeting. We have scheduled some overlapping events to allow for you all to spend time with your colleagues from the Gulf.  Our nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine was founded 450 years ago along Florida’s historic coast. Here, history comes alive in red-brick lanes leading to centuries-old churches, in forts where soldiers still walk the grounds, and on horse-drawn carriage rides through time. Head just out of town and back to nature along 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches.

ACCOMODATIONS: A block of rooms is being held at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort (500 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL).  Lisa Hartman(lhartman@asmfc.org) will make Commissioner/Proxy reservations and will contact you regarding the details of your accommodations. Please notify Lisa of any changes to your travel plans that will impact your hotel reservations (including late arrivals), otherwise you will incur no-show penalties. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

For all other attendees, please make your reservations online at http://tinyurl.com/nlnogfn as soon as possible to obtain the negotiated room rate of $119.00 plus tax. Hotel reservations must be made before September 30, 2015. Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date.  Please be aware that you must guarantee your room reservation with a major credit card or one night’s advance payment and you must notify the hotel of any cancellation prior to 72 hours before arrival or you will be billed one night’s room plus tax. If you have any problems regarding accommodations, please contact Lisa at 703.842.0740 or lhartman@asmfc.org. 

PLEASE NOTE: The negotiated room rate will be available from October 30th through November 8th. If you plan on arriving on Saturday, you should make your reservation as soon as possible since the hotel will also be hosting the Georgia Football Team following Saturday’s Georgia-Florida game.

 GETTING TO ST. AUGUSTINE: The World Golf Village Renaissance Resort is located in St. Augustine off of Interstate 95, and is easily accessible by either car or air. From the Jacksonville International Airport, take I-95 south to exit 323, International Golf Parkway. Following the exit, turn right onto International Golf Parkway, and right again into the main entrance to World Golf Village. Then follow signs to Hotel. The nearest major airport is Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). This airport is 45 miles from the Resort. Self-parking is complimentary for overnight guests.

REGISTRATION:  The meeting registration fee is $200/per participant and $150/per spouse or guest if you register by October 26, 2015. After October 26th and in St. Augustine the fees will be $225 and $175, respectively. The registration fee covers the Monday night reception, the Tuesday night dinner, and the Wednesday Hart Award Luncheon, as well event materials. Payment is not required until you arrive at the meeting; however, we ask that you please assist us in planning for the meeting by registering as soon as possible. You may register by returning the attached registration form (by email, fax, or US mail) or online at http://mahi.accsp.org:8080/myJSPs/registration74thAnnualMtg.html. Once you have registered, payment can be made in several ways (1) check, cash or credit card at the ASMFC Registration Desk at the Annual Meeting; (2) credit card by calling Lisa Hartman at 703.842.0744; or (3) mail a check to ASMFC at 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201. Please note all board/committee members attending the Annual Meeting will be reimbursed for the full pre-registration fee. However, late registration fees will not be reimbursed. 

FISHING TOURNAMENT: Plans are well underway for the 24th Annual Laura Leach Fishing Tournament. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. You will receive a t-shirt with your $20 entry fee with 100% of the tournament proceeds going to kids’ fishing programs in Florida. If you intend to fish, a fishing license can be obtained at https://license.myfwc.com or by visiting a local tackle shop that sells licenses.  The tournament runs from Sunday (11/1) through Wednesday morning (11/4); the raffle drawing and tournament prizes will be awarded at Wednesday Awards Luncheon.  Additional information about kayak rentals, fishing locations, tackle shops, etc. will be provided to tournament anglers.

FOR SPOUSES/GUESTS: The Monday Morning Social for Spouses and Guests will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the hotel. On Tuesday, Ancient City Tours will take spouses and guests to some of the notable historic sites in St. Augustine, including the Fountain of Youth (remember to drink the water!), the Lightner Museum, and Castillo de San Marcos Fort.  Sit back as the driver shares the history and sights of our Nation’s Oldest City on the Old Town Trolley tour.  Lunch will be provided at the Five Flags Café.

The final agenda and meeting materials will be available on October 22, 2015 on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-Annual-Meeting. We look forward to seeing you all in St. Augustine in November!

Preliminary Agenda

The agenda is subject to change. Bulleted items represent the anticipated major issues to be discussed or acted upon at the meeting. The final agenda will include additional items and may revise the bulleted items provided below. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. Interested parties should anticipate Boards starting earlier or later than indicated herein.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

 

2:00 – 5:30 p.m.                                Registration

 

Monday, November 2, 2015

 

7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.                      Registration

 

8:00 – 10:30 a.m.                              American Lobster Management Board 

  • Discuss Management Response to the 2015 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report

o   Report from Subcommittee (Subset of Board, Lobster Conservation Management Team and Technical Committee Members) Input on the Southern New England Stock

o   Technical Committee Report

  • Discussion and Initiation of an Addendum to Set Effort Controls for Jonah Crab-only Trap Fishermen
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2015 American Lobster Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
  • Review and Consider Approval of Advisory Panel Membership

 

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.                  Atlantic Herring Section

  • Set Fishery Specifications for 2016-2018
  • Review and Consider Approval of Draft Amendment 3 for Public Comment

 

1:45 – 3:45 p.m.                                Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

  • Review Wave 4 Data (if available) for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Recreational Harvest and Discuss Potential Implications for 2016 Management
  • Consider Continuing the Ad-Hoc Approaches to Regional Management for Black Sea Bass
  • Consider Approval of the Terms of Reference for the Black Sea Bass Benchmark Stock Assessment
  • Review the  2015/2016 Black Sea Bass Quotas Based on the Outcome of the September 2015 Mid-Atlantic Fishery management Council Science and Statistical Committee Meeting
  • Update Board on Scup Scoping/Public Information Document for Amendment
  • Update Board on the Schedule of Assessment Updates for Summer Flounder and Scup

 

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.                                Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Executive Committee 

(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members only)

  • Status Report (Program and Committee Updates)
  • Independent Program Review Progress
  • APAIS Update
  • Governance Update
  • Executive Committee Membership Standard Operating Procedures
  • Recommendations from the Operations and Advisory Committees on Project Funding

 

3:00 – 6:00 p.m.                                Registration

 

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.                                ACCSP Coordinating Council 

  • Status Report (Program and Committee Updates)
  • Independent Program Review Progress
  • Governance Update
  • Executive Committee Membership Standard Operating Procedures
  • Recommendations from the Operations and Advisory Committees on Project Funding
  • Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

 

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.                                 Welcome Reception 

 

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

 

7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.                      Registration

 

8:00 – 10:00 a.m.                              Executive Committee

(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members and Commissioners only)

  • Review Guidance Documents
  • Review Fiscal Year 2015 Audit

 

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.                      Habitat Committee

  • Discuss Improvements to Habitat Factsheet Content and Rollout
  • Review 2015 Work Plan and Set 2016 Work Plan
  • Discuss Progress on Fishery Management Plan Amendments, Habitat Bottlenecks White Paper, and Sciaenid Habitat Source Document

8:30 a.m. – Noon                              Joint Meeting of the SEAMAP-SA and GSMFC Crustacean Workgroups

 

10:15 – 11:15 a.m.                            American Eel Management Board

  • Technical Committee Report on Maine’s Life Cycle Survey Proposal
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2015 American Eel Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance

 

11:30 a.m. – Noon                           Weakfish Management Board

  • Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Weakfish Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
  • Update on 2016 Benchmark Stock Assessment

 

Noon – 1:30 p.m.                             Legislators and Governors’ Appointees Luncheon

 

1:30 – 3:00 p.m.                                Winter Flounder Management Board

  • Review the Groundfish Assessment and Review Meeting Stock Assessment Update Results for the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Stocks
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Winter Flounder Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance

 

2:00 – 4:30 p.m.                                Registration

 

3:15 – 5:45 p.m.                                Atlantic Menhaden Management Board

  • Update on Working Group’s Progress for Ecosystem Management Objectives and Allocation
  • Discuss Allowance of Cast Nets Under the Bycatch Provision of Amendment 2
  • Provide Guidance to Plan Development Team on the Development of the Public Information Document for Draft Amendment 3

 

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.                                Annual Dinner at the Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

 

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

 

8:00 – 10:00 a.m.                              Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board 

  • Review 2015 Stock Assessment Update and Projections on Reaching Coastwide Fishing Mortality Target with Addendum IV Regulations
  • Technical Committee Report on Coastwide and Fleet-specific Fishing Mortality Reference Points

 

8:30 a.m. – Noon                              Law Enforcement Committee

(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members, authorized law enforcement personnel, and LEC Coordinators only)

  • ISFMP Species Board Issues
  • Federal and State Agency Reports
  • Discussion of Atlantic Striped Bass Compliance Report Needs for 2016
  • Review 2015 Action Plan Completion and 2016 Action Plan Items
  • Closed Session (as needed, to discuss ongoing enforcement activities)

 

10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.                  Tautog Management Board

  • Review Public Comment on the Public Information Document to Draft Amendment 1
  • Provide Guidance to Plan Development Team on the Development of Draft Amendment 1
  • Review and Consider Approval of Advisory Panel Membership

 

12:15 – 1:45 p.m.                              ASMFC Captain David H. Hart & GSMFC Lyles-Simpson Awards Luncheon

 

1:45 – 5:45 p.m.                                Joint Meeting of the ASMFC Law Enforcement Committee and the GSMFC Law Enforcement Advisory Committee

 

1:45 – 2:45 p.m.                                Business Session

  • Review and Consider Approval of 2016 Annual Action Plan
  • Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
  • Review Non-compliance Findings (if necessary)

 

2:00 – 6:00 p.m.                                Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) Steering Committee

  • Discuss Outcomes of the Recent Science and Data Committee Meeting and Next Steps for the Steering Committee
  • Receive Updates on the Implementation Plan
  • Discuss Potential Goals and Objectives for Next Conservation Strategic Plan
  • Approve FY2016 Projects for Recommendation to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.                                Coastal Sharks Management Board

  • Set 2016 Specifications Based on Federal Quotas (if available)
  • Update on NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Amendment 6 Final Rule and Draft Amendment 9
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2014 Coastal Sharks Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance

 

4:15 – 5:15 p.m.                                Spiny Dogfish Management Board

  • Set Specifications for Spiny Dogfish
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2014 Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance

 

Thursday, November 5, 2015

 

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.                 Horseshoe Crab Management Board

  • Horseshoe Crab Technical Committee Report

o   Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Survey Reports Summary

o   Adaptive Resource Management Framework Harvest Output for 2016

  • Set Specifications for the 2016 Delaware Bay Fishery
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Horseshoe Crab Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
  • Update on the Virginia Tech Horseshoe Crab Trawl Survey

 

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.                      ACFHP Steering Committee (continued)

 

9:15 – 11:15 a.m.                              Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board

  • Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Update
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Atlantic Sturgeon Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Report
  • Habitat Committee Report
  • Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Report
  • Law Enforcement Committee Report
  • Management and Science Committee Report

 

11:15 – 11:45 a.m.                            Business Session (if necessary)

 

12:15 – 1:45 p.m.                              South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board 

  • Update on 2015 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
  • Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Spanish Mackerel Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
  • Discuss Black Drum Compliance Report Deadline

 

Public Comment Guidelines

With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:

For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs will use a speaker sign-up list in deciding how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.

For topics that are on the agenda, but have not gone out for public comment, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the board.

For agenda action items that have already gone out for public comment, it is the Policy Board’s intent to end the occasional practice of allowing extensive and lengthy public comments. Currently, board chairs have the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.

In addition, the following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action).

1.    Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included in the briefing materials.

2.    Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday, October 27, 2015 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.

3.    Following the Tuesday, October 27, 2015 5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).

The submitted comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution.  As with other public comment, it will be accepted via mail, fax, and email.

 

Scallops rebounding in Tampa Bay, count shows

August 26, 2015 — People are jumping into the waters north of here and hauling out scallops by the thousands this time of year, but the environmental group Tampa Bay Watch is rejoicing at a far smaller found number closer to home — just 233 of them.

It was a scientific undertaking by selected volunteers off Boca Ciega and Fort DeSoto that turned up the local scallops Saturday, rather than hungry snorkelers looking for their next meal from the Pasco-Hernando county line north during the Gulf harvest that runs through Sept. 24.

But 233 is nearly double the 112 found in local waters during last year’s Great Bay Scallop Search and represents an upward trend line that has local scallop watchers celebrating. Just five were counted in 2011.

Both Tampa Bay Watch and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission describe scallop populations as an indicator of water quality because of the shellfish’s sensitivity to pollution and their ability to filter and clean the water of nuisance species like phytoplankton.

Scallop numbers can be an indicator that something’s going on at a bigger level, and extreme changes mean the local population might collapse, said Sarah Stephenson, a scientist at the state’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

Read the full story at The Suncoast News

 

Rep. Clawson introduces lionfish legislation in Congress

August 5, 2015 — Curt Clawson, R-Bonita Springs, has introduced a bill that would ban importing all 11 lionfish species, including the nine that have not been found in U.S. waters.

The bill would not interfere with the selling of fish fillets, which encourages to help eliminate the fish in Florida waters.

The bill was introduced last week.

Lionfish are an invasive species and can consume up to 40 juvenile sports fish per day, lay up to 2 million eggs per year and has no natural predators in the Western Hemisphere.

Read the full story at News-Press.com

 

Clawson introduces lionfish legislation in Congress

August 4, 2015 — FLORIDA –Curt Clawson, R-Bonita Springs, has introduced a bill that would ban importing all 11 lionfish species, including the nine that have not been found in U.S. waters.

The bill would not interfere with the selling of fish fillets, which encourages to help eliminate the fish in Florida waters.

The bill was introduced last week.

Lionfish are an invasive species and can consume up to 40 juvenile sports fish per day, lay up to 2 million eggs per year and has no natural predators in the Western Hemisphere.

Read the full story at News-Press.com

 

 

FLORIDA: Struggle continues over Biscayne National Park marine reserve

August 3, 2015 — Lloyd Miller, a 95-year-old Florida conservationist, waited patiently through the testimony of nine people at a hearing about a marine reserve zone in Biscayne National Park before he rose to his feet with the help of a cane to address three members of Congress Monday morning.

“If anyone should be able to speak at something like this, it’s me,” said Miller, who advocated for the creation of Biscayne National Monument in 1968, a precursor to today’s nearly 174,000 acre-national park. “It’s so important for us to save it.”

Miller was one of about 150 people who came to a joint congressional hearing in Homestead of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Small Business Committee to discuss a controversial portion of the National Park Service’s general management planfinalized in June — a 10,500 acre “no fishing” reserve. The joint hearing was requested by Republican U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Curbelo and included invitation-only witnesses, many saying the National Park Service’s data was outdated and that the fish population in Biscayne National Park isn’t endangered enough to warrant a reserve.

“I don’t think the fishing and the resources are as bad off as they’re making it,” said Jimbo Thomas, owner of charter fishing business Thomas Flyer. “I’d rather see the state put in rules, regulations, seasons, size limits — let them do the work.”

Read the full story at the Miami Herald

 

Proposed Legislation in Congress Would Block Planned Fishing Ban in Florida

August 3, 2015 — On Monday, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Small Business held a congressional hearing in Homestead.

The subject of the hearing was a proposed bill that would allow state fishery managers to block fishing bans in state waters within national parks.

The bill’s relevance to South Florida is that it would shut down an attempt to create a marine reserve zone blocking commercial and recreational fishing in a portion of Biscayne National Park.

The hearing was standing-room only, and supporters representing both sides of the bill brought their passionate arguments to the Homestead community center.

Read the full story at WLRN Miami

Field Hearing Highlights Oversight Failures in Plan to Ban Fishing in New Biscayne Bay National Park

August 3, 2015 — WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following was released by the House Natural Resources Committee:

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Small Business Committee held a joint field hearing in Homestead, Florida, on the National Park Service’s (NPS) General Management Plan (GMP) for Biscayne National Park released in June 2015.  The GMP, which includes a Marine Reserve Zone (MRZ) that would be closed to all commercial and recreational fishing, conflicts with the position of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the recommendations of the park’s own stakeholder working group.

“Today we heard first-hand accounts from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, local fishermen and businesses on the National Park Service’s draconian plan to close a third of the Biscayne National Park’s reefs from fishing,” stated House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-R). “The National Park Service set up local management advisory groups on Biscayne National Park – and then ignored the recommendations.  The State of Florida’s input on the plan was rebuffed. This is not the way to run a National Park System.”

“I commend my Florida colleagues Rep. Curbelo, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and Rep. Diaz-Balart for helping to elevate public attention to this matter,” Bishop added. “Together, we will take action to address the abuses of the National Park Service and re-establish public input and access at Biscayne Bay.”

On Thursday, July 30th, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen introduced the Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act (H.R. 3310), which would ensure that federal and state agencies collaborate in the development of any new fishing access restrictions in areas where state marine waters and national park or national marine sanctuary boundaries overlap. The Committee on Natural Resources will be acting on the legislation.

During the hearing, witnesses discussed the NPS’s disregard for state and public input, lack of transparency, and disregard for the scientific process in developing the GMP, as well as the economic and environmental implications of the final GMP.

Ms. Jessica McCawley, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries Management, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), stated: “FWC cannot support this plan for many reasons. First, the Park’s refusal to explore alternatives to a no-fishing marine reserve zone early in the GMP planning process ultimately contributed to a failed attempt to find a workable compromise. Second, FWC views the implementation of a no-fishing zone within the marine reserve zone under the GMP as a breach of the partnership agreement established through the MOU. Third, the proposed fishery closure is being based on an inappropriate application of scientific analysis. Fourth, the closure would unnecessarily restrict public access and negatively impact the south Florida economy.”

“The data bases used to begin the development of the GMP more than a decade ago are no longer germane to current stock levels or the condition of sea grasses, corals and other benthic habitat.  Park managers find it far too convenient to blame fishing for all of the ills facing the park because it is the easiest to regulate,” stated Mr. Ernie Piton, Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association. “The development of the GMP is now 14 years old and again, working groups assembled to help in the formulation of the plan have not met for at least 12 years.”

Mr. Carl Liederman, Owner of Miami’s Captain Harry’s Fishing Supply, stated: “While significant in terms of lost public access, closing this area will do nothing biologically to improve the overall fisheries conditions in the park. There is simple no good science to support it, as the FWC can attest here today. And that coupled with the adverse economic impact this closure will bring to many of the marine related small businesses in south Florida makes this closure a very bad idea.”

Click here to view additional information on the hearing.

Tide turns for Florida bay scallops, restoration continues in Tarpon Bay

July 31, 2015 — Standing in the chest-deep water of Tarpon Bay this week, Eric Milbrandt handed a cage full of bay scallops to Sarah Bridenbaugh aboard a Carolina Skiff.

Milbrandt, director of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Marine Laboratory, and research assistant Bridenbaugh weren’t harvesting the tasty mollusks (harvesting bay scallops south of the Pasco-Hernando county line is illegal).

Instead, the caged scallops would be cleaned, counted and measured by Bridenbaugh and interns Krystal Silas, Emily Anderson and Chrissy McCrimmon for an ongoing scallop restoration project.

“Old-timers talk about collecting buckets of scallops in the 1950s and ’60s,” Milbrant said. “What we’re trying to do is re-establish a local population of scallops. We’d like to see a population that can sustain a recreational harvest, but we’re quite a long way from that.”

Read the full story at the News-Press

 

Legislation Introduced to Preserve Fishing Access in Biscayne National Park

July 31, 2015 — On the heels of the recent announcement to close over 10,000 acres of Biscayne National Park to fishing, a coalition of recreational fishing and boating organizations praised the introduction of a bipartisan bill, H.R. 3310, that will help stop this and similar unwarranted fishing closures from occurring. Led by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), and 28 other original sponsors, the “Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act” requires the National Park Service and Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to have approval from state fish and wildlife agencies before closing state waters to recreational or commercial fishing.

“Probably the most concerning aspect of the Biscayne National Park marine reserve decision is the total disregard for the fisheries management expertise of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,” said Mike Leonard, Ocean Resource Policy director for the American Sportfishing Association. “The states are responsible for nearly all of our nation’s saltwater fisheries management successes. This legislative safeguard will prevent the federal government from ignoring the fisheries management expertise of the states in these types of situations.”

Throughout the development of the General Management Plan for Biscayne National Park, through which the marine reserve is being implemented, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has provided detailed recommendations to improve the condition of the fisheries resources in the park. The Commission has continually expressed its position that the proposed marine reserve is overly restrictive to the public; will not be biologically effective; and that less restrictive management tools can rebuild the park’s fisheries resources and conserve habitat.

 

Read the full story at Florida Sportsman