Saving Seafood

Read the latest South Atlantic Update Newsletter – Now Available!

November 27, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Inside this issue:

Council Requests Changes to Red Snapper Annual Catch Limits for 2018

The Council approved an amendment to modify the catch limit for 2018 with the intent to allow a limited harvest next year as the red snapper stock continues to rebuild…

NOTE: As this issue of the SA Update Newsletter was sent to press – NOAA Fisheries announced the opening of an additional weekend for the recreational harvest of red snapper – December 8-10, 2017. Read more by clicking here.

Chair’s Column

Newly elected Council Chair Charlie Phillips shares his insight…

Cobia Management Update

Read the latest on proposed management changes for Atlantic cobia…

MyFishCount.com

Recreational anglers have the opportunity to report their red snapper fishing activities during 2017. See the results and how this pilot project may be used in the future….

And more!

Read the full newsletter here

Recreational Reopening of Red Snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters on December 8, 9, & 10, 2017

November 24, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT/WHEN:

The recreational harvest of red snapper in South Atlantic federal waters will reopen for three days in December 2017. Recreational harvest will reopen 12:01 a.m. (local time) on December 8, 2017, and close 12:01 a.m. (local time) on December 11, 2017. During the three-day reopening, the recreational bag limit for red snapper is one fish per person per day with no minimum size limit.

WHY THIS REOPENING IS HAPPENING:

Recreational harvest of red snapper was allowed for six days in November 2017. The 2017 recreational catch limit for red snapper is 29,656 fish. As of November 16, 2017, preliminary estimates of recreational harvest indicate that the catch limit has not been caught, likely due to inclement weather. Harvest projections show that an additional three-day opening for red snapper by the recreational sector would not result in harvest exceeding the 2017 recreational catch limit.

AFTER THE REOPENING:

  • Recreational harvest of red snapper is closed for the remaining part of 2017 beginning at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on December 11, 2017.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6.

Access this and other Fishery Bulletins from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office by clicking here.

Learn more about NOAA at their site here.

 

How Many Red Snapper Are in the Gulf of Mexico?

November 22, 2017 — Several stakeholder groups have expressed concerns that there are more red snapper in the Gulf than currently accounted for in the stock assessment.

In 2016, Congress directed the National Sea Grant College Program and NOAA Fisheries to fund independent red snapper data collections, surveys and assessments, including the use of tagging and advanced sampling technologies. Sea Grant and NOAA Fisheries worked collaboratively to transfer federal funds to Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant offsite link to administer the competitive research grant process and manage this independent abundance estimate.

To conduct the independent study, a research team of 21 scientists from 12 institutions of higher learning, a state agency and a federal agency was selected by an expert review panel convened by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. The team secured $9.5 million in federal funds for the project through a competitive research grant process, and together with matching funds from the universities, the project will total $12 million.

Read the full story at Marine Technology News

 

Fishery Managers and Fishermen Team Up to Report Red Snapper Catch

November 9, 2017 — CHARLESTON, S.C. — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

Weather played a role for 42% of the fishermen that chose not to fish for red snapper during this past weekend’s mini-season. That’s according to fishermen that reported using the new pilot project MyFishCount.com, a voluntary recreational reporting program being developed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in collaboration with the Snook and Gamefish Foundation and Elemental Methods. The pilot uses an online web portal that allows recreational fishermen to report about their red snapper fishing activities, including the length of the fish kept and of those released, catch location, depth fished, hook type, hooking location, release treatment, and reason for release. Fishermen may also report trips that are scheduled and not taken for various reasons, including weather. This pilot will only be available during the red snapper mini-season. Afterward, the site will be revamped based on suggestions from participating fishermen.

As of Wednesday, a total of 82 fishermen have signed up for the pilot program and 80 trips have been reported. To join, fishermen simply create an account and then log their fishing activities. Input from fishermen that use the MyFishCount.com reporting platform as part of the pilot project will be crucial to how the platform can be improved. The input may also help in the development of future electronic reporting tools and what fishermen want to see in the design and use of these tools. Recreational fishermen, including private anglers, charter fishermen, and headboat fishermen may report. The pilot project will be modified into a mobile app to improve ease of reporting and may be expanded to include other species, with a goal to be available in 2018.

“Fishermen from across the region have shown interest in using new platforms for reporting their catch in an effort to supplement existing recreational data collection programs,” explained Dr. Chip Collier, the Council staff member supervising the pilot program. “The limited 2017 season offers an opportunity for us to test the pilot project and allow anglers targeting red snapper to share their experience,” said Collier. “The information we’ve received thus far is preliminary but we are encouraged by the participation in the early stages of the pilot project.” Collier noted the numbers of fishermen reporting that they chose not to fish due to the weather during the first weekend of the mini-season. “This kind of information has not been readily available to the Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service.”

“We don’t know at this time exactly how data from this pilot project may be used,” said Dr. Collier. “Right now we are learning from fishermen using the program, and with their help we hope to make this type of reporting platform a potential data stream for future use in fisheries management.” Dr. Collier acknowledged the impacts of weather in determining fishing effort. Fishermen are encouraged to create an account on MyFishCount.com, create a trip and then log it as an abandoned trip due to weather when applicable. “Access to fishing days is important data for managers to consider and it strengthens the robustness of the platform,” explained Collier.

The red snapper recreational mini-season continues in federal waters in the South Atlantic this coming weekend, November 10th through 12th, with a one fish per person per day bag limit and no minimum size limit. Fishermen can report trips that are scheduled and not taken for various reasons, including weather. While the Council does not have the authority to set or change fishing dates – those decisions are made by NOAA Fisheries and the Secretary of Commerce – information about abandoned trips could be helpful when proposing future management decisions. Information reported at MyFishCount.com will be provided to NOAA Fisheries by Wednesday following the second weekend of the mini-season.

State marine resource agencies will continue to collect biological samples and other data from fishermen as they return from their fishing trips this coming weekend. “We want to thank our state partners for all of their hard work during the red snapper season and the support of the recreational fishing community thus far,” said Dr. Collier. “We encourage anglers to cooperate with the state agencies this weekend and to also do their part by participating in the MyFishCount.com pilot reporting program and encouraging others to do so.”

Two-weekend red snapper season opens Friday in South Carolina, Southeast

November 2, 2017 — After signs of recovery for the species, recreational offshore anglers will be able to catch tasty red snapper this weekend and next.

The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council approved “an interim annual catch limit” running Friday through Sunday, and again Nov. 10-12. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce signed off on the mini seasons this week.

Boats will be able to keep one fish per person per day with no minimum size limit throughout the Southeast coastal states.

Snapper is one of the most sought-after catches by seafood customers and anglers, but the catch has been shut down since 2014 as the council worked to rebuild stock. Research data from commercial anglers suggests the species has turned the corner to recovery.

Read the full story at the Post and Courier

 

Red snapper anglers are sources for data

November 2, 2017 — Recreational anglers returning with catches of red snapper during this month’s back-to-back mini seasons will be greeted by researchers with clipboards and questions at the docks and ramps.

For the sake of some sound and reliable red snapper data, fishermen are urged to participate in the surveys and sample studies by representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The data seekers, including law enforcement personnel and volunteers, will be working at Port Canaveral and in the Sebastian Inlet vicinity, plus seven other Atlantic Coast sites among them Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets and Ponce Inlet at New Smyrna Beach.

The dates for the two mini seasons are this weekend, Nov. 3-5, and Nov. 10-12.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council announced the special seasons on Oct. 27 after it received approval from National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration officials.

A limited commercial season from Nov. 2 through Dec. 31 also was approved but it may not run to duration because of a commercial catch quota.

Read the full story at FloridaToday

Red snapper season could be too little, too late

November 2, 2017 — After three years of no allowable red snapper fishing off the South Atlantic coast, it opens back up today for the first in consecutive 3-day weekends for recreational fishermen. For a lot of charter fishermen, however, the chance to take advantage of the reopened fishery may have come and gone.

Scott Griffin of Goin’ Coastal Charters said he and his fellow captains really had less than a week to get the word out, and even then, years of atrophy to offshore charter business already had an impact.

“Most of the guys are concentrating inshore for trout and redfish right now,” Griffin said. “If it had been during the tourist season, it would have been a whole different story. We could’ve booked all six days. So, giving us one week’s notice in the middle of the fall, it basically does nothing for us. It’s a shame, too, because the fish are out there.”

The area covered goes from 3 miles out from the coast, to 200 miles, administered through federal regulatory bodies.

In the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meetings on Jekyll Island in March, discussion shifted between whether they were in a position to accurately know the health of the fishery, to the amount of by-catch — usually dead snapper thrown back into the water when caught during fishing for other species — to the continuing frustration of recreational anglers who maintain there are more than enough red snapper for both harvesting and maintaining the population.

Read the full story at the Brunswick News

 

Recreational Anglers Asked to Help with Red Snapper Reporting

November 1, 2017 — CHARLESTON, South Carolina — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Recreational fishermen gearing up to take advantage of the red snapper mini-season this year will also have the opportunity to voluntarily report their catches and releases of red snapper via a new pilot reporting website at MyFishCount.com. The recreational season will open in federal waters of the South Atlantic for two consecutive 3-day weekends, November 3rd through 5th and November 10th through 12th.

After hearing the requests of anglers across the region, the Council and the Snook and Gamefish Foundation in partnership with Elemental Methods, have teamed up to make recreational electronic reporting a possibility for the 2017 red snapper mini-season through MyFishCount.com. The type of catch information anglers can record on MyFishCount.com include fish length, photos, depth fished, release method, and more.

To log catches on MyFishCount.com, anglers need to first register for an account on the website. Once registered, the easy-to-use website will allow each user the opportunity to create a trip log, enter catch information, and view past trips from one convenient location. The website is accessible from any internetenabled device while in cellular range. To collect information while fishing offshore out of cellular range, anglers can download and print a log sheet to record catch information to later be entered into MyFishCount.com. The downloadable form will be available for the mini-season and available on the MyFishCount.com website and the Council’s website under the Red Snapper Reporting page.

Using MyFishCount.com during the mini-season is an opportunity to collect information about the current red snapper fishery and can provide information to inform the development of future recreational reporting platforms. “We saw a unique opportunity to involve anglers in testing this pilot program with this year’s red snapper mini-season,” explained Chester Brewer, recreational fisherman and member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from West Palm Beach, Florida. “Fishermen have been telling managers about the increasing numbers of red snapper as the stock continues to rebuild. This pilot project gives them the opportunity to help document what they are seeing.” Brewer noted that this type of data collection effort may be useful in the future management of red snapper.

“It is also imperative that anglers use best fishing practices as they take advantage of this opportunity to catch red snapper,” said Brewer. “The use of descending devices and other best fishing practices will be highly beneficial in reducing fishing mortality as this stock continues to rebuild.”

Additional information on the pilot program, best fishing practices, and other items of interest for the upcoming red snapper season is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/electronic-reportingprojects/red-snapper-reporting.

To learn more about MyFishCount and to register for an account, visit MyFishCount.com or contact Kelsey Dick at the Council office at 843-725-7580 or kelsey.dick@safmc.net.

NOAA about-face on red snapper revives overfishing debate

October 31, 2017 — Reversing course, NOAA Fisheries said it will allow anglers in the South Atlantic to catch red snapper for the first time in three years.

Calling it an “emergency action,” the fisheries service said it would create two mini-seasons over the next two weekends for recreational anglers in federally controlled waters off the coast of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Commercial fishermen may be allowed to catch red snapper until Dec. 31.

“NOAA Fisheries has determined that the limited harvest in 2017 is not expected to result in overfishing and will not prevent the continued rebuilding of the red snapper population,” the agency said in a statement released late Friday.

Coming only four months after Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross extended the red snapper season in the Gulf of Mexico, the decision revived a long-simmering debate about how much fishing should be permitted and the federal government’s management of the popular species (Greenwire, Sept. 20).

Read the full story at E&E News

Council’s Request for Red Snapper Season in 2017 Approved

October 27, 2017 — Charleston, S.C. — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

At the request of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and working closely with NOAA Fisheries, an interim annual catch limit has been approved that will open the red snapper fishery to limited harvest in 2017. NOAA Fisheries announced today that the red snapper recreational fishery in the South Atlantic region will open for two consecutive 3-day weekends beginning November 3rd. Recreational fishermen may harvest red snapper in federal waters (from 3 to 200 nautical miles) November 3rd through 5th and November 10th through 12th. The recreational bag limit is 1 fish per person/day and there is no minimum size limit. The commercial fishery will open November 2nd with a 75-pound (gutted weight) trip limit and no minimum size limit. Commercial trip limits are limits on the amount of the applicable species that may be possessed on board or landed, purchased, or sold from a vessel per day.

“We sincerely appreciate the decision by the Secretary of Commerce to allow limited harvest of red snapper this year,” said Council Chair Charlie Phillips. “Approving the Council’s request for an interim catch limit for 2017 will allow fishermen limited access to the resource as the stock continues to rebuild, provide an economic boost to fishing communities impacted by Hurricane Irma, and present an opportunity for data to be collected from both recreational and commercial fishermen.” The 2017 red snapper season is based on the approved interim annual catch limit of 42,510 fish. The recreational sector is allocated 71.93% of the total annual catch limit.

During the open red snapper season, state marine resource agency personnel will be conducting surveys at various locations and collecting samples from fishermen. Anglers are encouraged to cooperate with samplers and to provide carcasses (after fillets have been removed) for data collection.

Fishermen are also urged to use best fishing practices to minimize the number of released red snapper and help improve the likelihood that released fish will survive. “The red snapper fishery has remained closed since 2014 because mortality estimates of the number of released fish exceeded the annual catch limit,” explained Captain Mark Brown, Council Vice-Chair and a full-time charter captain based in Mt. Pleasant, SC. “It is imperative that we use best practices. The key to having future access to red snapper lies in reducing the mortality of fish that are released.”

Best Practices

  • Once you have met your red snapper bag limit, move away from areas likely to have red snapper. If you are approaching your vessel limit, move to a different area. When red snapper are out of season avoid areas where they are common.
  • Use single hook rigs – since the bag limit is 1 per person, this potentially reduces the number of red snapper caught on one drop.
  • If you catch a red snapper and plan to release the fish, keep the fish in the water as you remove the hook and return the fish back to the water as quickly as possible. Tips on how to use a dehooking device.
  • Recognize signs of barotrauma: bulging eyes, stomach protruding from mouth, distended intestines, bloated belly. Information on signs of barotrauma.

Use descending devices if releasing fish with barotrauma. There are a variety of devices available. Different types of descending devices and their use.

New Pilot Program for Recreational Reporting

Recreational anglers will have the opportunity to report individually about their red snapper fishing trips via a voluntary pilot program being tested for the first time as the red snapper mini-season opens. MyFishCount.com is a new web portal that allows anglers to report their catches using photos to document lengths, as well as depths fish are caught, release techniques, hook type, and other information. Anglers are encouraged to register online and to take photos and keep written records of the information while offshore.

Additional information on this pilot program as well as other items of interest for the upcoming red snapper season is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/electronic-reporting-projects/red-snapper-reporting.

Season for 2018

In addition to the emergency rule request to allow an opening this year, the Council also approved measures in Amendment 43 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan during its September 25, 2017 meeting. The amendment would revise the process for calculating the annual catch limit with the intent to allow a red snapper season in 2018. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the recreational fishery would open the second Friday in July (July 13, 2018) and the commercial fishery the second Monday in July (July 9, 2018).

The catch rate during the 2017 season will be considered in setting the length of any 2018 season, so fishermen are encouraged to follow the best fishing practices and to be conservative in how many red snapper they catch during 2017. The amendment is currently under review and an announcement from NOAA Fisheries about a 2018 red snapper season is expected in early 2018.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida. For more information, visit: www.safmc.net.