Saving Seafood

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.

Compromise solution floated on red snapper season

June 12, 2017 — A possible extension of the federal red snapper season could be coming soon, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Acting Commissioner Chris Blankenship has taken part in talks with federal officials to possibly extend the federal season for recreational fishing to Labor Day weekend.

The negotiations have included leaders from across the state and other officials in Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Texas, as well as officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Each state is working out how a compromise could work for its waters.

For Alabama, the current proposal would create a 27-day season that could begin as soon as June 17 to allow fishing in federal waters every Saturday and Sunday until after Labor Day weekend. The newly proposed season would also include July 3 and 4.

In order to get that deal, state officials would have to give up allowed days of fishing in state waters. Fishermen are allowed in Alabama waters, that extend nine nautical miles from the shore, to fish until July 31.

Under the proposed compromise, the state would give up the ability for fishermen to fish within their waters Monday through Friday.

Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott said he and other elected officials across the county had asked for a similar season extension in letters they sent to President Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and added he felt this compromise might be a possible solution.

Read the full story at The Islander

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

LDWF seeks comment on red snapper options

June 10, 2017 — Rancor, the word in all its definitions, properly describes the sentiment pervading the issue of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico among Louisiana’s recreational offshore fishermen.

Despite what’s turned out to be a 200-day season in state waters out to nine miles for this species, this year’s three-day June 1-3 season in federal waters out to 200 miles into the Gulf stirred enough resentment toward federal fisheries managers and fierce opponents to recreational access that congressional delegations from the five Gulf states jumped into the fray.

While Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., declined specific comment on his part, he said there were many others stirring this stew for more recreational access. The result is a package of three options the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will elicit public comment on during a special meeting set for 1:30 p.m. Monday at the state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

Here’s what the U.S. Department of Commerce, through its National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and National Marine Fisheries Section, agreed to offer, after the hard push from the five Gulf states’ congressmen and senators.

Read the full story at The Acadiana Advocate

Texas proposes to extend snapper fishing season

June 9, 2017 — Texas Parks & Wildlife officials, along with officials with other gulf states, and federal fisheries managers are negotiating the possibility of extending the private recreational snapper season.

Department officials are asking for public input during a series of meetings scheduled for Corpus Christi, Galveston and Port Isabel.

One proposal would allow weekend-only snapper fishing in federal waters starting in late June and extending through August. Another plan would allow the season to remain open July 3-4, which fall on a Monday and Tuesday.

Another option would be a 39-day weekend-only season from June 17 into September, with Fridays included.

None of these proposals would affect the recreational season for anglers who fish from charter and party boats. That season, which is underway, runs through July 19.

The trade off would change when anglers in Texas and other gulf states would be allowed to catch snapper in state waters, within nine nautical miles of shore. If adopted, the proposal calls for all state-water seasons to shut down during weekdays throughout summer and possibly into the fall.

This also might eliminate the 2018 federal snapper season. The 2107 season lasted three days, the shortest ever.

Read the full story at the Corpus Christi Caller Times

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

LOUISIANA: Red snapper dominates LWFC meeting

June 9, 2017 — Discussion of red snapper, and the state’s options about a new federal recreational plan, during Thursday’s Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission monthly meeting will spill over to Monday after commission chairman Chad Courville said more public input is needed for the seven-member commission to accept one of three options advanced earlier this week.

The special meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. Monday at state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

The options were revealed in a survey sent Monday by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Marine Fisheries Section to 15,000 holders of the state Recreational Offshore Landing Permit. LDWF secretary Jack Montoucet told the commission 5,000 holders responded to the survey in three days.

The survey’s three options included:

Option 1: Separate seasons for state and federal waters — in other words the status quo, a factor that led to the recent three-day (June 1-3) private recreational anglers red snapper season in federal waters;

Option 2: A joint 27-day Saturday-Sunday season in state and federal waters from June 17 through Labor Day with open fishing days July 3-4 and Labor Day with the possibility of an open state season after Labor Day, “… if biological data permits;”

Option 3: A joint 39-day Friday-Saturday-Sunday season in state and federal waters from June 16 through Labor Day with open fishing days July 3-4 and Labor Day, but no state season after Labor Day.

Read the full story at KPVI

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 

Reminder! SAFMC Meeting Starts Next Week in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

June 5, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Workshop:

Improving Survival of Released Fish

Monday, June 12th from 3:30 – 5:30 PM

  • Join members as they receive presentations on best fishing practices being used to reduce discard mortality.
  • Presenters:

    • Dr. Chuck Adams and Dr. Kai Lorenzen – Florida Sea Grant/University of Florida
    • Brian Husky – KeepEmWet Fishing
    • Andy Loftus – Fish Smart/ASA
    • Cameron Rhodes – SAFMC Outreach Staff
    • Stephen Theberge, Jr. – Rising Leaders Academy
    • Tom Twyford – West Palm Beach Fishing Club

Snapper Grouper Committee

Work continues on development of adaptive management measures for the red snapper fishery (Amendment 43). The committee will also review measures proposed for both recreational (Regulatory Amendment 26) and commercial (Regulatory Amendment 27) sectors as identified through the Council’s 2016-2020 Vision Blueprint. Measures include reducing the recreational size limit for black sea bass, commercial split seasons and more. In addition, the Committee will continue to review a white paper outlining approaches for developing a limited entry program for federal for-hire (charter) permits in the snapper grouper fishery.

Read the full release here