Archive for category Gulf Fishing News
FWC Adopts resolution calling for Disaster Relief for Longline Fishery
Posted by blog admin in Gulf Fishing News, SOFA News on May 14th, 2009
During their meeting this week, FWC Commissioners …
“approved a resolution to request that Gov. Charlie Crist ask the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to provide disaster relief to Florida’s Gulf commercial reef fish longline industry and related seafood dealers. This action is needed because a pending federal emergency rule to protect sea turtles will effectively close down the use of longline fishing gear to catch reef fish in the Gulf.
Federal disaster relief would give the longline industry time to adjust to the closure so the industry and related seafood dealers can stay in business and continue to supply fresh grouper for consumers.”
(information quoted from the FWC website)
We have the full text of the resolution viewable here or you can download it in .pdf format from this link.
Emergency Rule: Bottom Longline Restrictions
Posted by blog admin in Closures and Openings, Gulf Fishing News, Regulations on April 30th, 2009
Apparently the “compromise” worked out between industry reps and the Gulf Council and mentioned in the previous post to this blog wasn’t good enough.
FB09-027 has arrived and it is a doozy.
NOAA Fisheries Service implemented an emergency
rule, effective May 18, 2009, through October 28, 2009,
to reduce the sea turtle bycatch in the Gulf of Mexico
bottom longline reef fish fishery. The emergency rule
prohibits bottom longlining for Gulf reef fish east of
85o30’W longitude (near Cape San Blas, Florida) in the
portion of the Exclusive Economic Zone shoreward of
the provided waypoints (see table). The boundary
generally follows the 50-fathom depth contour (see
map). Once the deepwater grouper and tilefish quotas
have been filled, the use of bottom longline gear to
harvest reef fish in water of all depths east of 85o30’W
longitude will be prohibited.
Full text of the bulletin is available here.
The bulletin came from SERO (Southeast Regional Office) and says “For additional information on this bulletin, please contact Cynthia Meyer”, but it doesn’t give a way to reach her. The website is http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov and the contact information in the email is all for Barbara Niswander, Division Secretary of the SERO office. If you want to voice your opinion you may have to contact Ms. Niswander at Barbara.Niswander@noaa.gov and ask for more details.
If you want to receive Fishery Bulletins via email as soon as they are published you can send an email to
SERO.Communications.Comments@noaa.gov
and request to be put on their list.
Control Date Established for the Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery
Posted by blog admin in Gulf Fishing News, Regulations on March 18th, 2009
Fishery Bulletin FB09-020 addresses the control date for the Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery which NOAA proposes establishing as December 31, 2008.
Full document available here.
For additional information on this bulletin, please contact Cindy Meyer at Cynthia.Meyer@noaa.gov.
Fishery Bulletin 09-016 Has Arrived…and it’s a puzzle
Posted by blog admin in Gulf Fishing News, Regulations on February 26th, 2009
NOAA released FB09-016 today. It is a notice letting everyone know that NOAA has received what it terms “two requests for emergency rulemaking to reduce loggerhead sea turtle bycatch.”
Two “requests”? Read the rest of this entry »
Council Takes Reef Fish Committee Recommendation and Makes It Worse
Posted by blog admin in Closures and Openings, Gulf Fishing News, Regulations, SOFA News on January 30th, 2009
The Gulf Council took the horrible recommendation from their Reef Fish Committee to close longlining inside 300 feet for 5 months out of the year and made it much worse. They are asking the NMFS to move everyone out beyond 300 ft (50 fathoms) until the deep water quota is filled — which won’t take long with the entire fleet now targeting them — and then shut down the healthy and unstressed red grouper longline fishery entirely once the deep water quota is filled.
Specifically, the council initiated an emergency rule prohibiting longline gear in waters shallower than 50 fathoms for a six month period, effective as soon as possible.
Once again we wonder how they can justify putting so many people out of work during such trying economic times over an issue that is based on questionable figures extrapolated from a very small observed sector of the fishery.
This “emergency measure” still has to be approved by the NMFS.
Please note that it is based entirely on “estimates” that were extrapolated from the actual observation of 18 sea turtle interactions. Thats 18.
A September 2008 federal report estimated that over the course of 18 months ending in 2007, 974 sea turtles were captured on longlines in the eastern Gulf — exceeding limits set under the Endangered Species Act. The majority of the captures were treatened loggerhead sea turtles. The report estimated that 325 of the turtles died, 433 were released alive, and the fate of another 216 was unknown.
Gulf Council officials said the closure, once implemented by National Marine Fisheries Service, can be in effect for up to six months while the council considers other long-term solutions. The closure could be renewed by the council for another six months, if necessary, officials said.
(Quoted from an article by Katherine Sayer on al.com)
Important Gulf Council Meeting Opens Today
Posted by blog admin in Grouper IFQ, Gulf Fishing News, Regulations on January 26th, 2009
The Gulf Council is meeting today through Thursday in Bay St. Louis Mississippi at the Hollywood Casino and the future of the bottom longline fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the pivotal points to be addressed. There are other very important issues that will be taken up, aquaculture proposals for the Gulf of Mexico and Final decisions on Amendment 29 (IFQs), but none may be of greater importance to all Gulf Fishermen than the Longline vs. Sea Turtle issue. If the bottom longline industry is closed down or severely restricted in their ability to target red grouper, the value of everyone’s future stake in the fishery, IFQ shares or whatever it may be, may be negatively impacted to a huge degree.
Our S.O.F.A. representatives will be in attendance, as will people from GFA and other fishery groups, and we will bring you any news coming from the meetings as soon as we get it. In the meantime, if you are anywhere near Bay St. Louis, MI and can make it there to speak up, it would be a very good idea.
Conservation Groups Threaten Lawsuit Over Phantom Sea Turtles
Posted by blog admin in Gulf Fishing News, Permits, Regulations on January 17th, 2009
Once again the fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico are under attack, this time over phantom sea turtle mortality rates. Using figures that are at best questionable and most likely ridiculously and intentionally over-stated, a coalition of conservation groups is attempting to coerce the NMFS into shutting down bottom longlining in the Gulf of Mexico by threat of lawsuit.
These groups are well funded and determined to shut down this fishery, either for their own selfish reasons or just out of a misguided sense of a need to protect something from people who are not the threat. This bears our immediate attention. Please speak up, demand better science (as always) and don’t let special interest groups take away our livelihood by the use of false premise and outright lie.
The coalition asks that the commercial bottom longline fishery be suspended until the National Marine Fisheries Service meets its legal obligations under the Endangered Species Act to ensure that the fishery does not imperil sea turtles and other threatened species in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Allowing this fishery to continue to kill threatened and endangered turtles while the government studies the problem is irresponsible and illegal. It’s like refusing to turn off a leaking gas valve when you’re trying to put out a house fire. The law and the science are clear: These animals have to be protected right now,” said Andrea Treece, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.
See full news release regarding this threat here or from the Fishery News links on the main S.O.F.A. menu.
Important IFQ update – FB08-067
Posted by blog admin in Grouper IFQ, Gulf Fishing News, Regulations on December 9th, 2008
Yesterday, the mailman brought the IFQ Referendum Ballot via registered mail. If you didn’t get yours yet, or don’t get it very soon you might want to ask why not.
Today, the emailman brought FB08-067 which is titled:
Gulf of Mexico Commercial Grouper/Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Program Referendum Being Conducted
It states the obvious and provides a couple of generic links to the NMFS sites where you can then search (often fruitlessly) for the information they tell you they are linking to. Ain’t bureaucracy great?
REMINDER – Shark Research Fishery Applications Are Due Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Posted by blog admin in Gulf Fishing News, Permits on July 10th, 2008
I got an email from NOAA today reminding me that these applications are due on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008. Consider the notice duly passed along.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requests applications for participation in the 2008 shark research fishery. The shark research pennits would authorize participation in the shark research fishery and the collection of sandbar and non-sandbar large coastal sharks (LCS) from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea for the purposes of scientific data collection subject to 100 percent observer coverage. Generally, these pennits will be valid through December 31,2008, unless otherwise specified, subject to the tenns and conditions of individual pemi.its.
Seeking Public Comment on Gulf Grouper/Tilefish IFQ Program
Posted by blog admin in Grouper IFQ, Gulf Fishing News on July 3rd, 2008
FB08-038 has been released and deserves your attention. In part…
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) is seeking public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)/Amendment 29 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The DEIS evaluates the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s (Council) proposal to establish a regulatory program to reduce overcapacity and effort in the commercial grouper and tilefish fisheries. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of the DEIS on July 3, 2008 (73 FR 38204).”
The EPA?
Yes, the EPA did indeed make that announcement. It is so far buried that the government site that indexes the Federal Register failed to make mention of it but it is indeed buried posted on page 38,204 of the Federal Register…
EIS No. 20080256, Draft EIS, NOA, 00,
Amendment 29 Reef Fish Fishery
Management Plan, Effort Management
in the Commercial Grouper and
Tilefish Fisheries, Reducing
Overcapacity, Gulf of Mexico,
Comment Period Ends: 08/18/2008,
Contact: Roy E. Crabtree 727–824–
5301.
Read full text of the Fisheries Bulletin FB08-038 here.
Read full text (pdf) of the proposed Amendment 29 and the DEIS, outlining their preferred plans and other options here.
Public Hearings regarding setting of Annual Catch Limits
Posted by blog admin in Gulf Fishing News on June 29th, 2008
From the program director of the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, we received:
Attached please find the federal register notice of public hearings to be held with regard to the NMFS proposed revisions to National Standard 1 concerning the setting of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures. The Public Hearing for the Southeast will be held in St. Petersburg on July 15.[...]
Michael Jepson, Ph.D.
Program Director
Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation
5401 W. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 740
Tampa, Florida 33609-2447
813-286-8390
“Research Fishery”? Now there’s another fine turn of the language.
Posted by blog admin in Closures and Openings, Gulf Fishing News, Regulations on June 29th, 2008
The NMFS is opening what they are terming a “Research Fishery” for LCS in the Atlantic and Gulf. Don’t get too excited, they intend to issue “apporoximately 10″ of these permits, but if you qualify you may well want to apply.
NMFS Requests Applications for Participation in the Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species 2008 Shark Research Fishery
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requests applications for participation in the 2008 shark research fishery. The shark research pennits would authorize participation in the shark research fishery and the collection of sandbar and non-sandbar large coastal sharks (LCS) from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea for the purposes of scientific data collection subject to 100 percent observer coverage. Generally, these pennits will be valid through December 31,2008, unless otherwise specified, subject to the tenns and conditions of individual pemits. .
It seems all you have to do is toe the line, comply with what used to be a voluntary program (the USCG inspection stickers), and have not done anything in the past to have pissed anyone at NMFS off in any way…and they will consider giving you a permit to participate in this “Research Fishery”. You will have to agree to full observer coverage and apparently anything else anyone involved with NMFS feels like putting in the rule book, but you may well be able to get a permit to engage in some sort of limited opening extremely restricted entry fishery.
Qualified applicants are those that:
- possess a valid directed or incidental shark permit;
- possess a valid United States Coast Guard (USCG) safety inspection decal;
- have not been charged criminally or civilly (i.e., issued a Notice of Violation and Assessment (NOVA) or Notice of Permit Sanction) for any HMS related violation;
- have complied with NMFS observer programs and are able to take a NMFS-approved observer; and,
- submit a completed application by July 15, 2008
No telling what other conditions they will impose based on language like this:
“NMFS will randomly select approximately 10 qualified applicants to participate in the 2008 shark research fishery based on the temporal and spatial needs of the research objectives, the available quota, and the availability of the qualified applicants.”
The line forms here:
The NMFS’s proposal is here: NMFS Request for Applications
Federal Register Notice is here.
And the Shark Research Fishery Application Form is available here.
More excess paperwork showing a closure is a closure
Posted by blog admin in Closures and Openings, Gulf Fishing News on June 29th, 2008
The Office of Sustainable Fisheries (such a nice name) has released the latest on shark landings. Who would have thought that with the fishery closed, per se, that the regulatory agency would continue to generate their churn of paperwork completely unabated?
I suppose after my own boat was chosen to carry an observer in the first trimester opening, a month after it had been announced that there would be no first trimester opening, nothing should surprise me.
For those of you interested: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Landings_update_as_of_6-11-08.pdf
Fishermen gather to fight feds
Posted by blog admin in Gulf Fishing News, SOFA News on June 20th, 2008
We just received the following press release:
“Once adversaries, now allies, recreational and commercial fishing groups met in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, June 18, to plan a united front and challenge federal authorities questionable management of the nation valuable fishing stocks.
Over-precautionary measures mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act have caused damage, both social and economic, to fishing communities throughout the United States.
Here’s the dilemma: If fishermen catch more fish; the government says they are “overfishing.” If fishermen catch fewer fish: the government says the stock is “overfished.” Either way, the fishermen lose.
In reality, catching more fish usually signifies a healthy, growing fishery. Catching fewer fish could be a signal of trouble.
In the case of gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, one might expect fishermen to catch fewer fish due to the explosion of the more aggressive red snapper. Ironically, red snapper populations are at a twenty year high, yet the restrictions are so strict, fishermen can only target the species two months out of the year and keep just two fish per angler.
Current assumptions used to determine the health of the stocks are far too precautionary and will guide any assessment toward the pessimistic. Last spring, Dr. Trevor Kenchington, a marine biologist with 30 years of national and international fisheries management experience, was hired by an unlikely union of commercial and recreational fishing groups to provide insight as to why the stocks appeared healthy to the fishermen, yet new regulations called for a nearly 50% cut in landings.
Among other things, Kenchington discovered that managers failed to take into account that fishing effort was down by 50%, thanks to runaway fuel prices. And when fishermen do head offshore, they don’t go as far, or for as long, as previously thought, which results in fewer and smaller fish being caught.Stocks of red and gag grouper and red snapper are 15- to 25-year highs. This new consortium of fishing groups, recreational and commercial, will fight to see that common sense prevails.”
Our sincere thanks to all who took part. If we all stick together and continue to work in this manner, maybe the fishermen and their families do have a chance of survival.
We’re rooting for common sense to prevail !
Government Cut in Apalachicola Bay Nearly Unnavigable
Posted by CQ in Gulf Fishing News on May 24th, 2008
Government Cut, or Bob Sykes Cut, which is the main entrance to Apalachicola Bay from the Gulf of Mexico for commercial fishermen and shrimpers, has almost fully shoaled-up. At low tide the channel is currently unnavigable by any boat with a draft of over a foot or so. Read the rest of this entry »