SAFMC Screwing Us Once Again

In an energy to keep recreational fishermen from exceeding annual catch limits (ACLs) set for black sea bass in the coming fishing 12 months, members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved an amendment that, if accepted by the Secretary of Commerce, will minimize the recreational bag limit for black sea bass from fifteen per particular person/day to 5 per man or woman/day starting June one, 2011. The recreational fishery for black sea bass closed on February 12th of this year soon after NOAA Fisheries Service projected the recreational allocation of 409,000 kilos had been met. The fishing 12 months for black sea bass in the South Atlantic area is from June 1st through May possibly 31st. The recreational allocation incorporates equally personal anglers and for-hire (charter and headboat) landings and represents 57% of the complete ACL.

The Council authorized Regulatory Amendment 9 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Program for the duration of its meeting previous week in St. Simons Island, GA. In addition to lowering the bag restrict for black sea bass, the amendment also makes it possible for that in the future, any unused portion of the ACL may possibly be carried above from one fishing yr to the up coming. However, under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, for stocks listed as overfished, any overages of the existing ACL need to be deducted from the up coming fishing year’s ACL. The black sea bass stock is at present listed as overfished and recreational anglers may have exceeded the ACL this past period. NOAA Fisheries Services is accountable for supplying the final catch numbers and will do so prior to June 1st.

A new benchmark stock assessment for black sea bass will be completed later on this yr and the benefits introduced to the Council for the duration of its December five-nine, 2011 meeting in Raleigh, NC. The stock is at present in 12 months five of a 10 12 months rebuilding program, and the Council might create extra management measures based on the updated stock evaluation. Fishermen have repeatedly provided feedback to the Council regarding the bad financial impacts of the recreational closure that began in February. Charter and headboat operators depend on black sea bass for their fishing trips throughout the shallow-h2o grouper spawning period closure from January by way of April, an annual recreational vermilion snapper closed time November by way of March, and the current year-spherical prohibition on the harvest of red snapper for the two industrial and recreational fishermen. Around 65 fishermen attended the public comment period held for the duration of previous week’s meeting.

In addition to measures affecting black sea bass, Regulatory Amendment 9 would also produce commercial trip limits of 1500 kilos gutted fat (gw) for vermilion snapper and 1000 pounds (gw) for gag, both measures designed to help extend the fishing time. The proposed trip limit for better amberjack would boost slightly from one,000 to 1,200 lbs (gw).

The Council’s intent is to have the amendment approved by the Secretary of Commerce in time to apply the management measures, such as the bag restrict reductions for black sea bass, by June one, 2011.

Other Actions:

The Council reviewed public feedback obtained regarding improvement of the Comprehensive ACL Amendment and continued to decide on preferred management measures. The amendment sets ACLs and accountability measures for snapper grouper species not listed as overfished and undergoing overfishing, as properly as dolphin (fish) and wahoo. Favored measures for wahoo would preserve the latest management measures in place. Measures for dolphin would retain existing recreational bag limits, prohibit bag restrict revenue by the for-hire sector (bag limit sale is presently prohibited by personal anglers), and establish a 20” dimension restrict off the coast of SC. The Council is scheduled to approve the amendment for the duration of its June 2011 meeting for critique by the Secretary of Commerce.

The Council also reviewed public comments relative to the use of catch shares in industrial fisheries and approved a motion to terminate all perform relative to catch share development as at the moment outlined in draft Amendment 21 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Prepare (excluding catch share growth for the golden crab and wreckfish fisheries).

Perform continues on the development of an amendment to contemplate choices for addressing overfishing of speckled hind and warsaw grouper. Recent regulations restrict fishing for or retention of deepwater species (snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, queen snapper, and silk snapper) in waters greater than 240 feet deep. The intent is to get rid of bycatch mortality when speckled hind and warsaw grouper are caught even though fishermen are targeting other deepwater species. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will review the draft amendment when it meets April 5-7, 2010 and the Council will review the SSC suggestions throughout its June meeting in Important West, FL.

The Council authorized Amendment eighteen to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Prepare for public hearings. The amendment establishes ACLs and accountability measures for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and cobia. Public hearings are scheduled for April 2011. Facts regarding the hearings, including the Amendment 18 Public Hearing Document, will be posted on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net as they grow to be obtainable.

The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for June 12-17, 2011 in Important West, FL. Specifics, such as the meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they become obtainable at www.safmc.net.