Tuesday, November 15 4-7 pm
Jacksonville Marriott
4670 Salisbury Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 904/296-2222
Wednesday, November 16 4-7 pm
Radisson Resort at the Port
8701 Astronaut Blvd. meeting
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Phone: 321/784-0000
Thursday, November 17 4 -7 pm
Key Largo Bay Marriott
103800 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: 305/453-0000
Members of the South AtlanticThe South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of seven public hearings beginning November 14, 2011 to solicit public input on management measures impacting federal fisheries for black sea bass, red grouper, and wreckfish. Amendments are being developed to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan in order to: address overcapacity in the commercial black sea bass pot fishery and reduce the rate of harvest for both commercial and recreational sectors; end overfishing and rebuild the red grouper stock; and address the current Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program for wreckfish.
Black Sea Bass Restrictions: Amendment 18A
Annual Catch Limits (in numbers of pounds) have been established by the Council for black sea bass as mandated in the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act to end overfishing and help rebuild the stock. Increased restrictions on the harvest of other species in the snapper grouper complex have led to an increase in fishing effort for black sea bass. As a result, the catch limits have been reached earlier by both commercial and recreational fishermen, resulting in closures. The fishing year for black sea bass begins June 1st. For the 2011/2012 fishing season, the commercial fishery met its ACL in just 45 days and the fishery was closed. After NOAA Fisheries Service accounted for overages in landings by the recreational sector for the 2010/2011 season, it was announced the recreational fishery had met its adjusted ACL of 341,747 pounds for this fishing year. The recreational black sea bass fishery will close on October 17, 2011 and reopen June 1, 2012. Amendment 18A is being developed to limit the commercial black sea bass pot fishery and reduce harvest rates for both commercial and recreational sectors. A new stock assessment for black sea bass is currently underway. The Council will receive the results of the assessment during its December 5-9, 2011 meeting in Raleigh, NC.
Measures Included in Amendment 18A:
• For the commercial black sea bass pot fishery: limit participation through an endorsement program, limit the number of pots used during a permit year, and other measures to limit harvest and reduce bycatch
• Establish commercial trip limits (all gear types)
• Increase size limits (commercial and recreational)
• Establish a spawning season closure (for both commercial and recreational sectors)
• Modify the current rebuilding strategy to allow for an increase in the Annual Catch Limit as the stock continues to rebuild, based on the results of the most recent stock assessment.
• Improve commercial and for-hire data reporting requirements
Ending Overfishing and Rebuilding Red Grouper: Amendment 24
A stock assessment conducted in 2010 identified the red grouper stock in the South Atlantic region as overfished and undergoing overfishing. Amendment 24 will set Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures, establish a rebuilding plan, and revise certain population parameters for red grouper to end overfishing and rebuild the stock. The amendment also establishes allocations between recreational and commercial sectors.
Wreckfish ITQs: Amendment 20A
Wreckfish, a deepwater species in the snapper grouper management complex, is currently harvested through an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program. With an anticipated reduction in the Annual Catch Limit for wreckfish, the Council is considering measures to adjust the distribution of wreckfish shares in order to remove inactive effort and allow the commercial sector’s ACL to be harvested effectively.
Here are some suggested comments:
Amendment 24 – Red Grouper
Action 1. Maximum Sustainable Yield
I support Alternative 1 – no change
Action 2. Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST)
I support Alternative 1 – no change
Action 3. Rebuilding Schedule
I support preferred Alternative 5 (Preferred) the 10 years rebuilding time period ending in 2020. 2011 is Year 1.
Action 4. Rebuilding Strategy and Acceptable Biological Catch
I support Alternative 2 which sets the mortality at the rebuild level for 10 years
Action 5 Allocations
I support the preferred Subalternative 2e Commercial = 44% and recreational = 56%
Action 6 Annual Catch Limits and Optimum Yield
I support Alternative 1 -No Action
Action 7. Specify a Commercial Sector Annual Catch Target
I support preferred Alternative 1 -No Action
Action 8. Specify a Recreational Sector Annual Catch Target
I support Alternative 1 -No Action. Do not specify a recreational ACT for red grouper. The preferred alternative of not setting an ACT for commercial and setting one for recreational anglers effectively reduces their allocation by 25%.
Action 9. Specify Commercial Accountability Measures for Red Grouper
I support preferred Alternative 2 prohibit sale once commercial ACL is met.
I support preferred Alternative 3 If the commercial ACL is exceeded the following season is reduced by the amount of the overage.
Action 10. 10. Specify Recreational Accountability Measures (AMs) for Red Grouper
I support Alternative 1 - No Action
Amendment 18A - Black Sea Bass
Action 1. Modify Rebuilding Strategy, ABC, ACL’s, and ACTs for Black Sea Bass
Action 1a. Modify Rebuilding Strategy and Set ABC for Black Sea Bass
I support Alternative 3A which sets the ABC at 75% of fisheries maximum sustainable yield.
Action 1b. Set an ACL for the Black Sea Bass Fishery
I support Preferred Alternative 2 which sets the Annual Catch Limit = Acceptable Biological Catch = optimum Yield.
Action 1c. Set Annual Catch Targets (ACTs) for the Commercial Black Sea Bass Fishery. Preferred I support Alternative 1 (No action). Do not set an Annual Catch Targets for the commercial black sea bass fishery.
Action 1d. Set Annual Catch Targets (ACTs) for the Recreational Black Sea Bass Fishery
I support Alternative 1. No action. Do not set an Annual Catch Targets for the recreational black sea bass fishery. Preferred Alternative 4 is unfair to Recreational anglers in that it cuts the allowable catch by 12% of the allocation.
Action 2. Limit Participation in the Black Sea Bass Pot Fishery Through an Endorsement Program
I oppose all fish trap fishing and it should be banned.
Action 3: Establishment of an Appeals Process for Fishermen Excluded From the Black Sea bass Pot Endorsement Program
Action 5: Limit Effort in the Black Sea Bass Pot Fishery Each Permit Year
Action 4: Allow for Transferability of Black Sea Bass Endorsements
I oppose all fish trap fishing and it should be banned. If the council does allow this destructive technique it should adopt Alternative 1 no transfers be allowed.
Action 5: Limit Effort in the Black Sea Bass Pot Fishery Each Permit Year
I oppose all fish trap fishing and it should be banned. If the council does allow this destructive technique it should adopt Alternative 4 should be adopted as it is the least destructive.
Action 6. Implement Measures to Reduce Black Sea Bass Bycatch
I oppose all fish trap fishing and it should be banned. If the council does allow this destructive technique it should adopt preferred Alternative 2 and traps be brought to shore after each trip.
Action 7. Modify Accountability Measures for Black Sea Bass
I support Alternative 1 (No Action).
Action 8. Establish a Spawning Season Closure for Black Sea Bass
I support Alternative 2. Implement a March 1-April 30th spawning season closure for black sea bass; would apply to commercial and recreational sectors.
Action 9. Establish a Commercial Trip Limit for Black Sea Bass
I support Alternative 2. Establish a 500 pounds gw (590 pounds ww) trip limit.
Action 10. Modify Commercial and/or Recreational Black Sea Bass Size Limits
I support Sub-Alternative 3b. Increase the commercial size limit from 10” TL to 12” TL.
Amendment 20A Wreckfish ITQs
The current ban on recreational landings of Wreckfish must be lifted and there must be established a recreational fishery with a fair share of the annual catch. The commercial fishery consists of only 7 -8 fishermen and the continued protection of these to the detriment of the recreational anglers must stop.
Action 1. Define and revert inactive shares
I support Alternative 1: No Action. Do not define or revert inactive shares for redistribution. This alternative simply places the total fishery in the hands of the chosen few.
Action 2. Redistribute reverted shares to remaining shareholders
I support Alternative 1: No Action. Do not redistribute reverted shares.
Action 3. Establish a share cap
I support Alternative 2: Establish share cap as 15% of the total shares. No one person should be allowed to catch 49% of any total fishery, especially when thousands of recreational anglers are totally excluded.
Action 4. Establish an appeals process
There should not be a transferrable quota for any fishery and therefore I support Alternative 1.
Jacksonville Marriott
4670 Salisbury Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 904/296-2222
Wednesday, November 16 4-7 pm
Radisson Resort at the Port
8701 Astronaut Blvd. meeting
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Phone: 321/784-0000
Thursday, November 17 4 -7 pm
Key Largo Bay Marriott
103800 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: 305/453-0000
Members of the South AtlanticThe South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of seven public hearings beginning November 14, 2011 to solicit public input on management measures impacting federal fisheries for black sea bass, red grouper, and wreckfish. Amendments are being developed to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan in order to: address overcapacity in the commercial black sea bass pot fishery and reduce the rate of harvest for both commercial and recreational sectors; end overfishing and rebuild the red grouper stock; and address the current Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program for wreckfish.
Black Sea Bass Restrictions: Amendment 18A
Annual Catch Limits (in numbers of pounds) have been established by the Council for black sea bass as mandated in the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act to end overfishing and help rebuild the stock. Increased restrictions on the harvest of other species in the snapper grouper complex have led to an increase in fishing effort for black sea bass. As a result, the catch limits have been reached earlier by both commercial and recreational fishermen, resulting in closures. The fishing year for black sea bass begins June 1st. For the 2011/2012 fishing season, the commercial fishery met its ACL in just 45 days and the fishery was closed. After NOAA Fisheries Service accounted for overages in landings by the recreational sector for the 2010/2011 season, it was announced the recreational fishery had met its adjusted ACL of 341,747 pounds for this fishing year. The recreational black sea bass fishery will close on October 17, 2011 and reopen June 1, 2012. Amendment 18A is being developed to limit the commercial black sea bass pot fishery and reduce harvest rates for both commercial and recreational sectors. A new stock assessment for black sea bass is currently underway. The Council will receive the results of the assessment during its December 5-9, 2011 meeting in Raleigh, NC.
Measures Included in Amendment 18A:
• For the commercial black sea bass pot fishery: limit participation through an endorsement program, limit the number of pots used during a permit year, and other measures to limit harvest and reduce bycatch
• Establish commercial trip limits (all gear types)
• Increase size limits (commercial and recreational)
• Establish a spawning season closure (for both commercial and recreational sectors)
• Modify the current rebuilding strategy to allow for an increase in the Annual Catch Limit as the stock continues to rebuild, based on the results of the most recent stock assessment.
• Improve commercial and for-hire data reporting requirements
Ending Overfishing and Rebuilding Red Grouper: Amendment 24
A stock assessment conducted in 2010 identified the red grouper stock in the South Atlantic region as overfished and undergoing overfishing. Amendment 24 will set Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures, establish a rebuilding plan, and revise certain population parameters for red grouper to end overfishing and rebuild the stock. The amendment also establishes allocations between recreational and commercial sectors.
Wreckfish ITQs: Amendment 20A
Wreckfish, a deepwater species in the snapper grouper management complex, is currently harvested through an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program. With an anticipated reduction in the Annual Catch Limit for wreckfish, the Council is considering measures to adjust the distribution of wreckfish shares in order to remove inactive effort and allow the commercial sector’s ACL to be harvested effectively.
Here are some suggested comments:
Amendment 24 – Red Grouper
Action 1. Maximum Sustainable Yield
I support Alternative 1 – no change
Action 2. Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST)
I support Alternative 1 – no change
Action 3. Rebuilding Schedule
I support preferred Alternative 5 (Preferred) the 10 years rebuilding time period ending in 2020. 2011 is Year 1.
Action 4. Rebuilding Strategy and Acceptable Biological Catch
I support Alternative 2 which sets the mortality at the rebuild level for 10 years
Action 5 Allocations
I support the preferred Subalternative 2e Commercial = 44% and recreational = 56%
Action 6 Annual Catch Limits and Optimum Yield
I support Alternative 1 -No Action
Action 7. Specify a Commercial Sector Annual Catch Target
I support preferred Alternative 1 -No Action
Action 8. Specify a Recreational Sector Annual Catch Target
I support Alternative 1 -No Action. Do not specify a recreational ACT for red grouper. The preferred alternative of not setting an ACT for commercial and setting one for recreational anglers effectively reduces their allocation by 25%.
Action 9. Specify Commercial Accountability Measures for Red Grouper
I support preferred Alternative 2 prohibit sale once commercial ACL is met.
I support preferred Alternative 3 If the commercial ACL is exceeded the following season is reduced by the amount of the overage.
Action 10. 10. Specify Recreational Accountability Measures (AMs) for Red Grouper
I support Alternative 1 - No Action
Amendment 18A - Black Sea Bass
Action 1. Modify Rebuilding Strategy, ABC, ACL’s, and ACTs for Black Sea Bass
Action 1a. Modify Rebuilding Strategy and Set ABC for Black Sea Bass
I support Alternative 3A which sets the ABC at 75% of fisheries maximum sustainable yield.
Action 1b. Set an ACL for the Black Sea Bass Fishery
I support Preferred Alternative 2 which sets the Annual Catch Limit = Acceptable Biological Catch = optimum Yield.
Action 1c. Set Annual Catch Targets (ACTs) for the Commercial Black Sea Bass Fishery. Preferred I support Alternative 1 (No action). Do not set an Annual Catch Targets for the commercial black sea bass fishery.
Action 1d. Set Annual Catch Targets (ACTs) for the Recreational Black Sea Bass Fishery
I support Alternative 1. No action. Do not set an Annual Catch Targets for the recreational black sea bass fishery. Preferred Alternative 4 is unfair to Recreational anglers in that it cuts the allowable catch by 12% of the allocation.
Action 2. Limit Participation in the Black Sea Bass Pot Fishery Through an Endorsement Program
I oppose all fish trap fishing and it should be banned.
Action 3: Establishment of an Appeals Process for Fishermen Excluded From the Black Sea bass Pot Endorsement Program
Action 5: Limit Effort in the Black Sea Bass Pot Fishery Each Permit Year
Action 4: Allow for Transferability of Black Sea Bass Endorsements
I oppose all fish trap fishing and it should be banned. If the council does allow this destructive technique it should adopt Alternative 1 no transfers be allowed.
Action 5: Limit Effort in the Black Sea Bass Pot Fishery Each Permit Year
I oppose all fish trap fishing and it should be banned. If the council does allow this destructive technique it should adopt Alternative 4 should be adopted as it is the least destructive.
Action 6. Implement Measures to Reduce Black Sea Bass Bycatch
I oppose all fish trap fishing and it should be banned. If the council does allow this destructive technique it should adopt preferred Alternative 2 and traps be brought to shore after each trip.
Action 7. Modify Accountability Measures for Black Sea Bass
I support Alternative 1 (No Action).
Action 8. Establish a Spawning Season Closure for Black Sea Bass
I support Alternative 2. Implement a March 1-April 30th spawning season closure for black sea bass; would apply to commercial and recreational sectors.
Action 9. Establish a Commercial Trip Limit for Black Sea Bass
I support Alternative 2. Establish a 500 pounds gw (590 pounds ww) trip limit.
Action 10. Modify Commercial and/or Recreational Black Sea Bass Size Limits
I support Sub-Alternative 3b. Increase the commercial size limit from 10” TL to 12” TL.
Amendment 20A Wreckfish ITQs
The current ban on recreational landings of Wreckfish must be lifted and there must be established a recreational fishery with a fair share of the annual catch. The commercial fishery consists of only 7 -8 fishermen and the continued protection of these to the detriment of the recreational anglers must stop.
Action 1. Define and revert inactive shares
I support Alternative 1: No Action. Do not define or revert inactive shares for redistribution. This alternative simply places the total fishery in the hands of the chosen few.
Action 2. Redistribute reverted shares to remaining shareholders
I support Alternative 1: No Action. Do not redistribute reverted shares.
Action 3. Establish a share cap
I support Alternative 2: Establish share cap as 15% of the total shares. No one person should be allowed to catch 49% of any total fishery, especially when thousands of recreational anglers are totally excluded.
Action 4. Establish an appeals process
There should not be a transferrable quota for any fishery and therefore I support Alternative 1.