NOAA issues final rule amendment 15B Snapper grouper

[eppefour]

http://www.safmc.net/Portals/6/Libra...BFinalRule.pdf

Summary

• selected recreational vessels in the EEZ will be required to maintain and submit fishing records.
• selected vessels fishing in the EEZ will be required to carry an observer, install an electronic logbook,or video equipment provided by NMFS
• prohibits the sale of snapper-grouper by vessels with charter headboat permit regardless of where they were caught
• requires boats with a charter-headboat permit to comply with sea turtle and smalltooth sawfish release protocols and have proper equipment to ensure safe release
• allows transfer of a commercial permit under the limited access program and extends the renewal period for those permits
• revises the stock assessment criteria for golden tilefish
• established a recreational/commercial quota for snowy grouper and red porgy

Allocate 95% of the total allowable catch of snowy grouper to the commercial sector and 5% to the recreational sector.

Allocate 50% of the total allowable catch of red porgy to the commercial sector and 50% to the recreational sector.

Decrease the snowy grouper quota from 84,000 pounds whole weight to 82,900 pounds whole weight, and increase the red porgy quota from 127,000 pounds whole weight to 190,050 pounds whole weight.
The rule is effective Dec 16, 2009

[jackdaniels]

Remarks by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Delivered November 18, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8PDgkS3cYo

"I have been to the floor of this Chamber on several occasions to discuss the tremendous economic hardships being shouldered by the residents of my Congressional district of South Florida. This evening I would like to highlight the men and women of Florida's commercial and recreational fishing industries, and their efforts to weather this economic maelstrom.

Madam speaker, Florida's recreational fishing industry is the largest in the nation.

Its economic impact to our state is to the tune of $5.3 billion dollars, and more than 54,000 jobs are generated by this industry. Similarly, Florida's commercial fishing industry is nearly 13,000 strong and contributes a staggering $1.2 billion dollars to our economy.

The strength of Florida's fishing industries is due largely to the diversity and the abundance of species within the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic. There are Grouper and Snapper; Wahoo and Yellowfin Tuna; not to mention Keys Lobster and Stone Crab. Thanks to this diversity, Florida's fishing industry is particularly resilient in the face of increased zoning regulations, bag limits, and even fishery closings.

Our fishermen understand that maintaining a robust, healthy fishery through appropriate regulation is the key to their economic success. However, present federal action to implement multiple fishing regulations will have a chilling effect on this historic and important industry.

In particular the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is considering regulations which include but are not limited to:

1. A complete ban of deepwater grouper fishing;

2. Annual catch limits on black grouper and red grouper;

3. Catch limits on red snapper fishing;

The comprehensive nature of these prohibitions will leave our fishermen with little or no alternatives for their economic livelihood. These prohibitions, compounded by a reduction in tourism to South Florida will force generations of Keys fishermen to walk away from their boats, in search of other forms of
employment. This is unacceptable.

That is why I have called on the Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke, to reconsider these ill-timed proposals. Additionally, I have asked Secretary Locke to refrain from implementing any emergency rules which impose short-term restrictions on Florida's fisheries. These emergency rulings completely circumvent the public comment process, which is an essential component to any fishery management plan.

Sound science is also a critical component to sound management. My congressional colleagues and I have called on the House Natural Resources Committee to conduct a hearing on legislation introduced by Reps. John Mica and Henry Brown which would require the Department of Commerce to conduct a non-biased, science-based study on the health of the Red Snapper population in the South Atlantic. My colleagues from Florida and I understand that scientific data collection processes need to be improved and economic impacts must be taken into account when considering a fishery closure.

I have also asked the Department of Commerce to provide economic assistance to those fishermen and businesses that cannot survive the restrictions being implemented.

For Keys recreational angler, Andy Griffiths, the upcoming four-month grouper closure has resulted in a 90% loss of businesses for the 2010 fishing season. His season for 2010 will be only two months long. For the rest of the year his boats will sit on the dock, racking up insurance costs. Fishermen, like Andy, need economic relief. They need our help.

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, last amended by Congress in 2007, directs how the federal government will manage saltwater fisheries. The lack of flexibility provided to local managers in this law is of serious concern.

That is why I support legislation which would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide flexibility to State regulators and regional fishery management councils in their work to rebuild healthy fisheries. Regional councils and state regulators must consider the economic consequences of implementing fishing regulations for a variety of species at once.

The livelihood of Florida's fishing industry demands it."