ROLL CALL - January 24 at the Public Hearing in New Bern NC

[N2theBlue]

From SAFMC:
Included in it were proposed chages to bag limits:

Wahoo.... 2 Per Vessel

Cobia ..... 1 Per Vessel

Dolphin... 9 per Person

The upcoming SAFMC public mtgs have more at stake than you thought. The devil is in the details, and folks that aren't up-to-speed will get left in the wake of ACL/ACT talk.

Public meetings are from 3pm to 7pm:
Monday, January 24
Hilton New Bern Riverfront
100 Middle Street
New Bern, North Carolina 28562
Phone: 252/638-3585

Wednesday, January 26
Crown Plaza Charleston Airport
4831 Tanger Outlet Boulevard
N. Charleston, SC 29418
Phone: 843/744-4422

Thursday, January 27
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
175 Bourne Avenue
Pooler, Georgia 31322
Phone: 912/748-8888

Monday, January 31
Jacksonville Marriott Hotel
4670 Salisbury Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 904/296-2222

Tuesday, February 1
International Palms Resort
1300 North Atlantic Avenue
Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931
Phone: 321/783-2271

Thursday, February 3
Key Largo Grande
97000 S. Overseas Highway
Key Largo, Florida 33037
Phone: 305/852-5553



Links:
http://safmc.net/Meetings/PublicHear...4/Default.aspx

http://safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?file...o%3d&tabid=624

http://safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?file...Y%3d&tabid=139

Guys I probably can't make a meeting but people need to show up IN FORCE at the one in New Bern and make you feelings known. These limits are being dreamed up with NO science to support them, and NO stock assessments. If you think they can't go through just look at ARS and grouper!

[Fishfinder]

If you can't make the meeting here is an e-mail address that goes directly to the dolphin wahoo agenda.

The wahoo limit is far from a done deal and this makes it even more important for folks to comment. The main issue is how to arrive at an ACL for the stocks without assessments (dolphin and wahoo). The Council doesn’t even like the method the SSC has picked to figure out the ACL’s and will be asking them for alternatives. The Gulf Council’s method would have you fishing closer to the 10 year average and may allow a little overage. The current South Atlantic method has you fishing at about 70% or less of the 10 year average and definitely not any overage. In other words, why would we need to cut back landings on fisheries where problems don’t exist and there is no indication of a problem. Send your comments to: CompACLAmendPH@safmc.net

Capt. Joe

[LuckyLady]

COURTESY OF

HELP on January 24 at the Public Hearing in New Bern NC

If we do not stand up as a group "Recreational Fishermen, Charter Boat Captains, and Commercial Fishermen" it going to be to late for us all...

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL!


We need your HELP on January 24 at the Public Hearing in New Bern... There usually are only 15 to 20 Fishermen that show up for these meetings. We need to flood the meetings. We need hundreds of Fishermen to show at this meeting. H&ll, even thousands would be nice. Because there are 2.7 million boats register from North Carolina/Virginia state line southward to the east coast of Florida and the Florida Keys. Still show up and supports us, even if you do not want to speak...

Its time to put a stop to this mess... Before we all end up fishing in a fresh water pond...

Thanks
Capt. Keith





The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of public hearings and scoping meetings regarding fisheries management measures proposed for several federally managed species, including those within the snapper grouper management complex, dolphin (fish), wahoo, golden crab, and octocorals within the South Atlantic region. The measures will impact both commercial and recreational fishermen who fish in federal waters between 3 and 200 miles offshore ranging from the North Carolina/Virginia state line southward to the east coast of Florida and the Florida Keys.

*Informal presenations will be given and public comment will be accepted any time between the hours of 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM at each meeting location.


Monday, January 24
Hilton New Bern Riverfront
100 Middle Street
New Bern, North Carolina 28562
Phone: 252/638-3585



Public Hearings will be held on three separate amendments:



*Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment to establish Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for species not currently listed as undergoing overfishing as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Annual Catch Limits (pounds or number of fish) will be set for species in the snapper grouper management complex as well as dolphin, wahoo, and golden crab.



Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 9 includes commercial trip limit options for greater amberjack, vermilion snapper, black sea bass, and gag grouper.



Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 includes actions relative to the management of octocorals and non-regulatory actions that update existing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) information. Also, modifications to the management of Special Management Zones in South Carolina, sea turtle release gear requirements for the commercial snapper grouper fishery, designation of new EFH areas and EFH-Habitat Areas of Particular Concern are being considered.


*The hearings/meetings will be open from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Council staff will provide periodic presentations and be on hand to answer questions. Local Council representatives will take formal comments on the public hearing documents any time between those hours. Public testimony will be video-streamed live via a link from the Council’s website at www.safmc.net as they occur.

*If you can not make the meeting then please email them how you fill about this and how it will effect you and your family...
Email comments to: CompACLAmendPH@safmc.net
The Council is also accepting written and email comments from January 12, 2011 until 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2011. Copies of the public hearing and scoping documents with details on how to submit written comments will be posted on the Council’s web site and available by contacting the Council office at 843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10.




COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL CATCH LIMIT (ACL) AMENDMENT FOR THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONhttp://www.safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?...s%3d&tabid=663

*These are some of the Motions out the link above.

Motions from the South Atlantic Council’s December Meeting concerning ACL’s
Action 21: Management Measures for Dolphin
MOTION #50: SET A 20” MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT FOR DOLPHIN FROM FLORIDA THROUGH NEW ENGLAND COUNCIL’S AREA.

Action 26: Management Measures for Wahoo
MOTION #65: ESTABLISH A RECREATIONAL BOAT LIMIT OF 2 WAHOO PER BOAT/VESSEL PER DAY.
MOTION #66: SELECT THE ABOVE NEW ALTERNATIVE AS OUR PREFERRED
MOTION #63: ALLOW THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR TO REDUCE THE BAG
LIMIT OF WAHOO TO 1 FISH AND REDUCE THE SEASON AS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE REDUCTION; MAKE THIS OUR NEW PREFERRED


Action 21: Management Measures for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia
MOTION #31: ADD ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER 1 COBIA PER BOAT PER DAY
AND AN ALTERNATIVE THAT LOOKS AT A CLOSED SEASON FOR THE
RECREATIONAL FISHERY.

New limits for dolphin Wahoo and Cobia would be:

Wahoo.... 2 Per Vessel

Cobia ..... 1 Per Vessel

Dolphin... 9 per Person

[Captain Fish]

I'll be there!!!

[Reel life]

I will be there

[BTH284]

Yep, I will be there!!!!

[wahoojack]

Planning on being there also.

[burricane]

I'll be there, and with two others. Capt. Nelson Applegate, who sat on the initial SAFMC in the late 1970s, and Capt. Joe Seegers, who fished for nearly a decade out of Hatteras.

Fishfinder, I like your optimism about getting a stay against the wahoo restriction. I pray it makes a difference.

Here's my big question, how do we take our defense of our passion/work to the next level? Each year, the industry (and when I say that I am talking about charter, recreational, and commercial) is assaulted by these proposed "Amendments." Last year the industry went to DC to march and protest, and yet it happens again. How do we organize ourselves to fight full-time? I was a member of the charter fishing industry for six years, and it seemed like most of our fighting was with other boats, and not with the feds, who is the real threat to fishing.

My opinion is also that the federal government has taken a "divide-and-conquer" approach with fisheries. If they can keep the recreational sector pitted against the charter sector pitted against the commercial sector, then they will eventually be able to enact WHATEVER legislation they want.

Additionally, there's not really a group out there that speaks for the agenda of all fishermen. I think that RFA comes the closest, but falls well short of taking into consideration the three groups.

It's time to really organize, and to do it right. There needs to be a group that acts as a watchdog for the SAFMC, and it needs to cover all the states that the SAFMC governs over.

Thoughts?

[Captain Fish]

Capt. David Tilley will be there at 2:00pm in the lobby for RFA NC...

Here is the message from Dave.

As most of you know by now, I have agreed to be co-chair of the NC Chapter of the RFA (Recreational Fishing Alliance) http://www.joinrfa.org

The SAMF meeting will be held on Monday, January 24th at the Hilton Hotel in New Bern, NC beginning at 3 PM.

I want to strongly encourage everyone who has an interest in keeping fishing open and available for us, our children and our grandchildren to attend and speak at the meeting.

Prior to the SAMF meeting, I propose we meet at 2 PM in the lobby of the hotel to discuss the mission of the RFA, what their strategy is to fight the Catch Share plan and how you can become involved in the fight. Many of us went to DC last year for the March on Washington to protest the fishing closures and we received a great deal of support, but the fight has just begun.

The most important topic to discuss is how to facilitate discussion and agreement between all stake holders in the dialog. The Government plan is to divide and conquer, by allocating the fish resource to Commercial fishermen, Charter/Head Boats, and to Recreational Fishermen. We must not allow the division of our efforts, and if they are successful, we will be at odds with each other over who is allowed to catch what, when and how much it costs to have the privilege to fish in the ocean.

Please let me know your interest in attending the meeting at 2 PM and I look forward to seeing you all there.

Dave

[Captain Fish]

UPDATED...

Primer for Public hearings January – February 2011

A primer on giving comments
Check in with the desk and request a sign up to give comments slip.
Fill out and return immediately, your wait will be shorter.
When giving comments remember that you will probably be limited to about 3 minutes, it goes fast so keep to your plan.
You will need to give the introduction each time you start a new section. They will cut your comments into 5 sections so they need the intro info each time

Amendment 22 Scoping Document http://www.safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?...0%3d&tabid=624

Snapper Grouper Amendment 22
long-term management of red snapper as the stock rebuilds.
I am here to speak on Amendment 22
Background:
- your name
- town where you live
- you are a recreational angler
- give a short synopsis of your fishing experience
- state your view of the health of the Red Snapper fishery
Alternative 1 (Continue the 20-inch minimum size limit (commercial and recreational) and the recreational 2 fish bag limit included in the 10 snapper per person limit).
Position: I support the return to this regulation as it was proven over many years to allow for the continued growth of the Red Snapper population. I further urge the council to change the benchmark date for Red Snapper data from 1945 to 1980 as this is the first date from which there is reliable data.
Alternative 3. (Institute a bag limit for the recreational sector.)
Position: I support Sub-Alternative 3a. I support a 2 fish per person bag limit.
Alternatives 8 – 10 (catch shares)
Position: I oppose all catch share programs for Red Snapper.
Alternative 11. (Establish a red snapper spawning season closure from July through September annually, where all harvest (recreational and commercial) would be prohibited within the EEZ and in state waters for vessels holding a snapper grouper permit.
Position: I oppose any closed season for Red Snapper the previous 2 Red Snapper per person was proven to be successful and we are now seeing Red Snapper in numbers not seen before.
Alternative 12. (Implement a gear prohibition or requirement that would either reduce bycatch mortality or limit harvest overall.)
Position: I support the use of circle hooks, deventing tools and dehooking devices.
Alternative 13.(Establish a red snapper special management zone (SMZ), within which certain restrictions such as, endorsement requirements, tags, or seasonal prohibitions on take, could apply.
Position: I oppose any such management zones.

Comprehensive ACL Amendment Summary http://www.safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?...Y%3d&tabid=139


Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment

Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment to establish Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for species not currently listed as undergoing overfishing as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Annual Catch Limits (pounds or numbers of fish) will be set for species in the snapper grouper management complex as well as dolphin, wahoo, and golden crab.

I am here to speak on the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment
Backround:
- your name
- town where you live
- you are a recreational angler
- give a short synopsis of your fishing experience
- state your view of the health of the fisheries
Action 3: Establish Species Groupings for Snapper Grouper Species
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Do not establish multi-species groupings for the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Unit (FMU). All fish should be managed as individual species, groups of fish should not be closed due to the status of one fish in the group.
Action 4: Establish an Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule for Snapper Grouper Species
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Do not establish an ABC Control Rule for species in the Snapper Grouper FMU. The regulations that were in effect prior to the enactment of Amendment 17A & 17B were working well and the stocks of fish are healthy and there should be no changes.
Action 5: Specify Allocations for Snapper Grouper Species That Do not Currently have Allocations
Position: I support Alternative 2 This allocation should be for all fish and all catch history including Red Snapper’s benchmark should be reset to the 1986 year.
Action 6: Establish Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and Optimum Yield (OY) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Retain existing ACLs for snapper grouper species or species groups. Do not specify ACLs for species that do not have them.
Action 7: Specify Accountability Measures (AMs)/ Annual Catch Targets (ACTs) for Species in the Snapper Grouper FMU
Position: I do not agree with any of the alternatives, when the Recreational Annual catch target is exceeded for any fish then the council should review the matter at the next meeting. The Regional Administrator should not be given the authority to make decisions and due to his past actions I do not trust Roy Crabtree in making such decisions.
Action 8: Specify Allocations for the Wreckfish Fishery
Position: I do not support any of the alternatives, the allocation must be set at 50 recreational/50 commercial.
Action 13: Specify Sector Allocations for Black Grouper
Position: I do not support any of the alternatives, the allocation must be set at 50 recreational/50 commercial.
Action 14. Establish Annual Catch Limits (ACL) and Optimum Yield (OY) for Black Grouper
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Retain aggregate recreational and commercial ACLs for black grouper, red grouper, and gag.
Action 15: Establish Accountability Measures/Management Measures for Black Grouper
Position: I do not agree with any of the alternatives, when the Recreational Annual catch target is exceeded for any fish then the council should review the matter at the next meeting. Due to his past actions I do not trust Roy Crabtree in making such decisions and he should not be given such authority.

Action 16: Establish an Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule and ABC for dolphin
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Do not establish an ABC Control Rule for Dolphin.
Action 17: Specify Allocations for Dolphin
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Continue to use the allocations for dolphin specified in the Dolphin Wahoo FMP (13% commercial/87% recreational).
Action 18: Establish Annual Catch Limits (ACL) and Optimum Yield (OY) for Dolphin
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). There is should no ACL specified for dolphin, the present regulations are working well and do not need to be changed.
Action 19: Establish Accountability Measures for Dolphin
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Do not specify sector ACTs or AMs for dolphin.
Action 20: Establish Management Measures for Dolphin
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Retain current management regulations.
Action 21: Establish an Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule and ABC for Wahoo
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Do not establish an ABC Control Rule for wahoo.
Action 22: Specify Allocations for Wahoo
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Do not define allocations for wahoo.
Action 23: Establish Annual Catch Limits (ACL) and Optimum Yield (OY) for Wahoo
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). There is no ACL specified for wahoo.
Action 24: Establish Accountability Measures for Wahoo
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). There is no hard quota for wahoo and there are no AMs in place for wahoo.
Action 25: Establish Management Measures for Wahoo
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Retain current management measures for wahoo.

Amendment 21 Scoping Document http://www.safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?...A%3d&tabid=624


Amendment 21

Comprehensive Catch Shares Amendment is being considered to look at options for catch share programs for species currently under management through quotas (except snowy grouper), effort and participation reduction, and endorsement actions.
I am here to speak on Amendment 21
Backround:
- your name
- town where you live
- you are a recreational angler
- give a short synopsis of your fishing experience
- state your view of the health of the fisheries
Action 1: Selection of an effort management approach for snapper grouper species in the South Atlantic.
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action.
Action 2: Selection of species to be included in effort management program.
Position: I support Alternative 1. No action
Action 3: Establish trip limits for one or more snapper grouper species in the South Atlantic
Position: I support Alternative 1: No Action. Do not establish trip limits.

Action 4. Initial Allocation of Endorsements for Particular Species and Species Groupings
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not allocate endorsements
Action 5: Establish State-by-State Quotas
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not establish state-by-state quotas, no states should get preferential treatment in the regulations.
Action 6: Establish Regional Quotas
Position: I support Alternative 1: Do not establish regional quotas. No region should get preferential treatment.
Action 7. Set aside for research or experimental fishery
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not set aside annual pounds for research or an experimental fishery
Action 8. Catch Share Participation
Position: I support Alternative 1 (No Action). Do not establish criteria for participating in a catch share program for South Atlantic snapper-grouper species, I oppose all catch shares.
Action 9. Define Substantial Participants
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not identify substantial participants.
Action 10: Eligibility for Initial Allocation of Shares
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not specify initial allocation eligibility requirements.
Action 11: Initial Apportionment of Catch Shares
Position: I support Alternative 1. No action. Do not specify a method for the initial allocation of LAPs.
Action 11: Initial Apportionment of Catch Shares
Position: I support Alternative 1. No action. Do not specify a method for the initial allocation of LAPs.
Action 12: Multiuse Annual Pounds and Trip Allowance
Position: I support Alternative 1: Do not establish multiuse annual pounds or trip allowances
Action 13: Transferability of Shares and Annual Pounds
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not allow transferability of shares they should be treated as a commodity for the profit of private individuals.
Action 14: Transferability of Annual Pounds
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not allow transferability of annual pounds. If a quota is not used it should be left in the ocean.
Action 15: Establish Caps on Catch Share Ownership
Position: I support Alternative 3: No person shall own more catch shares than the maximum percentage issued to the recipient of the largest amount of shares at the time of initial assignment of shares for a share category.
Action 16: Establish Caps on Annual Pounds Ownership
Position: I support Alternative 3: No person shall possess more annual pounds than the maximum annual pounds issued to the recipient of the largest amount of annual pounds at the time of initial assignment of annual pounds for a share category.
Action 17: Adjustment of Annual Pounds based on Change in Commercial Quota.
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not specify how annual pounds are allocated

when there is a change in the commercial quota.
Action 18: Incidental Catch Provisions
Position: I support Alternative 1: Do not allow incidental catch amounts for snapper grouper species for fishermen who do not hold shares for catch share category in the snapper grouper fishery. This allowance would only encourage the bycatch of fish for profit.
Action 19: Allow Banking Unused Amounts of Annual Pounds
Position: I support Alternative 1: Do not allow catch shareholders to bank unused amounts of annual pounds or X percentage of unused annual pounds for use in the subsequent fishing year.
Action 20: Allow Borrowing of a Portion of Future Annual Pounds
Position: I support Alternative 1: No action. Do not allow borrowing of any future year’s annual pounds.
Action 25. Collection of Royalties from Resource Use
Position: I support Alternative 2: Hold an annual auction of portions of the shares in the snapper grouper fishery. Place funds collected through the auction into an account where the funds help pay for snapper grouper fishery management, research, and enforcement. This implies an annual expiration provision for a portion of the shares.
Action 28: Expiration provision
Position: I support Alternative 2: Define shares so they expire every 5 years with a start date upon implementation of this Amendment.

Amendment 24 Scoping Document http://www.safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?...0%3d&tabid=624


Amendment 24

Snapper Grouper addresses the mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act
to end overfishing and rebuild the red grouper stock.
I am here to speak on Amendment 24
Backround:
- your name
- town where you live
- you are a recreational angler
- give a short synopsis of your fishing experience
- state your view of the health of the Red Grouper fishery
2.1 Maximum Sustainable Yield
Position: I support Alternative 1 which maintains the current definition of  Maximum Sustainable Yield.(MSY)
2.2 Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST)
Position: I support Alternative 1 which maintains the current definition of Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST).
2.3 Rebuilding Schedule
Position: I do not support any of the alternatives, the maximum allowable rebuilding time should be set to 10 years plus one generation.
2.4 Rebuilding Strategy
Position: I do not support any of the alternatives, the Foy should be set to 90% maximum sustainable yield
2.5 Allocations and Sector Annual Catch Limits (ACLs)
Position: I support Option 2e Commercial = 45% of ACL and recreational = 55% of ACL

2.6 Management Measures
Position: The recreational seasonal closure should be lifted due to the fact that the recreational catch according to the figures in the scoping documents show that only 40% of the Red Grouper landings are recreational.

Regulatory Amendment 9 Summary http://www.safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?...A%3d&tabid=624


Amendment 9

Snapper Grouper Regulatory includes commercial trip limit options for
greater amberjack, vermilion snapper, black sea bass, and gag grouper.
I am here to speak on Amendment 9
Backround:
- your name
- town where you live
- you are a recreational angler
- give a short synopsis of your fishing experience
- state your view of the health of the fisheries
Action 1. Harvest Management Measures for Black Sea Bass
I do not support any of the alternatives and the season should be from commercial harvest season should be from Nov 1 – April 31st.
Action 2. Trip Limits for Vermilion Snapper
There should be no limit until 2/3 of the commercial quota has been met then 500lb per trip afterward.
Action 3. Trip Limits for Gag
There should be no limit until 2/3 of the commercial quota has been met then 500lb per trip afterward.
Action 4. Trip Limits for Greater Amberjack
I support Alternative 1 (No Action).
(Retain the current commercial regulations for greater amberjack in the South Atlantic)