Seafood Community Mourns the Loss of an Industry Giant

Transcription

1 Gulf & South Atlantic News Volume 14, Issue 1 A Publication of the Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc. May 2013 Covering activities from 12/16/ /30/2013 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Robert Jones, FL President Southeastern Fisheries Association, Inc. Mr. Jerry Sansom, FL Vice President Organized Fishermen of Florida Mr. Rutledge Leland, SC Secretary/Treasurer South Carolina-At-Large Ms. Wilma Anderson, TX Texas Shrimp Association Mr. Joey Daniels, VA Virginia -At-Large Mr. Byron Despaux, LA Louisiana Shrimp Association Mr. Craig Dopson, SC South Carolina Shrimp Association Mr. A.J. Erskine, VA Virginia Seafood Council Mr. Philip Horn, MS Mississippi-At-Large Mr. Chris Nelson, AL Alabama-At-Large Mr. Patrick Riley, TX Texas-At-Large Captain James Ruhle, NC North Carolina-At-Large Ms. Kay Williams, MS Mississippi-At-Large Captain John Woods, GA Georgia Shrimp Association, Inc. Gulf & South Atlantic News is published by the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc., the research and conservation partner of the southeastern U.S. commercial fishing industry. Judy Jamison, Executive Director Ph: (813) gulfsouthfdn@att.net Seafood Community Mourns the Loss of an Industry Giant The Foundation and the entire Gulf Seafood Industry is mourning the loss of an industry giant. Mike Voisin, Foundation President and Co-Owner of Motivatit Seafoods, Houma, LA, passed away due to complications from a major heart event on February 2. Mike was the acting President of the Foundation and his list of fishery affiliations was endless: Southeastern Fisheries Association (SFA), Louisiana Seafood Processors Council, Gulf Oyster Industry Council, Louisiana Oyster Task Force, and National Fisheries Institute to name a few. Bob Jones, Executive Director of SFA, who took over as Foundation President after Mike s passing noted, "Mike Voisin was an inspiration to so many of us. I still reach for the phone to call him about our industry challenges." Foundation Executive Director Judy Jamison notes, He was not only a great mentor of mine, but a wonderful friend. The Foundation will not be the same without him. Fnd Vice-President Jerry Sansom, Bob Jones, Judy Jamison and Mike Voisin present Larry Simpson (middle) the Foundation s Distinguished Service Award in 2011 Gulf States Loses a Leader Longtime Executive Director of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, Larry Simpson, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. "Larry Simpson was a pro's pro. Highest of personal and professional ethics and a solid foundation for fairness and kindness made him a giant in our industry," Foundation President Bob Jones said. "I think of him often and always will miss that smile." Judy Jamison notes, I worked with Larry for many years and he taught me a great deal about working cooperatively with the State Marine Fisheries Commissions. His leadership and bright personality will be missed. This newsletter was prepared by the Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc. under awards NA09NMF , NA10NMF , NA10NMF , NA10NMF , NA10NMF , NA11NMF , NA11NMF , NA11NMF , and NA12NMF from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Commerce.

2 Volume 14, Issue 1 Page 2 Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition Update This quarter has been challenging with the passing of our Chairman, Mike Voisin. His thoughtful, analytical, positive approach to challenges and opportunities is greatly missed. As Mike stated many times A rising tide lifts all boats. We will continue working with the Gulf States and our partners to promote Gulf Coast Seafood through the grant from Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC). Mr. Voisin held the position of Chairman of the Coalition and due to his passing, Vice-Chairman Mr. Chris Nelson was appointed Chairman of the Coalition. Mr. Patrick Riley was appointed as Vice-Chairman. Other membership changes include: Mr. Alex Miller - was appointed alternate to Mr. Ralph Hode under Ex Officio member Ms. Stacy Boyll-Stapel, Bonefish Grill - was added as the Restaurant member Ms. Mary York - is now the alternate for Texas under State Seafood Marketing Executives Mr. Robert Novotny, Inland Seafood - will serve as a State Associations / Processors / Wholesalers / Fishermen member At the last Coalition meeting, held in conjunction with the International Boston Seafood Show, the Coalition voted to add the following strategy to the Strategic Plan for Year II: Strategy 4: Incorporate other GSMFC oil disaster recovery program initiatives into the Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition s program, including traceability, sustainability, fisheries management strategies and direct marketing to consumers. RETAIL AND FOODSERVICE PARTNERSHIPS Wild Gulf Coast seafood promotions continue to be popular with retail and foodservice. A partnership with H-E-B Supermarkets ran from February 27 - March 12 with sampling in 53 stores. We worked with The Food Group marketing firm in developing the custom point-of-sale (POS) materials (see below). We also partnered with Chefs USA during the promotion to help save costs. Chefs provided in store samples and video of the recipe to assist consumers with recipe preparation. The sample recipe was shrimp and mango skewers. We partnered with the Mango Board, a wine company, and a seasoning company. H-E-B POS and Chefs USA Sampling The H-E-B Supermarket promotion was our first retail program that included tracing the seafood to the boats/docks. We will continue to work with Gulf Seafood Trace and incorporate the QR code in POS material. We are working with Rouses Supermarket on an oyster and shrimp promotion in their 38 stores. More to come. Coalition Update (continued on page 3)

3 Page 3 Gulf & South Atlantic News WEBSITE The Coalition was tasked to build a website to educate consumers, buyers, and chefs about Gulf Coast seafood. The website showcases Gulf Coast Seafood on behalf of all seafood stakeholder segments from each Gulf State. The most popular section is the recipe page. Be sure to visit it. The Gulf States marketing arms provided many excellent Gulf seafood recipes. We are always looking for new recipes with finished dish photos. Please send us your favorite recipe to include on the site. SOCIAL MEDIA and Zehnder Communications, another contracted marketing firm, completed the Coalition s first social media give-away of the year on Facebook and Twitter. Reaching over 14,000 people, the Coalition is very pleased with the results. Thanks goes to the Florida Seafood Marketing Bureau for donating the Florida pink shrimp for the give-away. If you have product or a special item representing our Gulf Coast communities that you d like to provide for a give-away, let us know. Keep visiting our social channels for the next give-away from the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission. MEDIA RELATIONS Through a sub-contract with the public relations firm Edelman, a New York City media tour was coordinated in December with Chef Brian Landry and Seafood Marketing Coordinator Joanne McNeely. The team met with a total of 17 influential media, secured interest for a remote interview/placement from another 6 writers, reconnected with a Gulf seafood advocate from the media, and created what will likely be a long-term relationship with an extremely influential chef. The Gulf States partnered to advertise in SeaFood Business (right). The ad appeared in three issues of the popular magazine. A media familiarization tour is scheduled to take place in in New Orleans, LA in the beginning of May. Media representatives from the following outlets are currently slated to attend: SeaFood Business; Food Processing & Wellness Foods magazine; MomTrends Blogging Community; HEALTH Magazine; Huffington Post; Southern Hospitality Magazine; My Life Runs on Food Blog; QSR/FSR; The Daily Beast; The Food Network/ FN Dish Blog; Freelancer for Garden & Gun and Coastal Living; The Epoch Times; Fine Cooking; and Spenser Magazine.

4 Volume 14, Issue 1 Page 4 Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc. Program Update Social Impacts of the Allocation / Reallocation of Marine Fisheries Resources on Communities in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic: Development of an Empirical Predictive Model (NA09NMF , GSAFFI #108/112) The purpose of this research was to develop a quantitative model relying upon existing secondary data for predicting the social impacts of allocation or reallocation schemes on fishing communities. This model can specifically predict changes in social wellbeing as shifts in Total Allowable Catch (TAC) are made. In addition, the model was carefully examined and validated to ensure the external validity. This research shows that it is possible to predict how much the communities will be impacted using the same variables. This research also shows that for most communities allocation/reallocation shifts have fairly minor impacts on community-level well-being. However, for the most commercial and recreationally dependent areas, resource shifts impact the entire community s social well-being. A presentation of project results was given to the Gulf of Mexico Science and Statistical Committee Socio-economic Panel during their meeting in October The Final Report is available. Continuation of the Catch Characterization and Discards within the Snapper-Grouper Vertical Hook-and-Line Fishery of the South Atlantic United States (NA10NMF , GSAFFI #113) The snapper-grouper fishery within the South Atlantic United States is comprised of 73 different species, many of which are data poor. As a result, some species specific stock assessment models have a high level of uncertainty, lacking accurate inputs for catch characterization, effort, and quantity of discards. The purpose of this research was to continue to characterize the catch and discards within the commercial snapper grouper vertical hook-and-line fishery of the South Atlantic and to build on the dataset created during the pilot program. This was accomplished through the use of trained observers placed onboard fishing vessels to collect data quantifying the gear, effort, catch and discards within the fishery. Observed trips covered four statistical zones ranging from the southern part of North Carolina to the northern part of Florida. These trips totaled 114 sea days, and data were obtained at 734 stations sampled representing 2,863 hook hours (HH). Vermilion snapper was the most commonly caught species followed by red porgy, and gray triggerfish. The most common discarded species were red porgy, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass. This project was only successful because of the cooperation and assistance of the commercial snapper-grouper fleet throughout the South Atlantic. With the information derived from this project, the data available for stock assessments will be expanded and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries will be able to better assess the impact of discards on the snappergrouper fishery. The Final Report is in preparation. The Role of Shrimp Imports in the Decline of Shrimp Reliant Communities in the Gulf of Mexico (NA10NMF , GSAFFI #114) The purpose of the research was to provide a method for assessing the impact of imported shrimp on local communities that rely on the shrimping industry. This would provide a socio-economic tool that meets National Standard 8 requirements for community level assessments. In particular, the research looked at the impacts on local businesses and jobs and community well-being. A multimethod approach consisting of the development of social indicators, rapid ethnography and IMPLAN modeling was used. Overall, the three analytical techniques matched quite well triangulating the results and increasing confidence that the research has found real economic and social impacts related to increasing levels of shrimp imports. In some cases the impact is dramatic, such as in Palacios, TX, a small isolated community that is highly reliant on shrimping and is currently struggling to survive. Social and economic conditions have diminished as a result of shrimp imports in many of our study sites. (Continued on page 5)

5 Page 5 (Continued from page 4) Preliminary model results were presented by a project contractor at a professional conference in November The Final Report is being finalized and will be available in May. Continued Development and Assessment of Bycatch Reduction Devices within the Southeastern Shrimp Trawl Fishery (NA10NMF , GSAFFI #115) This project will continue work completed in GSAFF #105 and field test new or promising bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) for certification following the NMFS BRD Certification Testing Protocol for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. BRD designs are being solicited from shrimp fishermen, industry gear innovators, and NMFS Harvesting Branch Personnel. As before, devices are being field tested aboard commercial fishing vessels with onboard observers collecting data outlined within the Testing Protocols. Collected data will be analyzed to identify the reduction in finfish fishing mortality achieved by BRDs in addition to determining the extent of shrimp loss associated with the device. BRD testing trips on the Ricky BRD are scheduled to occur during the upcoming summer months when finfish concentrations are higher. Ricky (Double Fisheye) BRD An Expanded Outreach Program and Technology of Updated Bycatch Reduction Devices and Turtle Excluder Devices to the Southeastern U.S. Shrimp Industry (NA11NMF , GSAFFI #118) Gulf & South Atlantic News This project involves the networking of gear specialists throughout the Southeast. The Foundation Regional Coordinators have collaborated with gear experts from the NMFS Harvesting Branch to disseminate TED and BRD information. Comprehensive educational thrusts were directed toward TED/BRD technology transfer and gear compliance through informal workshops as well as individual, one-on-one assistance. These workshops have been held throughout the Gulf and South Atlantic regions, specifically focusing on TED installation and compliance. In many cases, Regional Coordinators conducted informal courtesy inspections of installed TEDs aboard numerous vessels in several ports and instructed captains and crew on the regulations. When necessary, interpreters and foreign language outreach materials were provided during workshops. The Regional Coordinators have found vastly improved TED installation and maintenance in the fleet since the start of this project. Pilot Study to Characterize Fishing Effort of the South Atlantic Penaeid Shrimp Trawl Fishery through the use of Electronic Logbooks (NA11NMF , GSAFFI #119) Coastal shrimp trawl fisheries have long been the focus of government regulations to reduce bycatch of sea turtles and commercially/ecologically important species in the Gulf and the U.S. Atlantic. In order to accurately measure bycatch, and thus protect both the fishermen and the resource, fishing effort estimates must be accurate. This project seeks to use the knowledge garnered from a successful ELB program conducted in the Gulf and institute the same methodology and protocols in the South Atlantic penaeid shrimp trawl fishery. Because this is a pilot study, only minimal observer coverage is necessary, and the results will determine the feasibility of expanding the project. ELBs have been installed on 20 South Atlantic shrimp vessels located in Georgia ports. ELB data collection has begun. Foundation Observers were trained in the beginning of December and observer data collection trips have started. Once the 30 sea days are complete, landings data from observed trips will be compared to ELB data and trip ticket data to verify the effectiveness of the ELB system in the South Atlantic. (Continued on Page 6)

6 Volume 14, Issue 1 Page 3 Page 6 (Program Update Continued from page 5) Continuation of a Project to Augment the Data Collection of an Electronic Logbook System Used within the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery (NA11NMF , GSAFFI #120) This Foundation program is a continuation of several previously funded ELB projects in the Gulf of Mexico (#94, #109). The ELB program in the Gulf is arguably the most important data collection program in the southeast. The data are used to calculate shrimp fishing effort and are used in the management of red snapper. Observers have been collecting data on total penaeid shrimp, red snapper, and small coastal shark catch on participating shrimp vessels. Results will be used to validate ELB landings estimates by region, quantify red snapper and small coastal shark bycatch rates, and to assist fisheries managers in the assessment of both stocks. Currently, the Gulf ELB program is facing a budget crisis and its future funding is in doubt. At the last Gulf Council meeting, the Shrimp Committee passed the following motion in relation to ELBs: To request that staff set up a meeting of the Shrimp Advisory Panel, Center personnel, Dr. Gallaway, and other appropriate NMFS personnel to provide input to Dr. Bonnie Ponwith and the SEFSC with regard to shrimp effort data collection. Continuation of an Expanded Outreach Program and Technology Transfer of Updated Turtle Excluder and Bycatch Reduction Devices to the Southeastern U.S. Shrimp Industry (NA12NMF , GSAFFI #122) This project is a continuation of the Foundation TED/BRD outreach project (#118). Dock side outreach will continue to be conducted throughout the southeast region. Because TED compliance rates are used to determine whether the incidental take of sea turtles in the shrimp trawl fishery has been exceeded or not, Foundation Coordinators will continue to focus on assisting with gear installation procedures and upkeep. The most recent assessment showed that compliance rates were not adequate (too many violations), so this project is very important to industry. Foundation Supported Research Projects Grouper Forensics for Seafood Quality Control University of South Florida With the proliferation of cheaper, imported seafood, fraud in form of species substitution has become a more common problem affecting the seafood industry. The overall goal of this project is to develop technology to rapidly confirm the identity of fish tissue in the field for seafood quality control. The starting point in this case is to develop such technology for all the types of grouper such that they can be differentiated from less costly substitutes. The specific objectives are: 1) To complete grouperspecific NASBA assay development and validation (simpler DNA test); and 2) To complete development of a handheld sensor including integration of the grouper-specific NASBA assay. The most recently developed hand-held testing device (Quadrupyre) is capable of analyzing 4 samples simultaneously. A workshop entitled, What s in your Sandwich? Grouper Authentication Workshop, was held in December in St. Petersburg, FL. A variety of seafood stakeholders participated and a write-up was published in the Tampa Bay Times. A no-cost extension was granted to complete the proposed work. FWC Florida Cooperative East Coast Red Snapper Tagging Program The primary goal of the program is to develop and implement a long-term angler-based tagging program along the Atlantic coast of Florida that will aid fishery managers in understanding red snapper population dynamics. This program was instituted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The program has elicited the help of the for-hire charter boat fleet in northern Florida. To date, 18 directed red snapper tagging cruises have been conducted using Foundation funds. Trips have been made out of Mayport, Port Canaveral, Daytona, and St. Augustine. Research biologists from the FWC were brought on directed charter cruises and tagged all red snapper that were caught. A total of 861 red snapper were tagged and released or culled for biological analysis by FWC biologists on these trips. The overall FWC program includes a total of 2591 red snapper tagged to date. The FWC has received return data on 161 fish - yielding a 6.21% tag return. The Foundation provided funds to the charter boats to offset the cost of fuel, supplies and crew. Tagging trips are on-going.

7 Page 7 Gulf & South Atlantic News Fishermen Are Reminded of the Importance of Complying With All TED Regulations Under New Fleet-wide TED Performance Standard for Shrimp Otter Trawls The Impact of TED Violations on Sea Turtles TEDs must be constructed, installed, and operating in compliance with federal TED requirements in order for them to be effective in reducing the bycatch of different sizes and species of sea turtles in otter trawls. Not all TED violations have the same impact on sea turtles capture rates. Two important factors are the angle at which your TED hangs in your net and the escape opening size. Managing the Effectiveness of TEDs via a Fleet-Wide Compliance and TED Performance Standard for Shrimp Otter Trawls On May 9, 2012, NOAA Fisheries issued a Biological Opinion (BiOp) under the Endangered Species Act, which established a new management approach and new agency requirements for minimizing sea turtle captures in shrimp otter trawl fisheries. The most important of these new requirements is a system to measure and monitor the actual performance of shrimp otter trawls in releasing sea turtles, which became effective June 1, Under these new requirements, NOAA Fisheries is using detailed data on the type and severity of TED violations collected by the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement when they board shrimp trawl vessels to estimate sea turtle capture rates. NOAA Fisheries has established a new fleet wide TED performance standard which limits otter trawls to an overall 12 percent sea turtle capture rate. This rate is based on the average capture rate estimated by NOAA Fisheries that was achieved by the shrimp otter trawl fleet during the four-month period of August - November It is the responsibility of fisherman to comply with the regulations so the shrimp otter trawl fleet can keep its sea turtle capture rate at or below 12 percent. NOAA Fisheries will aid in this effort with continued outreach and enforcement. Monitoring the New TED Performance Standard The BiOp requires NOAA Fisheries to monitor TED compliance to determine if the shrimp otter trawl fleet is performing on average at or below the 12 percent sea turtle capture rate performance standard every 6 months. If NOAA Fisheries estimates during one of these 6-month reviews that the shrimp otter trawl fleet on average exceeded the 12 percent standard, then a number of initial actions are required including- Identification of any discrete areas where non-compliance is occurring. Targeted outreach by the NOAA Fisheries Gear Monitoring Team in problem areas including training and courtesy inspections. Targeted Law Enforcement in problem areas. Monitoring capture rates on a monthly basis. The First Six-Month Review and NOAA Fisheries' Next Steps NOAA Fisheries has completed its first 6-month review (June 1 through November 30, 2012) under the new requirement. The results indicate that the June through November 2012 average fleet-wide sea turtle capture rate in otter trawls was approximately 13 percent. Although this capture rate level is only slightly higher than the established maximum sea turtle capture rate standard, NOAA Fisheries is now taking specific actions as required by the BiOp to reduce the sea turtle capture to 12 percent or below. TED violations were documented through NOAA Office of Law Enforcement vessel boardings in multiple locations in both the Atlantic and Gulf and did not appear to be concentrated in certain fishing areas. Therefore, NOAA Fisheries is holding informal training and courtesy dockside inspections throughout each region to assist fishermen in complying with the TED regulations. A listing of currently scheduled training dates and locations is maintained on the Southeast Regional office's website. NMFS is now monitoring NOAA Office of Law Enforcement boardings data on a monthly basis to help ensure the shrimp otter trawl fleet achieves the capture rate performance standard in the next 6-month review (December 1, 2012, through May 31, 2013). For more detailed results of this and future 6-month reviews and monthly sea turtle capture rate estimates, visit the Southeast Regional Office website at: (SOUTHEAST FISHERY BULLETIN, FB13-011, February 20, 2013)

8 Volume 14, Issue 1 Page International Boston Seafood Show The International Boston Seafood Show was a great success for the Coalition. Joanne McNeely, several Coalition members and The Food Group marketing firm met with nine national retail supermarket chains and look forward to establishing upcoming partnerships. While at the show, Edelman public relations firm secured a total of 11 media appointments, 10 trade focused and 1 local Boston publication. Additionally, the Coalition was included in the Boston Show Daily two out of the three days and three placements have already been published. In addition, the State Marketing Executives presented How the Gulf States can help you sell more Gulf Coast Seafood at a conference session during the show. Coalition Member Chris Blankenship, Coalition Chairman Chris Nelson, and Joanne McNeely Present during a Conference Session Coalition Members Irvin Jackson and Corky Perret Mississippi Seafood Booth Oyster Shucking Competition

9 Page 9 Gulf & South Atlantic News Fresh from Florida Booth Tributes for Mike at the Boston Show Louisiana Seafood Booth Marine Resource Education Program Program Director Frank Helies presented information about cooperative research to a group of 32 southeast fisheries stakeholders April 3 in St. Petersburg. The goals of the program were to increase the number of individuals that are comfortable navigating the fishery data and management systems by bringing fishermen, scientists, and managers together in a neutral setting to explore differences as well as common goals. Participants were given lessons in stock assessments, gear technology, fishery data collection and sampling, population biology, and climate change.

10 Volume 14, Issue 1 Page 10 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Update The Council met in Gulfport, MS, April 15-18, 2013, to discuss the following fishery issues: Regional Management of Red Snapper The Council continued its discussions regarding Reef Fish Amendment 39 - Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper and selected preferred alternatives. The revised document, including preferred alternatives, will be presented to the public for review and comment before the Council takes final action. Regional management considers dividing the federal red snapper quota among states or regions potentially giving them authority to set their own management measures, including bag limits and seasons. States/ regions would have more flexibility in choosing season and bag limits, but this would not necessarily result in more fishing days. Under a regional management system red snapper would remain a federally managed species subject to federal conservation goals, and the Council would continue to oversee management of the stock. Request for Emergency Rules Two requests for emergency rules were approved by the Council. The first request was for an emergency rule that would remove the requirement that vessels with a Gulf of Mexico Charter Headboat Reef Fish Permit adhere the stricter of federal or state regulations. This would allow federally permitted charter boats to fish under federal reef fish regulations when fishing in the EEZ, and state reef fish regulations when fishing in state waters. The second request was for an emergency rule to rescind the recreational closure authority specific to federal waters off individual states for the red snapper component of the reef fish fishery. Days-at-Sea Program The Council heard public comment summaries from the eight scoping workshops held around the Gulf of Mexico regarding a potential For-Hire Days-at-Sea Pilot Program. No further action was taken regarding this issue. Data Collection In an effort to improve recreational data collections, the Council directed staff to develop a scoping document that looks at enhancements, revisions, and/or new options for estimating or quantifying private recreational landings. Red Drum Per Council direction, staff will request NMFS and the five Gulf States develop a research plan for red drum. Petroleum Platform Removal The Council also directed staff to develop a letter to the Secretary of the Interior objecting to the removal of petroleum platforms with the use of explosives. Before sending the letter to the Secretary, a draft will be presented to the Council for review and approval during its June meeting. (Gulf Council April 2013 Update) For more information about Gulf Council activities, please visit The Foundation sends our condolences to the Gulf Council family and fellow southeast stakeholders that worked with Dr. Rick Leard and Dr. Karen Burns. Both passed away recently and will be missed.

11 Page 11 Gulf & South Atlantic News South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Update The Council met in St. Simon s Island, GA in March. The Council worked through alternatives for several amendments and approved the following measures for submission to the Secretary of Commerce for final approval and implementation by NOAA Fisheries: Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 18 - Adjustments for Vermilion Snapper and Red Porgy. Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 27 - Captain and crew bag limit retention, crew size on dualpermitted vessels, framework actions, removal of blue runner from the fishery management unit and measures for Nassau grouper. Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic Headboat/Charterboat Reporting Amendment - Addresses Reporting Requirements for Headboats. Joint Generic Dealer Amendment - Requirements for electronic reporting and frequency of reporting for seafood dealers. Vessel Monitoring System Requirements The Council continued work on Amendment 30 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan that contains management alternatives to require vessels with a federal Commercial Snapper Grouper Permit to use vessel monitoring systems (VMS). A series of five public hearings were held in the Southeast, beginning April 15, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. Red Snapper NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Fisheries Science Center provided the Council with an update on the estimated recreational landings of red snapper during the 2012 mini-season. Council members expressed concern about the estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program when compared with those taken by state marine resource agencies during the same time period. NOAA Fisheries will continue to assess both the recreational and commercial data, including discards. Those estimates will be used by NOAA Fisheries to help determine if there will be a red snapper season during In January 2013, the Council submitted measures to the Secretary of Commerce in Amendment 28 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to address methods for specifying an Annual Catch Limit for red snapper and criteria for commercial and recreational red snapper fishing seasons based on the available ACL. The final decision regarding the opening of a red snapper season is determined by NOAA Fisheries. Marine Protected Areas The Council is considering the use of MPAs to help reduce bycatch of speckled hind and warsaw grouper. The Council received a report from the February 2013 meeting of the MPA Expert Workgroup that included recommendations for modifying existing deepwater MPAs as well as alternatives for new sites. The Council also received a minority report from fishermen who serve on the Workgroup. After much discussion, the Council decided to address the issue of MPAs again during its September 2013 meeting, focusing on the purpose and need as well as options to reconfigure existing MPAs and target spawning areas. (SAFMC News Release, March 12, 2013) For more information about South Atlantic Council activities, please visit Red snapper Vermilion snapper Red porgy

12 Volume 14, Issue 1 May 2013 Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Destin, FL March 19-21, 2013 Foundation President Bob Jones Presenting an Award to the late Larry Simpson Larry Simpson receiving the Charles H. Lyles Award by Chris Blankenship 2013 May UPCOMING EVENTS 7-9 Managing Our Nation s Fisheries 3: Advancing Sustainability, Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC., Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Spring Meeting, Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, 901 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA, North American Association of Fisheries Economists Forum, Tradewinds Island Resort, 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL, 33706, Southeastern Fisheries Association Annual Meeting, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando, FL, June South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Hutchinson Island Marriott, 555 NE Ocean Boulevard, Stuart, FL, 34996, 1/ Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Special Reef Fish Committee Meeting, Crowne Plaza, 200 E. Gregory St., Pensacola, FL, August 3 Great American Seafood Cook-off, New Orleans, LA.