CURRENT AND FUTURE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Robert K. Mahood, Executive Director South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201 North Charleston, South Carolina 29405 September 26, 2013
ACTIONS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 15 (yellowtail snapper and groupers) Adjusts the yellowtail snapper Allowable Catch Limit (ACL) and Optimum Yield (OY) (ACL increased by 40%). Removes the requirement that when the gag grouper ACL is reached that all shallow water groupers will also close. Snapper Grouper Amendment 18 (vermilion snapper and red porgy) Adjusts the vermilion snapper ACL, increasing it by 29%. Reduces the commercial trip limit from 1,550 lbs. to 1,000 lbs. (gw). Removes the annual recreational closure on vermilion snapper. Adjusts the red porgy ACL, decreasing it by 23% (will increase annually).
ACTIONS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY Snapper Grouper Amendment 28 (red snapper) Implements a process to determine if a recreational and commercial fishing season for red snapper can occur each year and the ACL. 2013 Red Snapper Mini-Seasons: Recreational August 23-25; 1 fish per person/day bag limit. Commercial Opened August 26 th ; 75- lb (gw) trip limit; open until the ACL is met or projected to be met.
ACTIONS COMPLETED AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 19 (black sea bass) Adjusts the black sea bass ACL, increasing it by 114%. Prohibits the use of pots from November 1 April 30 each year. Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 14 (snapper grouper species) Modifies the recreational and commercial fishing years for greater amberjack and for black sea bass. Modifies the recreational accountabilities measures (AMs) for black sea bass. Changes the commercial fishing seasons and AMs for vermilion snapper. Modifies the trip limit for gag grouper.
ACTIONS COMPLETED AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL Snapper Grouper Amendment 27 (Nassau grouper, blue runner and framework) Assumes responsibility for management of Nassau grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. Increases the number of allowable crew members on dual-permitted snapper grouper vessels. Addresses captain and crew bag limit retention of snapper grouper. Modifies the snapper grouper framework procedures to allow ABC catch levels, ACLs and ACTs to be adjusted via an abbreviated framework process. Removes blue runner from the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Unit. Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 5 (ABCs/ACLs/ACTs/AMs and trip limits) Revises the ACLs for dolphin and wahoo. Changes in AMs to determine when ACL overages need to be paid back. Updates the framework procedure. Establishes commercial trip limits for north and south of 31 degrees N. latitude.
ACTIONS COMPLETED AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL Coral Amendment 8 (modifications to coral HAPCs) Expands the boundaries of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC); the Stetson-Miami Terrace CHAPC and Cape Lookout CHAPC. Generic Dealer Amendment Modifies the current permitting and reporting requirements for seafood dealers who first receive federally managed species. Joint S. Atlantic/Gulf Generic Headboat reporting Modifies data reporting for charter/headboat vessels requiring that fishing records be submitted to the Science and Research Director (SRD) weekly or at intervals shorter than a week if notified.
ACTIONS UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY THE COUNCIL Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 17 (MPAs for speckled hind and warsaw grouper) Considers alternatives for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that would help diminish bycatch of speckled hind and warsaw grouper. Snapper Grouper Amendment 22 (recreational tag program) Being developed in an effort to closely control annual harvest levels of snapper grouper species with exceptionally low recreational ACLs. Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework Amendment (size limits, trip limits, fish transfer provisions and other measures) Would establish provisions to allow transfer at sea of Spanish mackerel caught in gillnets when one set exceeds the trip limit. Would include an action to modify the trip limit for the Florida East Coast subzone.
ACTIONS UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY THE COUNCIL South Atlantic & Gulf Joint Actions South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 20a (bag limit sale & permits) Prohibits sale of recreationally caught king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, with an exception for sale of tournament fish. Reduces the number of latent king mackerel commercial permits Eliminate income requirements for king mackerel and Spanish mackerel commercial permits. Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 20b (boundaries & allocation) Changes the hook and line trip limits and fishing year for some of the Gulf group king mackerel zones/subzones. Establishes a provision to allow transit through closed king mackerel areas. Establishes an allocation of the Atlantic group king mackerel commercial ACL and an allocation of the Atlantic group Spanish mackerel commercial ACL for either North Carolina, or the area north of the NC/SC line. Updates language in the framework procedure. Updates the cobia ACL and allocates part of the Gulf group cobia ACL to the Florida East.
ACTIONS UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY THE COUNCIL South Atlantic & Gulf Joint Actions Commercial Logbook Amendment Considers modifying the timing of reporting requirements for commercial logbooks in fisheries for snapper grouper, coastal migratory pelagic resources, dolphin/wahoo, and golden crab fisheries. Provides an option for logbooks to be submitted electronically. Considers requiring that the components of the commercial logbooks. (landings, economic, and bycatch) be submitted within 21 days after the end of each trip.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO. Snapper Grouper Amendment 21 (Comprehensive Snapper Grouper Catch Share Program) The Council voted not to pursue a catch share program for snapper grouper in March 2011. Snapper Grouper Amendment 16 (Golden crab catch shares) The Council voted to discontinue development of Amendment 6 in June 2013. Snapper Grouper Amendment 30 (VMS) The Council voted not to pursue requiring vessel monitoring systems on snapper grouper vessels in June 2013.
OTHER COUNCIL ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST Joint Committee on South Florida Management Issues Committee includes FFWCC, South Atlantic and Gulf Council members. FFWCC is the lead agency. First meeting held February 2013 (webinar). Five public workshops were held - Dania Beach, Key Largo, Key Colony Beach, Key West, Marco Island, Florida SAFMC Visioning Project
SAFMC Visioning Project: Planning for the Future of the Snapper Grouper Fishery
Visioning Project: Background Stakeholder concerns about current management strategies for snapper grouper fishery. Council wants to develop new management ideas and solutions. Need cooperative, stakeholder driven process to gather input. End result vision and longterm road map for the fishery.
Visioning Project: Process Council member workshops at Council meetings. Started in December 2012. Open to public. Facilitated by staff; organized by visioning work group. Purpose: Focus on snapper grouper fishery only. Develop vision statement, goals, and objectives for fishery. Public involvement throughout process.
Visioning Project: Draft Vision Statement - The snapper grouper fishery is a healthy, sustainable fishery that balances and optimizes benefits for all citizens.
Visioning Project: Next Steps Continue Council member workshops at Council meetings. Revise current snapper grouper FMP goals and objectives. Develop structure and format for Port Meetings. Public Involvement - Port Meetings Informal, town hall-style meetings in fishing communities throughout the region. Gather input from all stakeholders with fishery interests (commercial/for-hire/recreational; chefs/restaurants; engos; coastal tourism operators, etc.) Compile results and further develop into strategic plan.
Staff Contact for Visioning Project: Amber Von Harten Fishery Outreach Specialist 843.571.4366 (office) amber.vonharten@safmc.net Comments about Visioning: safmcvision@safmc.net Find us: South Atlantic Council @SAFMC
New Mobile App SA Fishing Regulations Available for iphone/ipad AND Android! Fish identification information Federal recreational regulations Federal commercial regulations Measuring guidelines Managed areas Deepwater MPAs, Oculina Bank information, Deepwater Coral HAPCs, Special Management Zones, National Marine Sanctuaries in the region. Links to important fishery management contacts and state fishery regulations
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