Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Spiny Lobster- Amendment 11 Public Hearings



The Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils are working together to develop Amendment 11 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan. In this amendment the Councils are considering:

  • Creating new closed areas to reduce the impacts of lobster traps on protected coral species
  • Using trap line marking requirements to improve identification of trap lines that entangle protected species. 

This amendment is being developed to addresses a recent Biological Opinion of the spiny lobster fishery that concludes that spiny lobster trap fishing activities put sea turtles, smalltooth sawfish, and staghorn and elkhorn corals at risk. The Biological Opinion specifies ways to minimize the impact of the spiny lobster trap fishery on these protected species and sets requirements for the terms and conditions under which action must be taken.


A guide to Amendment 11 can be downloaded here, and comments can be submitted here.
The public hearing schedule for Spiny Lobster Amendment 11 is as follows:

January 23, 2012                            January 24, 2012
Marathon Government Center             Harvey Government Center
2798 Overseas Highway                      1200 Truman Avenue
Marathon, FL                                     Key West, FL  
305-289-6036                                    305-295-4385

The full amendment for each plan will soon be posted on the Council web site - http://gulfcouncil.org/resources/scoping_documents.php.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Greater Amberjack- Amendment 35 Public Hearings

The Gulf Council is considering making some changes to the greater amberjack rebuilding plan by modifying:
Photo: Mike Jennings

  • The Annual Catch Limit
  • Recreational seasons and minimum size limit
  • Commercial season and trip limits


The Gulf Council has scheduled a series of public hearings for Reef Fish Amendment 35. Send us written comments by January 23rd because the amendment is scheduled for final action during the January/February Council meeting in Mobile, Alabama. 


Download a guide to the amendment here, and submit written comment here.
Watch online presentation on the Council's YouTube channel by clicking the icon below.

   

Come talk directly to us at the public hearings for Reef Fish Amendment 35 which are scheduled as follows:
 All public hearings begin at 6:00 p.m. local time, and will conclude at the end of public comment, but no later than 9:00 p.m.


January 9, 2012 
Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore
2225 North Lois Avenue
Tampa, Florida
813-877-6688
     January 12, 2012
     Four Points Sheraton
     940 Beach Boulevard
     Biloxi, Mississippi
     228-546-3100


January 11, 2012
Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach
23092 Perdido Beach Boulevard
Orange Beach, Alabama
251-974-1600
     January 17, 2012
     Hilton San Luis
     5400 Seawall Boulevard
     Galveston, Texas
     409-744-5000


January 11, 2012
Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport
2829 Williams Boulevard
Kenner, Louisiana
504-467-5611
     January 18, 2012
     Plantation Suites & Conference Center
     1909 Highway 361
     Port Aransas, Texas
     361-749-3866


January 12, 2012
Hilton Garden Inn Panama City
1101 U.S. Highway 231
Panama City, Florida
850-392-1093

If you have any questions don't hesitate to email us at: