August 2012 Pre-Meeting Study Guide

It’s that time again… The Gulf Council is gearing up to meet next week - August 20^th- 23^rd - in New Orleans, Louisiana to work on a number of different fishery management issues.

Check out the committee schedule and the full Council schedule to see when Council plans to discuss issues that are important to you.

Photo: Capt. Jennings

If you can’t attend in person, we encourage you to tune in to Gulf Council TV. and watch the meeting live. You should also visit our proposed amendments page and submit comment on any of the issues that interest you.

 If you can make it, you may want to consider attending the:

·      Question and answer session - Tuesday, August 21 at 5:00 PM the Regional Administrator of NOAA Fisheries will answer any questions you have regarding fishery management in the Gulf.

·      Public Comment session - Wednesday, August 22 at 1:15 PM you can share your fishery management comments with the Council.

Below is a quick summary of what the Council will be working on during the meeting next week. If you have any questions contact me at Emily.Muehlstein@gulfcouncil.org

Louisiana Management Proposals

The Council will have a discussion with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries regarding their proposal for regional management of red snapper and extension of the state boundary line in the Gulf.

Sector Allocations

The Council continues work on a document that explores the allocation of gag, red grouper, black grouper, and red snapper. Allocation is the division of an Annual Catch Limit between fishing sectors.

The current allocations are:

	Commercial	Recreational
Gag	39%	61%
Red Grouper	76%	24%
Black Grouper	73%	27%
Red Snapper	51%	49%

The scoping document that will be presented to the Council at this meeting considers the possibility of setting new allocations for each species, and splitting allocation into commercial, recreational, and for-hire fishing sectors.

Read the full document and send us a comment.

Vermilion Snapper

A recent stock assessment determined that vermillion snapper is neither overfished or experiencing overfishing. The Council is considering raising the Annual Catch Limit for vermilion snapper to reflect the fact that the population can sustain a higher level of harvest than is currently allowed.

Commercial Reef Fish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program-

In April of this year the Council suspended work on an amendment that would consider establishing an Individual Fishing Quota Program for:

Photo: Kathy Hoak

·      red porgy
·      vermilion snapper
·      greater amberjack
·      lesser amberjack
·      almaco jack
·      banded rudderfish
·      gray triggerfish

The Council requested that the public submit comments to advise the Council of the potential benefits or drawbacks of using an Individual Fishing Quota system for those species. At this meeting the Council will review the comments that have been received and will determine whether to move forward with the development of Reef Fish Amendment 33.

Read the full document and send us a comment.

Gray Triggerfish

The Council will continue work on Reef Fish Amendment 37, which considers:

•              Shortening the current rebuilding plan
•              Increasing the commercial minimum size limit
•              Establishing a commercial closed season
•              Establishing a commercial trip limit
•              Increasing the recreational minimum size limit
•              Establishing a recreational closed season
•              Establishing a triggerfish–specific recreational bag limit
•              Allowing NOAA Fisheries to close the fishery if the Annual Catch Target is reached

This amendment is being developed because the triggerfish stock is overfished (population is too low) and experiencing overfishing (rate of removals is too high).

Read the full document and send us a comment.

Shallow-Water-Grouper Accountability Measures

The Council is expected to make a final decision regarding changing an accountability measure that shortens the following years entire shallow-water-grouper season if the gag or red grouper Annual Catch Limit is exceeded.

Watch the online presentation, read the full document, and send us a comment.

2013 Recreational Gag Season

The Council will continue to work on an amendment that considers splitting the recreational season for gag. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) requested that the Gulf Council consider alternative season options that would allow for fishing in both the spring and fall. Opening the season at a different time may reduce the number of fishing days, but will allow for gag fishing at a more desirable time of year.

Read the full document and send us a comment.

Seafood Dealer Permit and Reporting Requirements

The Council is expected to take final action on an amendment that aims to improve the accuracy, consistency, and timelines of data reported by seafood dealers in order to reduce the likelihood that Annual Catch Limits will be exceeded.

Watch the presentation, check out the guide, read the full document, and send us a comment.

Essential Fish Habitat – Petroleum Platforms and Artificial Reefs

Council will continue work on an amendment that considers designating petroleum platforms and other artificial reefs as Essential Fish Habitat. 

Seafood Dealer Reporting Requirements

This week, the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils are hosting public hearings on an amendment that considers making changes to the current seafood dealer reporting requirements.

The Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils want to improve the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of data that is reported by seafood dealers to reduce the likelihood that Annual Catch Limits will be exceeded. Making improvements to dealer reported data may also help to decrease the amount of uncertainty that is build into fisheries management decisions.

The proposed amendment has three possible actions:

1.     Consolidate the permits that are required by seafood dealers into one universal permit or separate Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic permits.
2.     Change the frequency and method of seafood dealer reporting.
3.     Change the requirements that exist to maintain a dealer permit.

The Gulf Council would like to know what you think about the options.

Please attend any of the public hearing meetings that are being held this week around the Gulf of Mexico or South Atlantic.

You also have the option of reading this quick guide to the changes being considered, or you can watch this short video presentation.

Then, you can send us your comments.

If you what to know what other people are saying about this proposed amendment check out the comments that have been submitted here.  As always, don’t hesitate to email us if you have any questions. 

Shallow Water Grouper Accountability Measures

Photo: Capt. Hickman

The Council is working on an amendment that considers changing:

      
1.     The accountability measure that shortens the entire shallow-water grouper season if the gag or red grouper Annual Catch Limit is exceeded.

2.     The range of accountability measures that can   be implemented within the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan.

The Council plans to take final action on this amendment at the next meeting and would like to know what you think about the options.

Watch this short video presentation that explains the possible changes. 

Now, send us your comments.

If you’re curious to know what other people are saying you can read their comments here. As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to email us.  

Photo: Troy Frady