Red Snapper season

[captfrankie]

Has anyone heard anything about a possible Fall Red Snapper Season this year?

[jonesrw]

Not a word from anywhere. My guess, there will be no fall season. They'll just claim were making up for over fishing the last couple seasons.

[Candy]

Remember me telling you about the Pew Foundation? Well, they are busy, busy, busy.

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida...riggers-debate

[Candy]

For Immediate Release Contact: Charlene Ponce
August 2, 2010
813-348-1630
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council seeks public input on a possible recreational red snapper season reopening

This Spring, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council increased the overall red snapper quota from 5.0 million pounds to 6.945 million pounds, yet the 2010 recreational red snapper season was open for only 53 days. This shortened season was due, in part, to an increase in catch rates and the average size of red snapper. This increase, coupled with past effort, led to projections that the quota would be filled sooner than in 2009. But the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and subsequent federal fishing area closure may have resulted in reduced effort, possibly leaving the recreational red snapper quota unfilled.
While the federal fishery closure owing to the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill remains in effect for some portions of the Gulf, NOAA Fisheries Service is following established protocols in efforts to open closed areas as quickly as possible. Sampling to detect contaminated fish in nearshore areas along the Florida panhandle is complete, and sampling along western Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama coasts is underway. These areas will be reopened if they remain oil free, and if sensory and chemical tests of samples taken from the areas show no oil contamination. Sampling will continue throughout the closed area.
In light of this information, the Gulf Council requested that NOAA Fisheries Service institute rulemaking to reopen the recreational red snapper season later this year – after September 30 – if it is determined that the 2010 quota was not filled before the fishery closed on July 24. NOAA Fisheries Service is in the process of calculating the landings data to make that determination. If the recreational quota was not filled, the season may reopen for a period of time to allow the harvest of the remaining red snapper quota.
During the Council’s August 16- 20 meeting in Pensacola, Florida, NOAA Fisheries Service will provide the Gulf Council with updated information on areas cleared for reopening, along with the amount of remaining recreational red snapper quota, and the projected length of any supplemental season. The length of the supplemental season would depend on the amount of quota remaining, the time of year the season reopens, and the amount of federal waters that are open at that time. In anticipation of a possible reopening, the Gulf Council is seeking input from the public on when - between September 30 and December 31 - the season should reopen.
Comments will be accepted by e-mail to: gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org. Please include “RED SNAPPER SEASON” in the subject line. Comments will also be accepted by U.S. mail to: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. Finally, comments may be submitted during the public testimony portion of the August meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council in Pensacola, Florida. The agenda for that meeting is available at www.gulfcouncil.org.
For information on the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill federal fishing area closure visit http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_..._oil_spill.htm. A summary of the protocol for reopening the closed area can be downloaded from http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm217598.htm. Frequently Asked Questions about the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Season can be downloaded from http://www.gulfcouncil.org/education_faqs/index.php.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans designed to manage fishery resources in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

[Candy]

Members, the following is a Call to Action sent to me by the FRA (Fishing Rights Association)


Make a comment on extending the recreational red snapper season in the Gulf.

The Gulf Council is considering reopening recreational red snapper due to the sector not reaching its allotted quota. While no solid numbers yet exist, it is surmised that effort and landings are down due to the massive closures in the Gulf caused by the BP oil spill. The Council is seeking your input on what to do with the uncaught quota. They will not have the actual numbers until during the meeting, which makes it hard to comment on specific actions.

During the Council’s August 16- 20 meeting in Pensacola, Florida, the National Marine Fisheries Service will provide the Gulf Council with updated information on areas cleared for reopening, along with the amount of remaining recreational red snapper quota, and the projected length of any supplemental season. The length of the supplemental season would depend on the amount of quota remaining, the time of year the season reopens, and the amount of federal waters that are open at that time. In anticipation of a possible reopening, the Gulf Council is seeking input from the public on when - between September 30 and December 31 - the season should reopen.

Comments will be accepted by e-mail to: gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org, Please include “RED SNAPPER SEASON” in the subject line. Comments will also be accepted by U.S. mail to: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. Finally, comments may be submitted during the public testimony portion of the August meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council in Pensacola, Florida. The agenda for that meeting is available at www.gulfcouncil.org. You can read the Council’s full press release on their website at http://www.gulfcouncil.org/news_reso...s_releases.php

Commenting on specific actions without knowing the amount of quota remaining is difficult. That being said, we believe that the Gulf recreational red snapper fishery should be reopened as soon as possible to allow the victims of the economic and social oil spill disaster to begin rebuilding their lives and businesses and reclaiming their heritage. Should any quota remain unused at the end of 2010, we feel that the Council should endorse that quota being carried over to the 2011 quota.

We believe that fishing effort is so far down as to constitute a gulf wide 75% reduction in effort from last year’s particularly low effort levels.

TAKE ACTION: Send the Gulf Council your comments on this issue. Comment no later than August 18th (the sooner, the better). If you want to save time, below is a simple statement that you can copy and paste into an email. Please sign the email with your full name and address. Send the email to gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org with RED SNAPPER SEASON in the subject line.


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Dear Gulf Council members:

Please reopen the recreational red snapper fishery as soon as possible to allow the victims of the economic and social disaster to begin rebuilding their lives and businesses and reclaiming their heritage. Allow the season to remain open for as long as possible, keeping in mind that October, November and December are traditionally months of low fishing effort.

Please also endorse the carry-over of any surplus 2010 recreational quota to the 2011 recreational quota.

Thank you for your time.

your name and address


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Please send this to everyone you know who fishes in the Gulf. Post it on any internet forums on which you are a member.

[Candy]

There's a rumor floating around that they are going to announce the opening of Federal Waters off our coast today.

I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything.

Keep your fingers crossed.

[Candy]

If you haven't done it already, Please send the Gulf Council a quick letter requesting they open Red Snapper Season if you believe they should.
They are deciding on this issue this afternoon. Even if you just send them 1 or two sentences, that is better than remaining silent.

send e-mails to: redsnapperseason@gulfcouncil.org and be sure to put Red Snapper Season in the Subject line of the Email.

************************************************** ****************

From: Candy Hansard [mailto:candy@valp.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 8:58 AM
To: 'redsnapperseason@gulfcouncil.org'
Subject: Red Snapper Season

To the Members of the Gulf Council,

While I cannot speak for the stock of Red Snappers in other parts of the Gulf of Mexico, I can, without hesitation tell you, from my own observations as a diver, Red Snapper are the most abundant fish in the Florida Panhandle.

Denying recreational opportunities to fish, for the most abundant fish in our area, has severely reduced the number of trips by recreational fishermen both private and charter. While this may sound like good news to the environmental groups that would love to see the end of fishing, it has had a devastating effect on the hundreds of businesses that depend on recreational fishermen having open access to the fishery.

The argument that they can fish for other species is fine until private recreational fishermen and guests on charters go out, at great personal expense, and spend the day throwing red snappers back into the Gulf. The result of this continuing frustration has been a severe decline in all saltwater fishing activity that began prior to the BP oil spill.

This decline in fishing activity across the private and charter industry has had a punishing effect on bait shops, marinas, fishing charters, diving charters, boat sales, boating insurance sales, dive shops, boat mechanics, boat canvas sales and repair, boat painters, condo rentals and sales, hotel reservations, boat rental companies, private reef building etc...

The people employed in these industries support the economy by having the financial ability to buy homes or pay their rent and support other business in our community that are unrelated to the fishing industry. When these people loose their jobs due to restrictions on access to the fishery, they then become dependent on government assistance (AKA taxpayers) resulting in the increase of our tax burden that, in turn, results in a decrease of discretionary funds used for recreation from the rest of the tax paying community.

The decline in all these industries has also contributed to the decline in taxes paid to the Federal, State and Local governments. This is the very money that funds the activities of the agencies that have been tasked with monitoring and regulating our fishery. Unless our Nation’s economic health improves quickly, at some point, in the very near future, funding for our regulatory agencies will become unsustainable given the current state of our Country’s increasing debt and unemployment.

Fishing has been an important part of the heritage of those living in Coastal Communities along the entire Gulf of Mexico. A fact that is often overlooked but should weigh heavily in the decision process is the fact that access to the fishery provides recreational opportunities that help to build strong families and friendships. This promotes a healthy society.

I respectfully request that Red Snapper Season be opened with a 2 fish per person, per trip allocation. I would also ask that recreational and commercial fishing be closed for one month during spawning season. This would protect the fishery from overfishing, protect fish during spawning to insure the future of the species, and last but not least, provide incentive for recreational fishermen to help jumpstart the economy by returning to fishing and diving.

With the Nation suffering from a terrible recession and Florida suffering from an unemployment rate of over 11%, to continue to restrict access to a thriving Red Snapper population would be disastrous to our economy and will contribute to the decline of other species that are now becoming prey to the over populated Red Snapper fishery in the Florida Panhandle.

Please remember, the results of the decision this council makes today will have a wide reaching impact on the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people in our community, even those who have no direct interest in our fishery.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Candy Hansard
candy@valp.net
Valparaiso, Florida

[Candy]

Once you submit your letter, you should receive a confirmation letter that looks like this:

From: GulfCouncil [mailto:GulfCouncil@gulfcouncil.org]
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 8:58 AM
To: Candy Hansard
Subject: Confirmation of receipt of message to RedSnapperSeason@gulfcouncil.org

This is an auto-reply message from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

This is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail to the RedSnapperSeason@gulfcouncil.org address of the Gulf Council. Your e-mail has been saved and and will be given full consideration along with other responses if and when a decision is made to reopen the 2010 recreational red snapper season.

If you are not commenting on the possible reopening of the 2010 recreational red snapper season, please resend your message to our general e-mail address at Gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org. If requesting information, your message will be forwarded to the appropriate person for a response. If you are commenting on an issue, a copy of your message will be distributed to all Council members and staff.

When submitting comments on issues, please include your full name, city and state, and your relevant background (e.g., commercial fisherman, recreational fisherman, etc.). If you are submitting a comment on behalf of an organization, please include the name of the organization, your position within the organization, and the size of your membership.

Thank you for contacting the Gulf Council.

[Candy]

If you want Red Snapper Season to reopen on the weekends, send them a one or two sentence letter and ask them to stay with that plan. The other plan that was proposed was to open it ONLY for the month of October. The weekend plan will give the working man/woman who fish recreationally a better chance to get out on the water.

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
Fax: 727-824-5308, Attn: Steve Branstetter.



PROPOSED RULE TO RE-OPEN RED SNAPPER SEASON

NMFS issues this proposed emergency rule to authorize the Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS (RA) to re-open the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) recreational red snapper season after the September 30, 2010, end of the fishing season. Such a re-opening would only occur if NMFS determines that the recreational red snapper quota was not met by the 12:01 a.m., local time, July 24, 2010, closure date. Because of the Deepwater Horizon MC252 oil spill and the associated large-area fishery closure (fishery closed area) in the north-central Gulf, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) requested NMFS publish this proposed emergency rule. The Council does not expect the recreational quota will be reached by the closure date because the fishery closed area is located where a substantial portion of the recreational red snapper fishing effort occurs. The intent of this rulemaking is to provide fishermen the opportunity to harvest the recreational red snapper quota, and flexibility to achieve the optimum yield for the fishery, thus enhancing social and economic benefits to the fishery.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on August 31, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ``0648-BA06'', by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
Fax: 727-824-5308, Attn: Steve Branstetter.
Mail: Steve Branstetter, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Instructions: No comments will be posted for public viewing until after the comment period is over. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying
Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
To submit comments through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov, enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2010-0124 `` in the keyword search, then check the box labeled ``Select to find documents accepting comments or submissions'', then select ``Send a Comment or Submission.'' NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
Copies of the environmental assessment, the initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), and the regulatory impact review for this
rule may be obtained from the Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701; telephone 727-824-5305; fax 727-824-5308; e-mail steve.branstetter@noaa.gov; or may be downloaded from the SERO Web site at http://sero.nfms.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Branstetter, 727-824-5796.

[jonesrw]

submitted. The site is a little confusing. Be sure to see the instructions at the bottom of Candy's post tell you to reference NOAA-NMFS-2010-0124