Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council April 2012 Update
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Corpus Christi, Texas, April 16 - 19, 2012, to discuss a number of fishery issues, including Reef Fish Amendment 35 for Greater Amberjack, a draft Options Paper for Reef Fish Amendment 37 for Gray Triggerfish, and a Scoping Document for Red Snapper Overage Adjustments. During the weeklong meeting, the Council took the following actions:
Commercial Reef Fish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program - Reef Fish Amendment 33
The scoping document for this proposed amendment has been put on hold until the June Gulf Council meeting.
In August 2011, the Council initiated a plan amendment to establish a reef fish IFQ program for red porgy, vermilion snapper, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish. This action was based on a recommendation from the Council's Commercial Reef Fish IFQ Advisory Panel. Before moving forward, the Council is requesting additional comments on the merits or adverse effects of a potential IFQ program for these species.
Greater Amberjack - Reef Fish Amendment 35
The Council took final action on this amendment to end overfishing and rebuild the overfished stock based on the results of the latest greater amberjack stock assessment update. As a result the rebuilding plan will modify the stock Annual Catch Limit to 1,780,000 pounds whole weight and establish an Annual Catch Target of 1,539,000 pounds whole weight. To meet the harvest reductions in recreational sector the minimum size limit of 30" fork length and the fixed June-July closed season will be maintained; while in the commercial sector to meet harvest reductions the current fixed March-May closed season will be maintained and a 2,000-pound commercial trip limit will be established.
Red Snapper Amendment - Overage Adjustments
The Council has tabled a scoping document to address overage adjustments to the red snapper fishery until after the red snapper benchmark assessment is conducted and analyzed.
The Magnuson Act recommends that Council's establish overage adjustments for species that are in a rebuilding plan, so the Council initiated an amendment to accomplish this for red snapper. If a stocks Annual Catch Limit is exceeded, then the overage adjustment would reduce the next year's Annual Catch Limit by the amount of pounds it was exceeded. Since a benchmark stock assessment is scheduled for August of this year, the Council decided to postpone the amendment and wait for the updated information.
Gray Triggerfish - Reef Fish Amendment 37
This amendment looks at modifying the rebuilding plan for gray triggerfish based on results of the latest stock assessment update determining the stock is both overfished (population too low) and experiencing overfishing (rate of removal too high). Based on these results the Council's scientific advisors have recommended reducing the Acceptable Biological Catch to 305,300 pounds whole weight. This amendment proposes long-term management measures to revise the stock rebuilding plan, reduce the Annual Catch Limits and Annual Catch Targets, establish commercial and recreational management measures to constrain harvest, and establish recreational in-season accountability measures.
The Council also asked that NOAA Fisheries Service recommend to the Secretary of Commerce an interim rule for gray triggerfish to temporarily reduce overfishing until long-term management measures in Amendment 37 can be implemented. The interim rule reduces the Annual Catch Limits and Annual Catch Targets for both the commercial and recreational sectors. It also provides the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries the authority to close the recreational sector in-season when the Annual Catch Target is attained.
Framework for Gag Split Season and Shallow-Water Grouper Closed Season
After hearing a request from Florida the Council initiated a framework action to look at alternatives that consider a split season for gag in 2013. Included in the framework action will be alternatives to modify or eliminate the annual February-March recreational shallow-water grouper closure. An options paper will be presented to the Council in June.
Costal Migratory Pelagic Amendments 19 and 20
The Council continued to work on Amendments 19 and 20 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 19 considers limiting the sale of recreational caught fish and making changes to the permit requirements for Coastal Migratory Pelagic fisheries. Amendment 20considers modifying commercial zone boundaries, changing the commercial opening date for the western zone, establishing a transit provision, and requiring vessel zone declarations.
Sector Separation
The Council continued its discussions on sector separation. Sector separation refers to the division of the recreational sector allocation into two (or more) separate allocations. For example, the recreational red snapper quota could be divided into a for-hire quota and a private recreational quota. The Council has decided to move forward with a sector separation amendment and has asked staff to begin developing a scoping document.
Grouper Allocation
During its April Council meeting, the Gulf Council reviewed a scoping document that begins to explore setting allocations for gag, red grouper, and black grouper. The next step is an options paper, which will be presented to the Council during its June meeting.
Allocation is the division of an Annual Catch Limit between commercial and recreational fishing sectors. In 2006, the Council set temporary allocations for gag and red grouper; and black grouper allocation was set for the first time last year. Current allocations are:
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Commercial
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Recreational
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Gag
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39%
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61%
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Red Grouper
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76%
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24%
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Black Grouper
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73%
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27%
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Generic Amendment for Dealer Permits and Electronic Reporting
The Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils are considering changing federal seafood dealer permit and reporting requirements. Improving the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of data reported by seafood dealers will reduce the likelihood that Annual Catch Limits will be exceeded. Making improvements to dealer reported data would help decrease the amount of uncertainty built into management decisions that aim to balance the largest annual harvest with the future success of the fish stock.
The Council reviewed a scoping document that considers three actions:
- What dealer permits would be required, and for which species?
- How frequently and by what method would dealers be required to report?
- Are there penalties for non-reporting or late reporting?
The scoping document will now be developed into a draft public hearing document and presented to the Council during its June meeting.
Artificial Reef's as Essential Fish Habitat
The Council has initiated a plan amendment to evaluate the appropriateness of designating fixed petroleum platforms and artificial reefs as essential fish habitat. Staff will begin developing alternatives that include such structures be recognized as habitat areas of particular concern.
Exempted Fishing Permits
The Gulf Headboat Cooperative submitted a request to the Regional Administrator of NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office for and exempted fishing permit for a pilot study whereby selected headboats in the Gulf of Mexico will examine the feasibility of an alternative rights-based management strategy. The proposal would allow headboats in the study to fish for red snapper and gag grouper, based on allocations issued to them, outside the normal recreational fishing seasons. The participants would report daily catches, working cooperatively with the Harte Research Institute.
After a lengthy discussion, the Council recommended that NOAA Fisheries approve the Gulf Headboat Cooperative Exempted Fishing Permit.
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