NOAA Seeks Comments on an Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit to Collect Red Drum in Federal Waters off Mississippi

The following Southeast Fishery Bulletin from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office is provided as a courtesy to our subscribers.  SOUTHEAST FISHERY BULLETIN  (Gulf of Mexico)   FB15-023 Sustainable Fisheries 727-824-5305     March 27, 2015     NOAA Seeks Comments on an Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit to Collect Red Drum in  Federal Waters off Mississippi NOAA Fisheries is accepting comments on an application for an exempted fishing permit from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. The application proposes to allow Mississippi-licensed for-hire vessels to harvest and possess red drum from federal waters during the course of regular for-hire fishing trips. This two-year study would collect biological information on offshore red drum to aid biologists in assessing the status of the population in a future stock assessment. Dates and Addresses: Comments must be received no later than April 23, 2015. You may submit comments on the application, identified by RIN 0648-XD816, by any of the following methods: E-mail: 0648.XD816.Red.Drum.EFP@noaa.gov. Please include "Red Drum EFP" in the subject line of the e-mail. Mail: Steve Branstetter, NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. This bulletin only provides an overview of the application. For additional information, contact Steve Branstetter at 727-824-5305 or by e-mail at Steve.Branstetter@noaa.gov. Program Concept If approved, as many as 70 Mississippi-licensed for-hire vessels would be permitted possession of one red drum per angler per trip from federal waters. Mississippi will enforce its 18-inch total length minimum size limit, but will not have a maximum size limit for fish caught under this program. A maximum of 30,000 pounds of red drum (ca. 2,000 fish) would be harvested over the two-year period. Vessel captains would be required to report each trip for dockside intercepts by state biologists. Anglers would be allowed to keep their fish upon completion of data collection and removal of tissue/hard parts needed for analyses. Adjustments to collections would be made during the program to ensure the self-imposed 30,000-pound "quota" is not exceeded. All data collected within the program would be available for state-based and federal stock assessments upon request. The sampling program would occur year round. NOAA Fisheries finds this application warrants further consideration, and is seeking public comment on the application. A final decision on issuance of the exempted fishing permit will depend on NOAA Fisheries' review of public comments received, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's recommendation, consultations with the affected states, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a determination that it is consistent with all applicable laws. About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.       Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Charlene Ponce Public Information Officer 888-833-1844 ext. 229

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