Council Approves Separate Shrimp and Mackerel Amendments

Federal permit issues involved in both fisheries

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved two fishery management plan amendments for Secretarial review at its December meeting in North Carolina. Amendment 6 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan will establish a comprehensive data collection program by creating a permit for South Atlantic shrimp vessels in federal waters. The data program will identify the number and types of vessels in the fishery, obtain accurate information on fishing effort, and collect additional data needed for effective management, including biological, economic, and social assessments. The South Atlantic shrimp fishery is the highest revenue producing commercial fishery in the southeast, averaging approximately $64 million annually between 2001 and 2002. In comparison, the overall revenue from landings of all seafood in the South Atlantic averaged $175 million for the same time period. “This important amendment will help to ensure that the shrimp fishery is properly managed and regulated in federal waters,” stated David Cupka, Chairman of the Council’s Shrimp Committee. The amendment also addresses bycatch issues in the fishery, including methods to monitor and assess bycatch associated with shrimp trawling, use of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) in the rock shrimp fishery, and procedures to authorize new and improved designs for BRDs.

The Council also approved a separate amendment affecting the king and Spanish mackerel fishery in both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources will establish a limited access system for the commercial fishery for Gulf and Atlantic king mackerel. The limited access system replaces the current permit moratorium for the fishery, scheduled to expire in October 2005. Under the amendment, a commercial king mackerel limited access permit will replace the existing commercial king mackerel permit. Establishment of the limited access system will cap participation at current levels and provides for long-term social and economic stability in the mackerel fisheries. The fishery is managed jointly by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.

Amendment 15 also changes the fishing year for both king and Spanish mackerel in the Atlantic to begin March 1 rather than April 1 in order to allow flexibility for fishermen who move between fisheries throughout the year. The fisheries currently operate under annual quotas. Although overfished in the 1970s and early ‘80s, Atlantic king mackerel migratory stocks have rebounded through the use of effective management measures, including quotas, size limits, bag limits, and trip limits. No longer overfished, the mackerel fisheries continue to be viable for both commercial and recreational fishermen.

Additional public comment will be taken on these amendments during the review process by NOAA Fisheries before a final approval decision by the Secretary of Commerce. If approved, the final rule for management actions proposed in the amendments are expected in the first half of 2005.

In other actions, the Council reviewed and approved the draft Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Action Plan and scheduling timeline for 2005. The FEP is designed to be a comprehensive document that will allow incorporation of the Council’s current and future management plans and amendments into an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. Also, the Snapper Grouper Committee met to review management measures to be included for Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Various options, including modifications to size limits, bag limits, trip limits, and seasonal closures will be included in the public hearing draft for the amendment. Public hearings are expected in 2005. The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for February 28 – March 4, 2005 at the Hilton Savannah DeSoto in Savannah, Georgia.

Council Approves Separate Shrimp and Mackerel Amendments

Federal permit issues involved in both fisheries

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved two fishery management plan amendments for Secretarial review at its December meeting in North Carolina. Amendment 6 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan will establish a comprehensive data collection program by creating a permit for South Atlantic shrimp vessels in federal waters. The data program will identify the number and types of vessels in the fishery, obtain accurate information on fishing effort, and collect additional data needed for effective management, including biological, economic, and social assessments. The South Atlantic shrimp fishery is the highest revenue producing commercial fishery in the southeast, averaging approximately $64 million annually between 2001 and 2002. In comparison, the overall revenue from landings of all seafood in the South Atlantic averaged $175 million for the same time period. “This important amendment will help to ensure that the shrimp fishery is properly managed and regulated in federal waters,” stated David Cupka, Chairman of the Council’s Shrimp Committee. The amendment also addresses bycatch issues in the fishery, including methods to monitor and assess bycatch associated with shrimp trawling, use of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) in the rock shrimp fishery, and procedures to authorize new and improved designs for BRDs.

The Council also approved a separate amendment affecting the king and Spanish mackerel fishery in both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources will establish a limited access system for the commercial fishery for Gulf and Atlantic king mackerel. The limited access system replaces the current permit moratorium for the fishery, scheduled to expire in October 2005. Under the amendment, a commercial king mackerel limited access permit will replace the existing commercial king mackerel permit. Establishment of the limited access system will cap participation at current levels and provides for long-term social and economic stability in the mackerel fisheries. The fishery is managed jointly by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.

Amendment 15 also changes the fishing year for both king and Spanish mackerel in the Atlantic to begin March 1 rather than April 1 in order to allow flexibility for fishermen who move between fisheries throughout the year. The fisheries currently operate under annual quotas. Although overfished in the 1970s and early ‘80s, Atlantic king mackerel migratory stocks have rebounded through the use of effective management measures, including quotas, size limits, bag limits, and trip limits. No longer overfished, the mackerel fisheries continue to be viable for both commercial and recreational fishermen.

Additional public comment will be taken on these amendments during the review process by NOAA Fisheries before a final approval decision by the Secretary of Commerce. If approved, the final rule for management actions proposed in the amendments are expected in the first half of 2005.

In other actions, the Council reviewed and approved the draft Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Action Plan and scheduling timeline for 2005. The FEP is designed to be a comprehensive document that will allow incorporation of the Council’s current and future management plans and amendments into an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. Also, the Snapper Grouper Committee met to review management measures to be included for Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Various options, including modifications to size limits, bag limits, trip limits, and seasonal closures will be included in the public hearing draft for the amendment. Public hearings are expected in 2005. The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for February 28 – March 4, 2005 at the Hilton Savannah DeSoto in Savannah, Georgia.