To All Concerned Fishermen,
.
I am writing this letter to bring to your attention a proposed regulation to reduce vermilion snapper & gag grouper catches which could have a drastic economical impact on coastal economies. This proposal will affect the recreational fisherman, headboat/ charter boat industries, and commercial fishermen alike. It will also have an affect on all businesses associated with the fishing industry including the tourist trade.
I have attached a news release produced by the SAFMC South Atlantic Management Council concerning possible substantial reductions in both vermilion snapper and gag grouper catch. According to studies by the SAFMC (which by their own omission are flawed) vermilion and gag are over fished, and as a result catches of both are proposed to be reduced by 61% for vermilion and by 50% for gags.. Again, this is being considered with out reliable accurate data.
According to SAFMC, to achieve a 61% reduction in vermilion catch would require a reduction from the current 10 fish bag limit to a one fish bag limit with a 12″ size limit (Amendment 13C/Appendix C/page10-18/ Table C-5), which needless to say would be financially catastrophic for the headboat / charter boat business. As quoted by Dr. Brian Cheuvront, Socioeconomics Program Manager representing the NC Division of Marine Fisheries “These reductions are definitely going to have social and economic impacts†“In North Carolina, vermilion snapper, gag, and black sea bass are the big three for the commercial snapper grouper fishery.. “There will be some fisherman that will go out of business.” explained Dr. Cheuvront “Whether there will be fishermen to take their place, no one knows. These reductions will also negatively impact recreational fisherman as well, including the charter and headboat industries.” (SAFMC) summer update page 4)
http://www.safmc.net/Portals/6/Newsletters/SA%20Update%20Summer07.pdf
Regulation after regulation is being implemented without solid accurate data. This proposal Amendment 16 will only put pressure on other species and the SAFMC will continue to implement regulations to reduce fish catches for other species until people won’t be able to catch anything at all.
The Capt. Stacy has a loyal following of fishermen from all over the country that come back every year to
The headboat and commercial fishing industry has dropped to a number that we can not fight this alone. I am asking that you to please help in the fight to stop these proposals as people’s lively hoods are at stake as well as loss of great number of tourist dollars that come to these coastal areas just for the fishing.
The protection of all fish has been important part of the fishing industry and tradition. My headboats like other commercial boats use the ocean like a farmer . Like the farmer rotates his crops we rotate the spots we fish as not to over fish an area. There are thousands of miles of fishing area that can be fished and we only fish a minute portion. We may fish one spot one day and not come back to that area for a month or two allowing the fish to regroup. Another factor to be considered is that commercial, headboats/charter boats and even recreational boats can not even target the vermilion snapper or gag grouper due to the heavy currents, bad weather and in the headboat/ charter boat sector a short tourist season comes into play. If we are unable to target the fish how can they be over fished, The reason we have seen better catches over the past several years is not because of over fishing it is because we have been blessed with good weather.
I am not against reasonable fisheries management to ensure sustainable fisheries. But! The proposed Amendment 16 is neither, reasonable or necessary.
The SAFMC will be conducting their last “scoping†meeting in
I urge you to write the SAFMC with your comments & concerns by September 17th 2007 by 5:00 pm at email
SG***********@sa***.net
or write Bob Mahood, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, Charleston, SC 29405. Your voice definitely counts.
It is not too late to send a written comment about any concerns and suggest that the SAFMC consider alternative 1 (no action) in amendment 16 pertaining to the vermilion snapper reduction until accurate data can be achieved.
Thank You
Questions
Capt. Sonny Davis
Ph:252-726-4675
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kim Iverson, SAFMC
Public Information Officer
843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10
Council Seeks Input on Measures Needed for Gag and Vermilion Snapper
Reductions in harvest needed to end overfishing within the year
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of 6 public scoping meetings to solicit public comment on an amendment to reduce both commercial and recreational harvest of gag grouper and vermilion snapper. Recent stock assessments show that overfishing is occurring for these economically important species.
During its June 2007 meeting, the Council received a report from its Scientific and Statistical Committee stating its approval of the Southeastern Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessments for gag and vermilion snapper. The Council is charged to end overfishing within a one year period and in response, has begun development of Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the
The scoping meetings and a public comment period are being held to receive input regarding possible measures to end overfishing, including modifications to current regulations and potential new measures (closed seasons, recreational boat limits, commercial trip limits, etc.) to achieve the necessary reductions. Alternatives will be included in Amendment 16. The Council is scheduled to approve the amendment for public hearings during its December 3-7, 2007 meeting in
Public scoping meetings for Snapper Grouper Amendment 16 will be held in coastal areas in the southeast. All meetings begin at 6:00 PM. Written comments for Amendment 16 are being accepted by the Council until 5:00 PM on September 17, 2007. Copies of the Amendment 16 scoping document will be posted on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net or may be obtained from the Council office. Comments should be addressed to: Bob Mahood, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council,
SG***********@sa***.net
.
SNAPPER GROUPER AMENDMENT 16
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS
All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
September 17, 2007
Avista Resort
300
N.
Phone: 843/249-2521
To All Concerned Fishermen,
.
I am writing this letter to bring to your attention a proposed regulation to reduce vermilion snapper & gag grouper catches which could have a drastic economical impact on coastal economies. This proposal will affect the recreational fisherman, headboat/ charter boat industries, and commercial fishermen alike. It will also have an affect on all businesses associated with the fishing industry including the tourist trade.
I have attached a news release produced by the SAFMC South Atlantic Management Council concerning possible substantial reductions in both vermilion snapper and gag grouper catch. According to studies by the SAFMC (which by their own omission are flawed) vermilion and gag are over fished, and as a result catches of both are proposed to be reduced by 61% for vermilion and by 50% for gags.. Again, this is being considered with out reliable accurate data.
According to SAFMC, to achieve a 61% reduction in vermilion catch would require a reduction from the current 10 fish bag limit to a one fish bag limit with a 12″ size limit (Amendment 13C/Appendix C/page10-18/ Table C-5), which needless to say would be financially catastrophic for the headboat / charter boat business. As quoted by Dr. Brian Cheuvront, Socioeconomics Program Manager representing the NC Division of Marine Fisheries “These reductions are definitely going to have social and economic impacts†“In North Carolina, vermilion snapper, gag, and black sea bass are the big three for the commercial snapper grouper fishery.. “There will be some fisherman that will go out of business.” explained Dr. Cheuvront “Whether there will be fishermen to take their place, no one knows. These reductions will also negatively impact recreational fisherman as well, including the charter and headboat industries.” (SAFMC) summer update page 4)
http://www.safmc.net/Portals/6/Newsletters/SA%20Update%20Summer07.pdf
Regulation after regulation is being implemented without solid accurate data. This proposal Amendment 16 will only put pressure on other species and the SAFMC will continue to implement regulations to reduce fish catches for other species until people won’t be able to catch anything at all.
The Capt. Stacy has a loyal following of fishermen from all over the country that come back every year to
The headboat and commercial fishing industry has dropped to a number that we can not fight this alone. I am asking that you to please help in the fight to stop these proposals as people’s lively hoods are at stake as well as loss of great number of tourist dollars that come to these coastal areas just for the fishing.
The protection of all fish has been important part of the fishing industry and tradition. My headboats like other commercial boats use the ocean like a farmer . Like the farmer rotates his crops we rotate the spots we fish as not to over fish an area. There are thousands of miles of fishing area that can be fished and we only fish a minute portion. We may fish one spot one day and not come back to that area for a month or two allowing the fish to regroup. Another factor to be considered is that commercial, headboats/charter boats and even recreational boats can not even target the vermilion snapper or gag grouper due to the heavy currents, bad weather and in the headboat/ charter boat sector a short tourist season comes into play. If we are unable to target the fish how can they be over fished, The reason we have seen better catches over the past several years is not because of over fishing it is because we have been blessed with good weather.
I am not against reasonable fisheries management to ensure sustainable fisheries. But! The proposed Amendment 16 is neither, reasonable or necessary.
The SAFMC will be conducting their last “scoping†meeting in
I urge you to write the SAFMC with your comments & concerns by September 17th 2007 by 5:00 pm at email
SG***********@sa***.net
or write Bob Mahood, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, Charleston, SC 29405. Your voice definitely counts.
It is not too late to send a written comment about any concerns and suggest that the SAFMC consider alternative 1 (no action) in amendment 16 pertaining to the vermilion snapper reduction until accurate data can be achieved.
Thank You
Questions
Capt. Sonny Davis
Ph:252-726-4675
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kim Iverson, SAFMC
Public Information Officer
843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10
Council Seeks Input on Measures Needed for Gag and Vermilion Snapper
Reductions in harvest needed to end overfishing within the year
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of 6 public scoping meetings to solicit public comment on an amendment to reduce both commercial and recreational harvest of gag grouper and vermilion snapper. Recent stock assessments show that overfishing is occurring for these economically important species.
During its June 2007 meeting, the Council received a report from its Scientific and Statistical Committee stating its approval of the Southeastern Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessments for gag and vermilion snapper. The Council is charged to end overfishing within a one year period and in response, has begun development of Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the
The scoping meetings and a public comment period are being held to receive input regarding possible measures to end overfishing, including modifications to current regulations and potential new measures (closed seasons, recreational boat limits, commercial trip limits, etc.) to achieve the necessary reductions. Alternatives will be included in Amendment 16. The Council is scheduled to approve the amendment for public hearings during its December 3-7, 2007 meeting in
Public scoping meetings for Snapper Grouper Amendment 16 will be held in coastal areas in the southeast. All meetings begin at 6:00 PM. Written comments for Amendment 16 are being accepted by the Council until 5:00 PM on September 17, 2007. Copies of the Amendment 16 scoping document will be posted on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net or may be obtained from the Council office. Comments should be addressed to: Bob Mahood, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council,
SG***********@sa***.net
.
SNAPPER GROUPER AMENDMENT 16
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS
All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
September 17, 2007
Avista Resort
300
N.
Phone: 843/249-2521