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Council Continues to
Review Alternatives to End Overfishing
Closure of large areas to all snapper grouper fishing
may be necessary to end overfishing of red snapper
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council continued
to review management options for 10 species currently undergoing
overfishing, including red snapper, during its meeting last week in
Stuart, Florida. The alternatives include various options for
closures of federal waters extending from portions of South Carolina
through north/central Florida to all snapper grouper fishing in
order to end overfishing for red snapper. The 2008 stock assessment
for red snapper in the South Atlantic region shows the stock to be
overfished and undergoing overfishing at eight times the sustainable
level. In March, the Council requested an interim rule to close the
red snapper fishery for both commercial and recreational fishermen
in order to help meet the mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to
end overfishing within one year. The controversial request for a
closure is currently being reviewed by NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS).
However, a closure of the red snapper fishery will not
be sufficient to end overfishing. The total mortality (landings and
dead discards) must be reduced by 87% according to the 2008 stock
assessment conducted through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Review (SEDAR) program. Even with a closure, red snapper will still
experience excessive bycatch mortality (dead discards) as fishermen
pursue other species of snapper and grouper. The bulk of red snapper
catches are from the recreational fishery, where an estimated 40% of
the released fish die. The estimated release mortality for the
commercial fishery is higher (90%) due to the deeper waters fished
and different handling practices. As a result, the Council is
developing a number of alternatives targeting areas where catches of
red snapper are highest and closing these areas to all snapper
grouper fishing. The size and configurations of the areas in the
alternatives vary but primarily include waters off the coasts of
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida extending as far south as the
Cape Canaveral area.
Approximately 85 people attended the public comment session held by
the Council last week, most to express their concern about the
negative economic and social impacts of such closures. Charter
captains, headboat operators, tackle manufacturers, fish house
operators, and both recreational and commercial fishermen provided
emotionally charged comments and questioned the need for such
closures. Many comments centered around the 2008 SEDAR stock
assessment, questioning data used in the assessment and the
reductions necessary to end overfishing.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires long-term
management measures for rebuilding the red snapper stock and the
establishment of Annual Catch Limits for species undergoing
overfishing by 2010. Annual Catch Limits must be implemented for all
other species under the Council’s jurisdiction by 2011. Last year,
the Council began development of Amendment 17 to the Snapper Grouper
Fishery Management Plan to meet the 2010 deadline.
After reviewing the management alternatives included in
the draft amendment, the Council decided last week to divide the
amendment into two parts; Amendment 17A will address management
measures for red snapper and Amendment 17B will address measures to
end overfishing for the remaining species undergoing overfishing:
speckled hind, warsaw grouper, golden tilefish, snowy grouper, black
grouper, black sea bass, gag, red grouper, and vermilion snapper.
Public hearings for both Amendment 17A and Amendment 17B will be
scheduled later this year.
Interim Rule Update – Dr. Roy Crabtree, Regional
Administrator with NMFS Southeast Regional Office provided the
Council with an update on the Council’s request to implement an
interim rule to help address overfishing by closing the red snapper
fishery for up to one year. According to Dr. Crabtree, NMFS will
hold a 30-day comment period on the interim rule. The comment period
will likely begin in early July. A review of the comments will
require an additional 30 days, and if a Final Rule is published to
approve the closure, regulations would go into effect 30 days after
publication. If implemented, a closure would likely go into place
sometime in October. Note that all comments should be addressed to
NMFS regarding the decision. Meanwhile, the red snapper fishery
remains open with a current recreational bag limit of 2 fish per
person/day included in a 10 snapper aggregate bag limit, and a 20”
Total Length size limit for both commercial and recreational
fishermen.
The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for
September 14 - 18, 2009 in Charleston, SC. For additional
information regarding Council meetings, including briefing book
materials and summary motions, visit
www.safmc.net or contact the Council office.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of
eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from
three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia and east Florida. |
