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Save the Date Mark Your 2008 Calendars Now! The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will conduct a series of public scoping meetings in February 2008. Scoping topics include: A proposed Comprehensive Allocation Amendment Upcoming changes to fishery management measures for species in the Snapper Grouper management complex Limited Access Privilege Programs Allocation of the South Atlantic commercial king mackerel quota These meetings will include opportunities for informal round table discussion with staff and local representatives from the Council as we travel throughout the southeast to bring you the latest information about fisheries issues and discuss your concerns. Then, go on record officially to let Council members know your opinions and recommendations. This is a unique opportunity – don’t miss your chance to participate! 2008 Scoping Meeting Dates and Location: February 4 – Coconut Grove, FL February 5 – Port Canaveral, FL February 6 – Brunswick, GA February 7 – New Bern, NC February 20 – Charleston, SC Southeast Regional Diamondback Terrapin Workshop February 27, 2008, 8:30am – 2:30pm Charleston, South Carolina The ACE Basin, Sapelo Island, North Inlet/Winyah Bay and North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserves, in partnership with the SE Diamondback Terrapin Working Group, are pleased to announce a one-day workshop on February 27, 2008 highlighting the status of diamondback terrapin research, management and education in the Southeast. The meeting will serve to update attendees on the accomplishments and specific needs of the region, as well as facilitate networking within and between states in the Southeast. Presentation topics include: · Population research and causes for decline; · Crab trap clean-up, by-catch reduction device (BRD) research with fishermen, BRD education programs; · Efforts to reduce terrapin mortality; and · Impacts of mercury on terrapin health. The workshop will also provide time for break-out discussions by state to determine next steps for that state’s research, management and education. The workshop will take place at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Charleston, SC, located at 181 Church Street. Rooms have been held at the government per diem rate of $137 for the night of February 26th and can be booked by calling 843-577-2644. The South Carolina Aquarium has also arranged for meeting participants to get an entrance discount and behind the scenes tour on the 26th for those interested. Please register at http://www.sapeloislandnerr-ctp.org/ for the workshop and the pre-meeting Aquarium tour. Attendees are welcome to display posters, please indicate this on the registration form. Contact Suzanne at Suzanne_Vanparreren@dnr.state.ga.us or 912-485-2251 regarding registration or Rebekah at SzivakR@dnr.sc.gov or 843-953-9024 regarding room reservations. PAMLICO SOUND GILL NET RESTRICTED AREA MEETINGS SETMOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold three public meetings in January to allow commercial fishermen to provide input into the management of the Pamlico Sound Gillnet Restricted Area. Blake Price, a biologist in the Division of Marine Fisheries, will review observations and fishermen reports of sea turtle interactions with the gillnet fishery during the 2007 fishing season, and discuss the potential effect those interactions may have on the 2008 season. Specifically, the industry needs to be aware of potential regulatory changes that may require gear modifications such as shorter and shallower nets, and eliminating tie downs. Fishermen will be asked to discuss their concerns and ideas for the management of the Pamlico Sound Gillnet Restricted Area. The division will provide a summary of industry input to the National Marine Fisheries Service in February. The meetings are scheduled for: Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. Jan 10 at 3 p.m. Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. For more information, call Price at (800) 682-2632, ext. 8090 or e-mail him at blake.price@ncmail.net.
Dec. 18 Public Meeting Set for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fishery Commercial and recreational anglers are invited to attend a public meeting in Morehead City to discuss the upcoming Atlantic Bluefin tuna fishery. The meeting will take place at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, located at 3505 Arendell Street. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. North Carolina Sea Grant, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, the U.S. Coast Guard and National Marine Fisheries Service are jointly sponsoring the event. December 10, 2007 Contact: Kim Iverson 843/571-4366 or toll free 866/SAFMC-10 The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved stock rebuilding plans for three economically important species found in the snapper grouper management complex during its recent meeting in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Amendment 15A to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) will determine long-term rebuilding plans for overfished stocks of snowy grouper, black sea bass, and red porgy. The Council is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to develop the rebuilding plans. The rebuilding plans specify the schedule or timeframe in which the stocks will be rebuilt as well as the management strategies used to recover the stocks. A rebuilding strategy gives managers the ability to establish an annual total allowable catch (TAC) based on the long-term plan for stock recovery. For example, the amendment outlines a rebuilding schedule for black sea bass of 10 years, beginning in 2006. The rebuilding strategy maintains a constant catch throughout the rebuilding timeframe, with a TAC for 2009 set at 847,000 pounds whole weight. The TAC would remain in effect beyond 2009 until modified through the stock assessment process. For snowy grouper, a much longer-lived species found in deeper waters, the Council has designated a rebuilding schedule of 34 years with a strategy to continue a 2009 TAC of 102,960 pounds whole weight. A red porgy TAC of 395,281 pounds whole weight has been set for 2009 and 2010. The TAC can be adjusted as stock assessment data become available and the stock continues to rebuild. Amendment 15A will be submitted later this month to the Secretary of Commerce for final review and approval. The Council held a series of 10 public hearings from Marathon, Florida to Manteo, North Carolina in November and early December to solicit input on Amendments 15A and 15B to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. While rebuilding plans were approved through Amendment 15A at the December meeting, the Council will continue to receive comments on Amendment 15B until January 11, 2008. The majority of comments received during public hearings involved actions in Amendment 15B, including those to address the sale of recreationally-caught snapper grouper species and allocations of snowy grouper and red porgy between recreational and commercial fishermen. Opinions were divided regarding the issue of recreational sale, with some supporting the Council’s preferred management alternative to eliminate the sale of recreational bag limits for snapper grouper species harvested from federal waters in the South Atlantic. However, comments were received from fishermen, primarily in North Carolina, that supported the ability to sell recreational bag limits without possession of a federal snapper grouper commercial permit in order to allow continued flexibility for area fishermen with a state commercial permit. Amendment 15B also includes alternatives for the implementation of a plan to monitor and assess bycatch, measures to reduce the impacts of incidental take on sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish, permit renewal and transferability, and management reference points for golden tilefish. Copies of the Amendment 15B Public Hearing Document and details on how to comment can be found on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net. Other Actions Work continued on a list of management alternatives required to reduce harvest and end overfishing for vermilion snapper and gag grouper. Alternatives in Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP include a gag spawning closure January – April that applies to both recreational and commercial sectors and to all shallow water groupers, a gag quota where harvest and possession of shallow water groupers is prohibited once the quota is met, two separate quotas for gag (one for the Carolinas and another for Georgia and Florida), and modifications to the gag and black grouper aggregate bag limit. Management measures for vermilion snapper include seasonal closures, two commercial quotas occurring at two different times of the year, and adjustments to the size and bag limits. Additional alternatives include exclusion of the captain and crew on for-hire vessels from possession of the bag limit for shallow water groupers and vermilion snapper, and a requirement of dehooking tools, venting tools, and the use of circle hooks for both commercial and recreational sectors. Allocation alternatives between commercial and recreational sectors are also included in the document. The Council is scheduled to approve Amendment 16 for public hearings during its March 2008 meeting. The Council also approved a new approach to public scoping in 2008 that will involve a series of meetings offering the public an opportunity for informal discussion with Council staff and area Council members. Public scoping comments will be taken on the following issues: a Comprehensive Allocation Amendment, Snapper Grouper Amendment 17, Limited Access Privilege Programs, and allocation of the Atlantic commercial king mackerel quota. The 2008 meetings will be held February 4th in Homestead, FL; February 5th in Port Canaveral, FL; February 6th in Brunswick, GA; February 7th in New Bern, NC; and February 20 in Charleston, SC. Additional information regarding the meetings will be publicized as they become available. The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for March 3-7, 2008 in Jekyll Island, GA. For additional information regarding Council meetings, including briefing book materials and a summary of the motions from the December meeting, 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. Kim Iverson MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION SEEKS CHARTER/HEADBOAT ADVISER MOREHEAD CITY- The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for a licensed charter or headboat captain to serve as an adviser in developing priorities and project funding for the new Coastal Recreational Fishing License. Individuals interested in serving as an adviser must hold a blanket Coastal Recreational Fishing License and should be willing to attend meetings at least twice a year. Advisers will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties. Adviser applications are available at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling (252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632. Applications should be returned by May 15, 2008, to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557, Attention: Kelly Mullen. For information about the CRFL advisory committee process, please contact Randy Gregory by e-mail at randy.gregory@ncmail.net or (252) 726-7021.
Contact: Patricia Smith RED DRUM FISH PRINTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE Contact: Patricia Smith CHANGES PLANNED FOR NC SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will make several changes to its Saltwater Fishing Tournament, popularly called the Citation Program, effective Jan. 1. The tournament is not a competition but a longstanding certification program that recognizes outstanding saltwater catches. For 2008, the tournament will institute two new awards for anglers who meet three citation requirements within the tournament year of Jan 1 to Dec. 31. A Billfish Grand Slam will be awarded to anglers who recorded a released or weighed blue marlin, a white marlin, and a sailfish release within the tournament year. An Inshore Grand Slam will be awarded to anglers who recorded a weighed flounder, a weighed or released trout (speckled or gray), and a released red drum within the tournament year. These certificates will be issued to anglers at the end of the tournament year, and the anglers will be recognized using the tournament database. Additionally, minimum citation requirements will change for several fish. Only release citations will be offered for barracuda, jack crevalle, sailfish, tarpon and white marlin. The release size will be 45 inches for barracuda and 32 inches for jack crevalle. Citations will be awarded for the live release of sailfish, tarpon and white marlin of any size. Minimum weight requirements for landed fish will decrease for bluefish, black drum, sheepshead and triggerfish. Minimum release lengths will change for king mackerel, striped bass and bluefin tuna. Added to the citation program for 2008 are tilefish, blackfin tuna, false albacore and Atlantic bonita. Tautog was deleted from the program. These are the first major changes to Saltwater Fishing Tournament requirements in several years. They were initiated by at the request of several anglers. For more information, contact Carole Willis, DMF sport fishing specialist, at (252) 726-7021 or carole.y.willis@ncmail.net. A list of 2008 requirements can be found here.
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