Check out a new FRA flyer.  Print it, email it, spread it around.  Click here

11/6/2009   FRA files suit over Gulf AJ closure - click here

South Atlantic Council to take public input on Grouper Snapper closures and rules.

click here

FRA to file lawsuit over Gulf of Mexico closure of  recreational Greater Amberjack

THE FRA FIGHTS FOR YOUR FISHING RIGHTS

Don’t be fooled by imitators.  The FRA TAKES ACTION.

The Fishing Rights Alliance Shark Tank is BUSY.

To all of our brothers and sisters in our fishing communities:  The FRA will file a lawsuit against National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) over the in-season closure of Gulf of Mexico recreational Greater Amberjack.  The effects of this closure will cause further (and unnecessary) harm the recreational sector.  The suit will be filed in federal court in Tampa next week.

The NMFS has overstepped its bounds by using the fatally-flawed Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey (MRFSS) as an in-season quota monitoring tool, giving less than five days notice that they closed Gulf Recreational Greater Amberjack for the remainder of 2009.

MRFSS has a specific limitation on its data. It takes a long time to compile and correct the data.  MRFSS is unsuitable for use as an in-season quota monitoring tool.   MRFSS data is not even finalized until June of the YEAR FOLLOWING THE DATA COLLECTION. So this year's data will not even be final until June of NEXT YEAR.

Dr. Crabtree chose to ignore the US Congress’ National Research Council report that stated that MRFSS was never designed for, nor is it capable of being used as an in-season quota monitoring tool.  The MRFSS data is simply fatally flawed.  Yet we have an administrator that seems to know better than the National Research Council. In what many see as punitive action, recreational anglers were given less than 5 days notice of the closure. If we were to let this go unchallenged, it would pave the way for NMFS to close Gag, Red Snapper, sand perch.... you name it.

GULF RECREATIONAL GREATER AMBERJACK CLOSES ON OCT 24

In 2008, NOAA Fisheries Service implemented a
recreational quota of 1.368 million pounds for greater
amberjack harvested in the Gulf of Mexico.
Recreational landings data indicate the recreational
quota has been met. Therefore, in accordance with the
regulations, beginning at 12:01 a.m., local time, on
October 24, 2009, the recreational fishery for greater
amberjack in federal waters is closed. The
recreational harvest and possession of greater amberjack
in or from federal waters will be prohibited through the
end of the current fishing year, December 31, 2009. A
person aboard a vessel for which a federal charter
vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued
must also abide by this provision in state waters.

note :RECREATIONAL LANDINGS DATA COMES FROM THE FATALLY FLAWED MRFSS (Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey).  Watch for a call to action in the next few days.

View the official announcement in .pdf - click here

Gulf Council meets next week in Texas  October 19 - 22, 2009
Holiday Inn - Emerald Beach

1102 S. Shoreline Boulevard

Corpus Christi, TX  78401

Here is the agenda with some comments on what to watch for.  The meeting can be viewed live at www.thefra.org/fisheyewide.htm.  The viewing page also has the full agenda listed for your reference. 

NOTE:  ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL TIME, WHICH IS ONE HOUR BEHIND EASTERN TIME.

Monday at 3 PM they will start with the ecosystem issues, including working with the new Allowable Biological Catch rule (ABC).  This rule will be used to lower the allowable catch due to ‘uncertainty’.  Better pay attention, folks.  This is something that will frame management goals for years to come.

Tuesday from 8:30 until 4, there will be discussions on the red and gag grouper closures, finishing with sector separation.  NOTE- separate the recreational sector into what- those who pay a pro guide and those who don’t?

See Roy Crabtree in open discussion with an informal group at 5:30 PM

8:30 am – 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Reef Fish Management Committee (Tab B)

·         Gag/Red Grouper Amendment Scoping Document (RF Am 32)

o       Select Scoping Hearing Locations

·         Presentation on the New ESA Biological Opinion Analyzing the Gulf  Reef Fish Fishery and its Effects on Listed Species - Lee

·         Alternative Options for Red Snapper Recreational Season

·         Modifications to regulations in Amendment 29

·         Terms of Reference for Greater Amberjack, Yellowedge Grouper, and Tilefish Assessments

·         Hook Limit Analyses for Amendment 31

·         Develop LAPP AP Charge

·         Discussion on Sector Separation

Informal Q&A session with Roy Crabtree – a must watch!

Wednesday

Start the day with the Mackerel management committee.  IFQ’s will be pushed for the rec sector here.

The full council meeting starts at 10:30.  At 10:45, tune in to hear the latest on catch shares (IFQ’s).  Then we go to public testimony in the afternoon.

Thursday from 8:30 to 1, the full council will cover all of the agenda items, as follows:

Committee Reports

a.      Reef Fish Management (Tab B) – Minton (8:30 am – 10:00 am)

            b.   Administrative Policy (Tab E) – Morris (10:00 am – 10:30 am)

            c.   Data Collection (Tab F) – Riechers (10:30 am – 10:45 am)

d.   Spiny Lobster/Stone Crab Management (Tab H) – Teehan (10:45 am – 11:00 am)

            e.   Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem (Tab G) – Gill (11:00 am – 11:30 am)

f.  Coastal Migratory Pelagics (Mackerel) Management – Teehan (11:30 am –noon)

g.   Shrimp Management (Tab D) – Perret (12:00 noon – 12:15 pm)

h.   AP Selection Committee (Tab J) – Perret(12:15 pm – 12:30 pm)

i.    SEDAR Selection Committee (Tab I) – Shipp (12:30 pm – 12:45 pm)

 Meeting ends at 1.

Item posted 10/16/09

BLACK AND RED GROUPER STOCK ASSESSMENTS LIVE THIS WEEK!

Sit in on a stock assessment.  This week in St. Petersburg, FL, a pair of stock assessments is being conducted: Red Grouper in the South Atlantic and Black Grouper in the Gulf and South Atlantic.

Take an hour or two to stop by and sit in on the week long discussion of modeling techniques and applications.  At least you will get a feel for the size and scope of the assessment workshops.

These are the SEDAR workshops (South East Data Assessment and Review) that are typical of the stock assessment workshops that brought us such wonders as the Red Tide model.  It is worth a couple of hours of your time.

The workshop is scheduled for Monday, starting at 1 PM through Friday at 1 PM.

That is this week, October 5 – 9, at the Hilton in DOWNTOWN St. Pete.

Watch it on FRA’s webTV.  Go to www.thefra.org/fisheyewide.htm.

10/05/09

CLOSING PERMIT TO ALL REC TAKE?

The State of Florida is considering action on the fish commonly called PERMIT.

Possible actions include the banning of take in state and federal waters, prohibition of currently allowed spearfishing gear for permit and a significant reduction in allowable take.

All of these actions are being considered even though the STOCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE.

All because of the narrow minded view of some flats anglers in the Keys who think it should all be caught and released, throughout the whole state.

There are meetings tonight in St. Petersburg and tomorrow night in Fort Myers.

A recording of the St. Pete presentation will be available on the FRA.s website for later viewing, along with links for submitting comments to the FWC Commissioners.

LEARN MORE.... www.thefra.org/FLpermitreg.htm

10/5/09