On April 10, 2015, NOAA Fisheries approved Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources (Amendment 40) of the Gulf of Mexico submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). A final rule published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2015 (80 FR 22422), with an effective date of May 22, 2015.
Amendment 40 was approved by the Council to help stabilize the federal for-hire component of the recreational sector fishing for red snapper, provide the basis for increased flexibility in future management of recreational fishing for red snapper, and reduce the chance for recreational quota overruns, which could jeopardize the rebuilding of the red snapper stock.
Amendment 40 establishes two components within the recreational sector that fishes for red snapper.
Amendment 40 components:
A federal for-hire component, which is comprised of all for-hire operators with a valid or renewable federal reef fish charter vessel/headboat permit.
A private angling component, which is comprised of private recreational anglers and other for-hire operators who do not have a federal reef fish charter vessel/headboat permit.
The rule also establishes component sub-quotas and annual catch targets using Amendment 40's allocation of 42.3 percent to the federal for-hire component and 57.7 percent to the private angling component.
The component seasons will start on June 1 and end when the individual component's annual catch target is projected to be caught. A 20 percent buffer is applied to the recreational quota to obtain the annual catch target, which is then allocated between components. Season lengths are anticipated to be announced in late April or early May in a final rule setting the 2015-2017 commercial and recreational quotas.
Amendment 40 management measures will end after three years unless the Council takes additional action. The Council is presently evaluating other measures to manage the recreational sector including regional management.
Electronic copies of the amendment and final rule may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Web site: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Showing posts with label gmfmc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gmfmc. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Quotas (Recreational)
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) met recently via webinar to review recommendations made by its scientific advisors regarding the red snapper quotas for 2015 and beyond.
If approved by the Department of Commerce, the action will increase the 2015 total quota by 3.3 million pounds (mp), resulting in a commercial quota of 7.26 million pounds, and a recreational quota of 7.04 million pounds. The total recreational annual catch target will be 5.632 million pounds.
Recreational red snapper quotas (by year):
2015 7.04 mp
2016 6.84 mp
2017+ 6.73 mp
The 2017 quota will remain in effect until changed by the Council.
NOAA Fisheries is expected to determine and announce the 2015 Gulf of Mexico red snapper season in the coming weeks.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
If approved by the Department of Commerce, the action will increase the 2015 total quota by 3.3 million pounds (mp), resulting in a commercial quota of 7.26 million pounds, and a recreational quota of 7.04 million pounds. The total recreational annual catch target will be 5.632 million pounds.
Recreational red snapper quotas (by year):
2015 7.04 mp
2016 6.84 mp
2017+ 6.73 mp
The 2017 quota will remain in effect until changed by the Council.
NOAA Fisheries is expected to determine and announce the 2015 Gulf of Mexico red snapper season in the coming weeks.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Monday, March 10, 2014
Reef Fish Amendment 28 Public Hearings
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has scheduled a series of public hearings around the Gulf of Mexico beginning Monday, March 10, 2014 through Monday, March 24, 2014.
The purpose of the meetings is to solicit public comment on Reef Fish Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocation. All meetings will begin at 6:00 pm. local time and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. Note, the call in session will begin at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Amendment 28 examines allocating red snapper resources between the commercial and recreational sectors to increase the net benefits from red snapper fishing and improve the stability of the red snapper component of the reef fish fishery, particularly for the recreational sector.
Comments on Reef Fish Amendment 28 will also be accepted online. Meeting locations and copies of the public hearing documents can be obtained by calling 813-348-1630, or by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
The purpose of the meetings is to solicit public comment on Reef Fish Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocation. All meetings will begin at 6:00 pm. local time and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. Note, the call in session will begin at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Amendment 28 examines allocating red snapper resources between the commercial and recreational sectors to increase the net benefits from red snapper fishing and improve the stability of the red snapper component of the reef fish fishery, particularly for the recreational sector.
Comments on Reef Fish Amendment 28 will also be accepted online. Meeting locations and copies of the public hearing documents can be obtained by calling 813-348-1630, or by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Monday, February 17, 2014
New Gulf Red Snapper Regulations Considered
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Houston, Texas, February 3 - 6, 2014, to discuss a number of fishery issues, including several related to the management of red snapper.
Actions taken by the Council include:
Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper
The Council continued its discussions regarding Reef Fish Amendment 39 - Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper. Further work on Amendment 39 - Regional Management is postponed until progress is made on how to allocate the quota among the regions.
Regional management considers dividing the federal recreational red snapper quota among states or regions potentially giving them authority to set their own management measures. States/regions would have more flexibility in choosing season and bag limits, but this would not necessarily result in more fishing days.
Under a regional management system red snapper would remain a federally managed species subject to federal conservation goals, and the Council would continue to oversee management of the stock.
Red Snapper - Slot Limits
In the interest of extending the recreational red snapper fishing season the Council directed staff to develop a framework action for red snapper slot limits in the recreational fishery. The document will consider a range of size limits, as well as options for keeping one trophy fish.
Red Snapper Allocation - Amendment 28
The Council discussed Reef Fish Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocation and chose Alternative 5 as its preferred alternative. Alternative 5 maintains the commercial/recreational red snapper allocations at 51%/49% if the red snapper quota is less than or equal to 9.12 million pounds (mp). It the quota is greater than 9.12 mp, then 75% of the amount in excess of 9.12 mp would go to the recreational sector and 25% would go to the commercial sector. Based on the current total quota of 11 mp, this would result in 5.121 mp for the commercial sector and 5.879 mp for the recreational sector.
The Council also added a new alternative, Alternative 7, that would allocate 75% of red snapper quota amounts in excess of 10 mp to the recreational sector and 25% to the commercial sector.
Public hearings on Amendment 28 will be held around the Gulf coast in March. A separate webinar will also be scheduled for those who are unable to participate in person. Dates and locations will be announced. The Council is planning a one-day meeting in May, during which they will hold a final public hearing in the northern Gulf and take final action on Amendment 28.
The purpose of Amendment 28 is to allocate red snapper resources between the commercial and recreational sectors to increase the net benefits from red snapper fishing and improve the stability of the red snapper component of the reef fish fishery, particularly for the recreational sector.
Reef Fish Amendment 40 - Sector Separation
Staff presented a draft options paper for Amendment 40 - Sector Separation, which included an option for voluntary participation. Sector separation refers to the dividing of the recreational red snapper quota into distinct private angling and federal for-hire components. The private angling component would include private anglers and state permitted for-hire operators. The federal for-hire component would include federally permitted for-hire operators. Staff will continue working on the amendment.
For-Hire Electronic Reporting
The Council directed staff to begin developing a framework action to establish electronic reporting methods for charter for-hire vessels with federal reef fish and coastal migratory pelagics permits.
Amendment 30B Permit Conditions
The Council voted to rescind the provision adopted in 2009 under Reef Fish Amendment 30B that requires federally permitted reef fish charter vessels and headboats to comply with the more restrictive federal regulations when fishing in state waters. The framework action will be sent to the Secretary of Commerce for review.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Actions taken by the Council include:
Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper
The Council continued its discussions regarding Reef Fish Amendment 39 - Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper. Further work on Amendment 39 - Regional Management is postponed until progress is made on how to allocate the quota among the regions.
Regional management considers dividing the federal recreational red snapper quota among states or regions potentially giving them authority to set their own management measures. States/regions would have more flexibility in choosing season and bag limits, but this would not necessarily result in more fishing days.
Under a regional management system red snapper would remain a federally managed species subject to federal conservation goals, and the Council would continue to oversee management of the stock.
Red Snapper - Slot Limits
In the interest of extending the recreational red snapper fishing season the Council directed staff to develop a framework action for red snapper slot limits in the recreational fishery. The document will consider a range of size limits, as well as options for keeping one trophy fish.
Red Snapper Allocation - Amendment 28
The Council discussed Reef Fish Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocation and chose Alternative 5 as its preferred alternative. Alternative 5 maintains the commercial/recreational red snapper allocations at 51%/49% if the red snapper quota is less than or equal to 9.12 million pounds (mp). It the quota is greater than 9.12 mp, then 75% of the amount in excess of 9.12 mp would go to the recreational sector and 25% would go to the commercial sector. Based on the current total quota of 11 mp, this would result in 5.121 mp for the commercial sector and 5.879 mp for the recreational sector.
The Council also added a new alternative, Alternative 7, that would allocate 75% of red snapper quota amounts in excess of 10 mp to the recreational sector and 25% to the commercial sector.
Public hearings on Amendment 28 will be held around the Gulf coast in March. A separate webinar will also be scheduled for those who are unable to participate in person. Dates and locations will be announced. The Council is planning a one-day meeting in May, during which they will hold a final public hearing in the northern Gulf and take final action on Amendment 28.
The purpose of Amendment 28 is to allocate red snapper resources between the commercial and recreational sectors to increase the net benefits from red snapper fishing and improve the stability of the red snapper component of the reef fish fishery, particularly for the recreational sector.
Reef Fish Amendment 40 - Sector Separation
Staff presented a draft options paper for Amendment 40 - Sector Separation, which included an option for voluntary participation. Sector separation refers to the dividing of the recreational red snapper quota into distinct private angling and federal for-hire components. The private angling component would include private anglers and state permitted for-hire operators. The federal for-hire component would include federally permitted for-hire operators. Staff will continue working on the amendment.
For-Hire Electronic Reporting
The Council directed staff to begin developing a framework action to establish electronic reporting methods for charter for-hire vessels with federal reef fish and coastal migratory pelagics permits.
Amendment 30B Permit Conditions
The Council voted to rescind the provision adopted in 2009 under Reef Fish Amendment 30B that requires federally permitted reef fish charter vessels and headboats to comply with the more restrictive federal regulations when fishing in state waters. The framework action will be sent to the Secretary of Commerce for review.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Reef Fish Amendment 40 - Sector Separation
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) is seeking comments on Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.
According to GMFMC,Amendment 40 considers alternatives to define private and for-hire components of the recreational red snapper fishery and allocate red snapper resources between these components.
A guide to the amendment can be found at: gulfcouncil.org/docs/SectorSeparationGuide.pdf.
GMFMC will accept comments throughout the amendment process and can be submitted via online comment form:
http://www.gulfcouncil.org/council_meetings/comment_forms/RF%20Amendment%2040%20-%20Sector%20Separation.php.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Gulf of Mexico Fall Red Snapper Season (Recreational)
In July the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted to increase the 2013 red snapper recreational quota to 5.390 million pounds (mp).
The Council also agreed that, if NMFS determines that unused recreational quota is available, a supplemental season will open October 1 and run continuously until the quota is met.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the supplemental season will be approximately 21 days long. The estimate will be reevaluated when the June recreational landings data become available in mid-August.
The Framework Action will be submitted to the Secretary of Commerce and, if approved, will be implemented in time for the fall season.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
The Council also agreed that, if NMFS determines that unused recreational quota is available, a supplemental season will open October 1 and run continuously until the quota is met.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the supplemental season will be approximately 21 days long. The estimate will be reevaluated when the June recreational landings data become available in mid-August.
The Framework Action will be submitted to the Secretary of Commerce and, if approved, will be implemented in time for the fall season.
source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Friday, December 3, 2010
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Gag Webinars
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has scheduled two webinars of the Gag Update Assessment work group to re-run the 2009 gag update assessment to address an incorrect size distribution estimate of undersized caught-and-released fish from the recreational fishery.
The re-run will also address a discrepancy between the estimated dead discards from the commercial gag fishery based on logbook reports and recent estimates of dead discards based on observer data. Re-running the update assessment with adjustments to these inputs may result in a revision to the catch limits needed to rebuild the stock.
The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will review the results of the assessment re-run in January 2011. The Council will review the results along with the SSC recommendations during its meeting in February 2011.
The webinars are scheduled for December 6, 2010 and December 9, 2010. Both will begin at 9 am and conclude no later than 1 pm. During the first webinar, the work group and National Marine Fisheries Service assessment biologists will determine what changes to the assessment inputs are needed. During the second webinar, the work group will review the results of the assessment re-run.
For information on how to register for the webinar, visit the Gulf Council website at www.gulfcouncil.org
The re-run will also address a discrepancy between the estimated dead discards from the commercial gag fishery based on logbook reports and recent estimates of dead discards based on observer data. Re-running the update assessment with adjustments to these inputs may result in a revision to the catch limits needed to rebuild the stock.
The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will review the results of the assessment re-run in January 2011. The Council will review the results along with the SSC recommendations during its meeting in February 2011.
The webinars are scheduled for December 6, 2010 and December 9, 2010. Both will begin at 9 am and conclude no later than 1 pm. During the first webinar, the work group and National Marine Fisheries Service assessment biologists will determine what changes to the assessment inputs are needed. During the second webinar, the work group will review the results of the assessment re-run.
For information on how to register for the webinar, visit the Gulf Council website at www.gulfcouncil.org
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