FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management November 2011 Hot Sheet – Marine Fisheries Management myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/hot-topics/ 1

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HOT SHEET – NOVEMBER 2011

(Valid through November 30, 2011)

Issues covered in this posting:

Gag Grouper, Red Grouper, Commission Meeting, Oysters, Season Updates

Issue: GAG GROUPER

 

Action: Gag grouper recreational harvest open in state and federal waters of the Gulf

Information: NOAA Fisheries Service established a temporary rule to close the harvest of gag grouper in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico through May 31, 2011. This gag grouper closure was extended through the end of 2011, with the exception of a fall recreational harvest season for gag grouper from Sept. 16 through Nov. 15, 2011.

The FWC adopted consistent closure and season dates for the recreational harvest of gag grouper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico at the April 2011 Commission meeting. Both state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are open to the recreational harvest of gag grouper Sept. 16 through Nov. 15. This recreational season will be in effect for 2011 only.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has approved long-term measures for gag grouper that would set the recreational season in the Gulf of Mexico to July 1 through Oct. 31 each year starting in 2012. This measure is pending approval by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The FWC will discuss consistency with the proposed federal season for state waters at the November Commission Meeting.

NEW: NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s management proposal. Comments must be received by Dec. 27, 2011. Visit sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for more information or click on the bulletin link below.

Links for more information:

Southeast Fishery Bulletin [sero.nmfs.noaa.gov]

FWC News Release [MyFWC.com]

Grouper Fishery Information [MyFWC.com]

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Issue: RED GROUPER

 

Action: Red grouper recreational bag limit and commercial quota increased: Starting Nov. 2, 2011, the recreational red grouper bag limit for Gulf of Mexico federal waters will be increased from two to four fish in the four-fish grouper aggregate bag limit. The commercial red grouper quota will also increase from 4.32 million pounds to 5.23 million pounds. The rule change will also set the commercial quota through 2015, increasing it from 5.37 million pounds in 2012 to 5.72 million pounds in 2015.

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Issue: COMMISSION MEETING

Action: Marine Fisheries agenda items November 16, 2011

Information: The next FWC Commission Meeting will take place November 16-17, 2011, at the Key Largo Grande Resort & Beach Club. The Marine Fisheries agenda items will be presented on Wednesday, November 16 and will include:

  1. Red drum proposed final rules that, if passed, will increase the recreational bag limit from one to two fish in the northeast and northwest regions of the state
  2. Spotted seatrout proposed final rules that, if passed, will eliminate the recreational closed seasons, extend the commercial harvest season, allow the sale of spotted seatrout year-round, create a commercial vessel limit of 150 fish if there are at least two licensed commercial fishermen on board and allow commercial fishermen to take spotted seatrout as bycatch if caught in seines
  3. Sharks proposed final rule that, if passed, will prohibit the recreational and commercial harvest of tiger sharks and great, scalloped and smooth hammerhead sharks in state waters
  4. Gulf grouper proposed federal consistency action that, if approved, will establish a July 1 through Oct. 31 recreational harvest season for Gulf gag grouper, lower the commercial minimum size limit for Gulf gag grouper from 24 to 22 inches total length and increase the recreational bag limit for Gulf red grouper from two to four fish per person per day within the Gulf grouper aggregate

Links for more information:

FWC Commission Meeting Agenda [MyFWC.com]

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Issue: OYSTERS

Action: Commercial oyster harvest expanded in Apalachicola Bay

Information: The FWC has issued an executive order that allows the commercial harvest of oysters in Apalachicola Bay seven days per week through Nov. 16, 2011. The order went into effect Sept. 1, 2011. Once the order ends, harvest will continue to be seven days a week based on current harvest regulations for that time of year.

Links for more information:

Executive Order for Commercial Oyster Harvest [MyFWC.com]

Back to topFWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management November 2011 Hot Sheet – Marine Fisheries Management myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/hot-topics/ 3

Issue: SEASON UPDATES

Action: Upcoming and continuing season openings and closures

Information: The following species have season openings/closures:

  1. Gag Grouper: The recreational harvest of gag grouper in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico opened Sept. 16 and will close on Nov. 15, 2011. (see above)
  2. Snook: o Atlantic waters: The recreational harvest of snook opened Sept. 1, 2011, in all Atlantic waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River and will close Dec. 15,2011.
  3. o Gulf of Mexico: The recreational harvest of snook is closed through Aug. 31, 2012, in all Gulf of Mexico waters, including Everglades National Park and Monroe County. Catch and release is still permitted during closures.
  4.  
  5. Spotted Seatrout: The recreational harvest of spotted seatrout closes Nov. 1, 2011 in state waters in the southern region of Florida (south of the Flagler-Volusia county line in the Atlantic and south of the Fred Howard Park Causeway in the Gulf of Mexico). It will reopen Jan. 1, 2012. The season remains open in the northeast and northwest regions of the state through February 1, 2012.
  6. Vermilion Snapper: The recreational harvest of vermilion snapper closes Nov. 1, 2011, in state and federal waters of the Atlantic. The season will reopen April 1, 2012.
  7. Blue Land Crab: The recreational and commercial harvest of blue land crab opens Nov. 1, 2011.

Links for more information:

FWC News Release Gag Grouper [MyFWC.com]

FWC News Release Snook [MyFWC.com]

FWC Spotted Seatrout Recreational Rules [MyFWC.com]

FWC Blue Land Crab Recreational Rules [MyFWC.com]

FWC Snapper Recreational Rules [MyFWC.com]

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OLD UPDATES

 

FREE FISHING WEEKEND Statewide

Action: FWC establishes license free fishing weekends

Information: FWC has designated two weekends in June 2011 when a saltwater fishing license will not be required statewide.

On June 4 and 5, as well as June 18 and 19, a saltwater fishing license is not required for the recreational harvest of marine species.

GREATER AMBERJACK

Action: Seasonal closure in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico

GREATER AMBERJACK Season closed from June 1 through July 31, 2011

 

JANUARY 2011 SALT WATER FISHING REGULATION CHANGES

FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management February 2011 Hot Sheet – Marine Fisheries Management

HOT SHEET – FEBRUARY 2011 Gulf of Mexico

Issue: SOUTH ATLANTIC SNAPPER-GROUPER SPECIES

FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management

 February 2011 Hot Sheet – Marine Fisheries Management

HOT SHEET – FEBRUARY 2011

Action: Final rule implementing accountability measures and annual catch limits for snapper-grouper species

Issue: GROUPER

Action: Interim closure for recreational harvest of gag grouper in federal waters

Information: Effective January 1, 2011, the recreational harvest of gag grouper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters is prohibited. This interim rule will be in effect for 180 days and could be extended for another 186 days. However, it was the intent of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC), when requesting this temporary rule, that there should be a recreational harvest of gag in 2011. If supported by science, an open gag grouper recreational season will be developed by the Council as part of management measures to end over fishing and rebuild the Gulf gag grouper stock.

The interim rule will only affect federal waters, but the FWC may address potential consistency action for Gulf state waters following final action by NOAA Fisheries Service. Charter and headboats that hold federal snapper-grouper permits are required to abide by federal rules, even in state waters.

Action: Shallow water grouper closure in state and federal waters

Information : State and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (excluding waters of Monroe County) close February 1, 2011 to the recreational harvest of red, black, gag, yellowfin, yellowmouth, rock hind, red hind and scamp grouper and will remain closed through March 31.

South Atlantic

Action: Final rule implementing accountability measures and annual catch limits for snapper-grouper species

Information: NOAA Fisheries Service recently approved Amendment 17B to address over fishing that is occurring in the Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery. The following regulations are effective in federal waters of the Atlantic as of January 31, 2011:

Harvest and retention of speckled hind and warsaw grouper are prohibited

The bag limit for snowy grouper is reduced from one fish per person per day to one fish per vessel per day

Charter and headboats that hold federal snapper-grouper permits are required to abide by these federal rules, even in state waters

Action: Shallow water grouper closure in state and federal waters

Information: State and federal waters of the Atlantic (including all state waters of Monroe County) remain closed to the harvest of gag, black, red, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin, yellowmouth and tiger grouper through April 30.

Issue: Black Sea BASS

South Atlantic

Action: Recreational harvest closure in federal waters of the South Atlantic

Information: NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that the 2010-2011 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) of 409,000 pounds for black sea bass has been reached. As a result, the recreational fishery for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close Feb. 12, 2011 through June 1, 2011. For vessels which have a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-grouper, the closure applies to state and federal waters.

Effective Jan. 31, 2011, Amendment 17B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region includes black sea bass accountability measures, which are actions intended to prevent the ACL from being exceeded. If the ACL is projected to be met, the recreational fishery would be closed. If the ACL is exceeded, the ACL for the following fishing year will be reduced by the amount of the overage. That determination will be made before the next fishing year begins.