Gulf Coast Fisherman

April 1, 2008 (MASGP-08-001-04)

GULF RECREATIONAL RED SNAPPER SEASON SHORTENED

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the recreational fishery for red snapper in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will close effective 12:01 a.m. local time August 5, 2008, through December 31, 2008, the end of the current fishing year. The recreational fishery in federal waters will reopen on June 1, 2009, the beginning of the 2009 federal recreational fishing season. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing and to keep the recreational fishery from exceeding its quota during the 2008 fishing year.

Constraining harvest to the quota is crucial to meeting the legal requirements to prevent and end overfishing and rebuild the red snapper resource of the Gulf of Mexico. A court ruling in 2007 required NMFS and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) to revise the red snapper rebuilding plan with a goal of having a 50 percent probability, or greater, of ending overfishing for red snapper between 2009 and 2010 and rebuilding the stock by 2032.

Subsequently, NMFS implemented temporary regulations in 2007 for federal waters to reduce harvest and fishing mortality for red snapper. These regulations included a recreational quota of 3.185 million pounds (MP) and a commercial quota of 3.315 MP. The recreational bag limit was reduced to two fish, with a zero-fish bag limit for captains or crews of for-hire vessels. The minimum size limit for the recreational fishery remained at 16 inches total length (TL) and the federal fishing season remained April 21 through October 31. These harvesting restrictions were intended to constrain the recreational fishery to the quota for the fishing year. However, Texas kept its state waters open year-round and anglers were allowed a daily bag limit of four fish. Similarly, Florida maintained a fishing season of April 15 through October 31 during 2007 in its state waters, and a four-fish recreational bag limit. These incompatible regulations in state waters contributed to a recreational harvest that exceeded the recreational red snapper quota by approximately 1.0 MP in 2007. The commercial fishery landed 3.22 MP, or 97 percent of the 2007 commercial quota.

In January 2008, NMFS published a final rule implementing actions in the Council joint Amendment 27 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Amendment 14 to the Shrimp Fishery FMP of the Gulf of Mexico. These regulations further reduced the 2008 recreational quota for red snapper to 2.45 MP, and the commercial quota to 2.55 MP. To keep the recreational harvest within the quota, the recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters was reduced to June 1 through September 30. No changes were made to the established bag limits and minimum size limits.

To ensure the 2008 recreational red snapper quota would not be exceeded during the fishing year, NMFS and the council requested the five Gulf of Mexico states adopt compatible regulations for 2008. Louisiana and Mississippi implemented regulations compatible with federal regulations, and Alabama is undecided. Florida implemented a two-fish bag limit, compatible with federal regulations, but maintained its recreational fishing season of April 15 through October 31; 78 days longer than the federal fishing season. Texas maintained its existing year-round fishing season and a four-fish bag limit in state waters, thus not complying with federal regulations.

The June 1 through September 30 federal recreational fishing season was based on the assumption of compatible recreational red snapper regulations in state waters. Analyses indicate the longer fishing seasons and less restrictive bag limits in state waters will result in a recreational quota overage for the 2008 fishing year. Substantial quantities of red snapper are harvested by the recreational fishery from state waters. For example, reported recreational red snapper landings from state waters off the west coast of Florida in 2007 represented more than 25 percent of the total Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper landings, and more than 50 percent of the total reported recreational landings of red snapper for the state. Similarly, landings from Texas state waters constitute more than 30 percent of the state total recreational red snapper landings.

SMART GROWTH CONFERENCE SLATED

The ninth annual Coastal Development Strategies (Smart Growth) Conference will be held May 5-6, 2008 at the Historic Saenger Theater in Biloxi. Conference attendees will learn about possible solutions to build sustainable communities, spur economic development and improve the quality of life in southern Mississippi. The conference is hosted by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Office of Coastal Management and Planning (CAMP) Program and conference partner, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. CAMP is a program within the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR). CAMP’s mission is to develop a plan to sustain Mississippi’s coastal resources while providing a healthy economy in the region.

The deadline for pre-registration is April 25, 2008 and is $125 per person ($80 for students). After April 25, the registration fee will be $155 (until May 4) and on-site registration is $175. Conference fees include two breakfasts, refreshment breaks, two lunches and conference materials. Lunches and all exhibits will take place at the Nativity Sacred Heart Center.

Two full days of conference will feature speakers and breakout sessions. Topics include sustainable development, clean energy and energy efficiency, insurance strategies, building resilient communities, heritage tourism, sustainable gardening, building in the watersheds, economic development, green building, linking housing and transportation to land use, transfer of development rights, and community citizen stewardship. This multi-disciplinary event draws elected officials, city and county staff, contractors, developers, bankers, planners, zoning officials, Realtors and appraisers, engineers, landowners, industry, students, federal and state agencies, boards of supervisors, lawyers, private and corporate entities, environmentalists, resource managers and other committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

Real estate agents and appraisers can earn 10 hours of continuing education credit by attending the conference, and receipts will be provided to all other professions such as, engineers, teachers and architects to submit for credit to their respective organizations. For more information or to register for the conference, contact the DMR at (228) 374-5000 or the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce at (228) 604-0014, or visit the DMR online at www.dmr.state.ms.us or the Coast Chamber at www.mscoastchamber.com.

FLORIDA WARNS OF JUMPING STURGEON

The Gulf sturgeon are beginning their annual migration back into the Suwannee River, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds boaters to slow down and be aware these fish are jumping. Nine people were injured in accidental collisions with jumping sturgeon during 2007. A fatal incident occurred after a sturgeon jumped in front of a boat. The boat operator swerved abruptly to avoid a collision, causing two people to be ejected into the water, with one of the men drowning. In 2006, FWC officials began working on a public awareness campaign to alert boaters to the risks of jumping sturgeon. The FWC also recommends that all boaters wear their life jackets. The Suwannee River appears to support the largest viable population of Gulf sturgeon. Biologists estimate the annual population at 6,500 to 7,500 fish, each averaging approximately 40 pounds. Adult fish spend eight to nine months each year in the river spawning and three to four of the coolest months in Gulf waters. Sturgeon tend to congregate in deeper and cooler waters with moderate currents and sand and rocky bottoms. Biologists are unsure why sturgeon jump. The latest theories include that the fish jump to communicate, or it may be a dominance display. Gulf sturgeon can get quite big, exceeding 7 feet and 170 pounds. They have five rows of rock-hard ‘scutes’ along their sides, back and belly. When sturgeon and boaters collide, the results can be devastating. Sturgeon are a protected species and may not be harvested.

MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM OFFERED

A Mississippi State Extension Service program will offer nature enthusiasts the opportunity to learn more about natural resources and management tools and bring that knowledge into communities. The Mississippi Master Naturalist Program will help participants expand their knowledge of local habitats and help them identify ways to protect land and water resources. Master Naturalists receive 40 hours of training in natural resource and wildlife management. They also must complete 40 hours of volunteer service to meet certification requirements. The classes and field trips will include information about archaeology, native plants, habitats, insects, watershed management, forestry, fisheries, soils and birds. The seven-week program runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays from May 8 to June 26 at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center on Popps Ferry Road in Biloxi. The class fee is $50. For more information or to register, call Chris Boyd at (228) 546-1025 or cboyd@ext.msstate.edu.

Sincerely,


Dave Burrage

Marine Resources Specialist
MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center