Gulf Coast Fisherman Newsletter
July 1, 2009 (MASGP-09-001-07)
REMINDER - NEW GULF REEF FISH GEAR REQUIREMENTS NOW IN EFFECT
Effective June 1, 2009, new rules require anglers to use non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural baits to fish for Gulf reef fish in federal waters. Dehooking devices and venting tools are also required. Reef fish species include all snappers, groupers, sea bass, amberjacks, triggerfish, hogfish, red porgy and tilefish.
Research shows that circle hooks are more likely to hook fish in the mouth instead of in the gut cavity or throat. The unique hook shape causes the hook to slide towards the point of resistance and embed itself in the jaw or in the corner of the fish’s mouth. A dehooking device is an instrument that allows the hook to be secured and the barb shielded without re-engaging when the hook is removed. It must be blunt, have rounded edges and be of a size appropriate to secure the range of hook sizes and styles used for reef fish. Dehooking devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Use one that works best for the fish you are releasing. If a fish swallows the hook or the fish is too big to release from a boat, it may be better to cut the line as close as possible to the hook instead of trying to remove it.
Reef fish that come from depths of 50 feet or more may undergo expansion of the gasses in the swim bladder as they are brought to the surface. Signs of this condition are protrusion of the stomach from its mouth, bulging eyes and a bloated belly. Proper use of a venting tool will help the fish survive by allowing it to safely return to the bottom. A venting tool can be any hollow, sharpened instrument that allows gases to escape. Ice picks and knives are not suitable because simply puncturing the fish is undesirable and can result in a mortal injury. It is best to vent the fish as quickly as possible with a minimum of handling. If the fish’s stomach is everted out of the mouth, do not puncture it or attempt to push it back into the fish’s body. Expelling the swim bladder gases will allow the stomach to return to its normal position within a few hours.
Hold the fish gently but firmly on its side and insert the venting tool at a 45-degree angle approximately one to two inches back from the base of the pectoral fin. Only insert the tool deep enough to release the gases. The sound of the escaping gas is audible and deflation is noticeable. If a fish is extremely bloated, use the hand holding the fish to exert gentle pressure on its abdomen to aid deflation. Return the fish to the water as soon as possible. If necessary, revive it by holding the fish with the head pointed downward and moving the fish back and forth to pass water over the gills until the fish is able to swim unassisted.
2009 MISSISSIPPI SHRIMP SEASON OFF TO SLOW START
About the only bright spot for the June 25th opening of the 2009 Mississippi shrimp season was the weather. Waters north of the Intracoastal Waterway remained closed due to smaller than legal shrimp counts. In the open areas, shrimpers were reporting low catch rates of mostly 60/70 count brown shrimp. With diesel fuel prices hovering around $2.00 per gallon and 60/70s bringing about 70 to 80 cents per pound dockside, some boats opted to remain at the dock until conditions improve. Aerial surveys on opening day indicated about 230 boats were working in Mississippi waters. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources reported that so far this year, 372 resident and 163 non-resident commercial shrimp licenses have been sold.
NOAA SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON AQUACULTURE MANAGEMENT PLAN
NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on the Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Marine Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted the FMP to NOAA Fisheries Service for review, approval, and implementation. The Notice of Availability for public comment on this FMP was published in the Federal Register on June 4, 2009. Currently, NOAA Fisheries Service requires an exempted fishing permit to conduct aquaculture in federal waters. This permit is of limited duration and is not intended for commercial production of fish and shellfish, making aquaculture in federal waters not viable under the current permitting process. If implemented through rulemaking, this FMP would establish a comprehensive permitting and regulatory framework to manage the development of an environmentally sound and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Actions in the FMP:
-
Establish aquaculture permit requirements, eligibility, and transferability.
-
Establish application requirements, operational requirements, and restrictions for aquaculture permits.
-
Establish permit duration and renewal periods.
-
Specify allowable species for aquaculture purposes.
-
Evaluate proposed aquaculture systems on a case by-case basis.
-
Establish marine aquaculture siting requirements and conditions.
-
Create a restricted access zone for each aquaculture facility.
-
Establish record keeping and reporting requirements.
-
Establish biological reference points and status determination criteria. Specify framework procedures for modifying biological reference points and management measures for offshore marine aquaculture in the Gulf.
Other information on the Gulf aquaculture permit is also discussed in the FMP. If this aquaculture program is implemented, the administrative functions associated with it (e.g., registration and account setup, landing transactions, and most reporting requirements) are intended to be accomplished online via the aquaculture Web site. A participant must have access to a computer and Internet access and must set up an appropriate online aquaculture account to participate.
Written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., Eastern time, on August 3, 2009. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: Electronic Submissions: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries Service will accept anonymous comments. To submit comments enter “NOAA-NMFS-2008-0233 in the keyword search and then check the box send a comment or submission. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
Mail: Jess Beck, Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries Service, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505.
The FMP, which includes an Environmental Impact Statement, a Regulatory Impact Review, and an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, is available in electronic format from the Councils Web site at http://www.gulfcouncil.org, or by contacting the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone (813) 348-1630; fax (813) 348-1711; e-mail gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org.
LOUISIANA AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL PROGRAM
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' (LDWF) Office of Fisheries is moving large quantities of salvinia weevils into Lake Bistineau in northwest Louisiana as part of a multi-tiered treatment effort to slow the growth of giant salvinia. Lake Bistineau covers 17,200 acres just south of Doyline and is a popular fishing spot for bass and crappie. LDWF biologists and technicians plan to place at least 50,000 pounds of weevil-infested salvinia into the lake. Those materials contain over one million adult weevils and between two and three million eggs and larvae. The floating colonies will be deposited into areas around the lake where salvinia has been growing for at least two years. Fifty LDWF biologists and technicians from around the state have been involved in the effort that entails harvesting materials from a nursery pond in Lafourche Parish and transporting the weevils to Lake Bistineau. The LSU AgCenter has been raising the weevils in Gheens, La., as part of a cooperative effort between the agencies to find a method to control giant salvinia. The weevil stocking program is one part of LDWF's $7.9 million Aquatic Plant Control Program for fiscal year 2008-2009 to aggressively combat aquatic plants in the state's waterways. Additional control measures planned for Lake Bistineau include the application of EPA-approved herbicides by contract applicators and LDWF employees and a lake drawdown immediately following Labor Day.
Giant salvinia, a free floating aquatic fern native to Brazil, has the potential to double in biomass every three to five days. It was discovered in Lake Bistineau in February of 2006. The lack of severe winter weather since 2001, with temperatures seldom below freezing for extended periods, has allowed the steady growth of all aquatic plants in the state. A drawdown from July 2008 through January 2009 reduced the salvinia coverage from 4,500 acres to 850. Subsequent regrowth has increased the salvinia presence back to 4,300 acres as of the first week of June 2009. An increased weevil population on the lake is designed to significantly reduce the long-term presence of giant salvinia. For more information, contact LDWF Press Secretary Bo Boehringer at 225-765-5115 or bboehringer@wlf.la.gov.
FEDERAL RECREATIONAL FISHING REGISTRATION
Starting in 2010, The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires all anglers fishing in federal waters or for anadromous species to obtain a federal registration. The fee charged, anticipated to fall between $15 and $25 per angler, is authorized to commence in 2011, and will be deposited into the National Treasury. A provision in the MSA exempts states that have an adequate saltwater licensing system. All Gulf of Mexico states currently license their saltwater anglers (Florida is in the process of removing the exemption for shore-based anglers), but some states still don’t license saltwater recreational fishermen.
Sincerely,
Dave Burrage
Marine Resources Specialist
MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center