Gulf Coast Fisherman Newsletter
November 1, 2009 (MASGP-09-001-11)
FDA PROPOSES BAN ON GULF OYSTER SALES DURING WARM MONTHS
At a speech before the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference in Manchester, New Hampshire on October 17th, Michael Taylor, representing the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlined the agency's plans to combat the bacteria vibrio vulnificus. As of 2011, the agency would no longer allow fresh, live oysters from the Gulf of Mexico region to be sold during the warm-weather months (May to October) unless they were processed.
"The bottom line is that about 10 percent of annual raw oyster consumption in the United States is harvested from Gulf coast waters in the warm weather months. So, what we¹re saying is that 10 percent of the oyster harvest needs to be post-harvest processed — not eliminated, just post-harvest processed," said Taylor. FDA would require that Gulf Coast oysters undergo one of four processes to kill potential bacteria:
• Quick freezing
• High pressure treatment
• Mild heat
• Low dose gamma radiation
FDA had been working with the industry to educate consumers about the potential risks of raw oysters. Vibrio vulnificus is especially dangerous to those with underlying chronic diseases such as AIDS, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes and alcohol abuse. FDA's new regulations would go into effect in the spring of 2011. The move will have a major effect on oyster producers in the Gulf states, which grow about 55 percent of total national production. The Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference had been working on a plan which would have gone into place sooner, but would not have been as restrictive as FDA's. The oyster industry in the Gulf is organizing a campaign in opposition to the proposed rule, saying consumers should be given a choice because any of the post-harvest treatment methods create a product which is much different from a fresh-shucked, live oyster. There is also much concern about product price increases and loss of markets.
EXOTIC SHRIMP SHOWING UP IN NORTHERN GULF SHRIMP TRAWLS
Within the last month, several large Giant Tiger Prawns have been caught
in local waters. The species, penaeus monodon, is native to southeast
Asia, the Philippines and Australia, but have been imported to many different
countries and cultured because of their large size and market acceptance.
There have been recent reported catches off Bayou Cassotte in Mississippi
and near Lafitte, Grand Isle and Venice in Louisiana. Scientists have
speculated that the exotic shrimp found their way here in ship ballast
water or escaped from aquaculture facilities. The most significant threat
to native shrimp is that Giant Tiger Prawns carry several disease pathogens
and various forms of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Besides
being large, they are visually striking with distinct dark and white
bands. If you should come across these non-native shrimp in local waterways,
you are encouraged to save the specimen — ice or refrigerate — and record
the location before contacting Harriet Perry at 228-872-4218 or Mike
Brainard at 228-374-5000.
INVASIVE SPECIES SEMINAR SLATED
In the previous article we described a non-native shrimp which has found its way into local waters. There are numerous other species of plant and animal life which are causing problems for northern Gulf ecosystems. Species which displace or cause problems for native species are often called invasive. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and partners will hold a seminar titled Mississippi Coastal Invasive Species on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi (exit 44 off of Interstate 10). The seminar is part of a series aimed at enhancing familiarity between interested groups and increasing awareness of the programs, needs and opportunities that are relevant to marine research of Mississippi waters. Keynote speaker Mike Pursley of the DMR will talk on “Monitoring and Eradication of Invasive Flora.” Additional scheduled presentations include:
- “Invasive Coastal Fauna” by Harriet Perry, the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
- “Pascagoula River Invasive Species and Volunteer Programs,” Mark LaSalle, Pascagoula River Audubon Center.
- “Regional Approach to Invasive Species,” James Ballard, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
All interested parties are welcome to attend. For more information, contact DMR Shrimp and Crab Bureau Director Traci Floyd at (228) 374-5000.
AMBERJACK OFF LIMITS FOR ANGLERS UNTIL NEXT YEAR
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, the recreational fishery for greater amberjack in federal waters was closed effective October 24th, 2009. 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. NOAA Fisheries Service has determined this action is necessary to prevent overfishing and to keep the recreational sector from exceeding its quota during the 2009 fishing year.
If, despite the closure, recreational landings exceed the quota, NOAA Fisheries Service will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the 2010 fishing year. This would reduce the length of the recreational fishing season for the 2010 fishing year by the amount necessary to recover the overage from the prior fishing year. This action is required by regulations implemented under the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.
MISSISSIPPI COASTAL CLEANUP
On October 17, 2009 boaters and land-based volunteers scoured Mississippi’s beaches, islands and waterways picking up marine debris at 70 designated cleanup sites during the 21st annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup, part of the International Coastal Cleanup—the world’s largest single-day volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment. In just three hours, more than 3,770 volunteers picked up 3,120 bags of trash along 144 miles of coastal waterways in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties and the barrier islands. The cleanup is organized by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force.
Volunteers collected 49,305 pounds of trash including 167 tires. That’s about 24.6 tons of marine debris. Also collected were four dump truckloads of non-baggable items such as household appliances. During the International Coastal Cleanup, hundreds of thousands of people across the world spend three hours combing the beaches and waterways to pick up trash that pollutes our waters, harms marine life, hampers tourism and poses health risks to beach-goers. During last year’s event, about 390,881 volunteers worldwide removed debris from more than 17,000 miles of shoreline spanning 104 different nations. They collected 6.8 million pounds of debris.
LAWSUIT AIMS TO BLOCK GULF OF MEXICO AQUACULTURE
Environmentalists have sued the Obama administration in a bid to block the development of deepwater fish farms in the Gulf of Mexico. Two advocacy groups say the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) lacked authority to approve plans for offshore aquaculture and failed to conduct required environmental reviews. The groups -- Food and Water Watch and the Gulf Restoration Network -- filed the lawsuit in D.C. federal court on October 2nd, escalating a heated battle between the administration, environmentalists and fishing groups over the offshore fish farming plan, the nation's first.
The debate over whether to allow fish to be raised in deepwater nets and cages began with a Bush administration proposal four years ago. It intensified this year after a federal fishery management council approved a deepwater-aquaculture permitting system under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management Act. The council sent the plan to NOAA for final approval, but the agency failed to act before a Sept. 3rd deadline, thus allowing the plan to go forward. The council must still develop aquaculture rules and issue permits before any fish farming can begin. Environmentalists want the court to throw out the plan before rules are written. The legal complaint charges that NOAA failed to put the plan through reviews required under the fisheries law and the National Environmental Policy Act. Further, the groups contend that NOAA and the fishery council do not have authority to pursue permits under the Magnuson-Stevens law, which was written to govern wild fisheries.
At issue are plans for aquaculture operations that would raise fish in nets or cages in federal waters between 3 and 200 miles off the Gulf Coast. The gulf council has predicted the plan would permit between five and 20 offshore operations in the next 10 years, producing up to 64 million pounds of seafood. Environmentalists maintain that such farms could harm the environment, put native fish at risk and pollute oceans with fish waste and excess food. The plan has been criticized by more than 100 environmental and fishing organizations. Advocates for fish farming say aquaculture would take pressure off wild stocks, enhance recreational fishing opportunities and create new jobs in the United States, where about 80 percent of consumed seafood is imported -- about half of it raised through aquaculture. (Source: Greenwire, Oct. 5, 2009)
Sincerely,
Dave Burrage
Marine Resources Specialist
MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center