Gulf Fishery News Volume 29, Issue 3

June-July, 2006

Inside this issue: Grant Opportunities Available

2

Louisiana Closes Shrimp Season in Zone 2

2

NOAA GCEL Quarterly Reports

4

NOAA Fisheries Accepting Comment on 18A

6

August Council Agenda

7

Joint Reef Fish 27/Shrimp 14 Update

8

Fisher Forums Scheduled

9

WWF SmartGear Winner Announced

9

Council seeks applicants for an Ad Hoc Shrimp Effort Management AP The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is currently soliciting applicants to serve on an Ad Hoc Shrimp Effort Management Advisory Panel. The Panel will discuss and develop possible limited access management alternatives that will help manage and optimize the shrimp effort in the EEZ. Interested parties should submit a resume or letter of interest to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. Letters must be received by July 31, 2006. Appointments to the AP will be made during the August 14—17 regular Council meeting, which will be held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, please contact the Gulf Council at 888-833-1844.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Protecting our marine resources

BRD regulatory amendment underway Originally part of a joint amendment, modifications to the criterion for bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) used in the penaeid shrimp fishery will instead become part of a regulatory amendment that will go before the Gulf Council during its August meeting. The Council planned to revise the BRD certification criterion through Joint Reef Fish Amendment 27/Shrimp Amendment 14. The goal being improved BRD performance. “By making this a regulatory amendment, the Council is able to fast track the changes so we can get something in place as soon as possible,” said Dr. Rick Leard, Deputy Director of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

Because the current criterion in waters of the EEZ west of Cape San Blas, Florida considers only red snapper bycatch and is based on an outdated model, the assumptions are no longer considered valid. The end result is unrealistic expectations for BRD performance, reduced efficiency in testing and characterizing BRD performance, and limited types and numbers of BRDs approved for use in the fishery. Revising the BRD certification criterion to address shrimp trawl bycatch more comprehensively and realistically is expected to increase flexibility, promote innovation, and allow for the certification of BRDs that achieve greater reductions in red snapper bycatch than those currently realized.

Ad Hoc Grouper IFQ Advisory Panel making headway The Ad Hoc Grouper Individual Fishing Quota Advisory Panel (AHGIFQAP) met in May and heard a presentation regarding IFQ programs in British Columbia, how those programs were implemented, and how they are monitored. The panel also reviewed and revised its list of goals, which includes: 1. 2. 3.

4. 5.

Multi species IFQ for the entire grouper fishery. Protect participation of small-scale fishermen, and prevent monopolies. Implement business compatible incentives to minimize bycatch and regulatory discards mortality. Develop regulations that provide for a flexible and dynamic fishery. Provide the opportunity for a year-round fishery.

6.

Provide for healthy grouper resources for the commercial fishery and the consumer market and provide incentives to protect and enhance grouper stocks. 7. Create opportunities for young fishermen to enter the industry. 8. Promote safe fishing operations. 9. Foster improved relations between sectors, including environmentalists, commercial fishermen, and recreational fishermen. 10. Improve ability to make business decisions; improve financial gains; prevent in-season adjustments that could affect business plans.

The Panel met again June 15 and 16, 2006, to discuss two major issues—referendum qualifying criteria, as well as vote weighting and initial allocations. Results of that meeting will be presented to Council in August.

Page 2

Gulf Fishery News

NMFS announces grant opportunities NOAA Fisheries Service announced the availability of Federal assistance to award cooperative agreements under the Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) and the Cooperative Research Program (CRP). An omnibus notice of the two competitions, published in the Federal Register on June 12, 2006, lists the MARFIN priorities and the CRP priorities. The omnibus notice is available at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/grants/ grants.htm . CRP and/or MARFIN application packages are available from, and should be submitted through, www.grants.gov. CRP The CRP program is a means of involving commercial and recreational fishermen in the collection of fundamental fisheries information. Applicants are encouraged to address one of the priority areas as they pertain to Federally managed

species or species relevant to Federal fisheries management plans, but proposals in other areas will be considered. Those areas include:

areas as they pertain to Federally managed species or species relevant to Federal fisheries management. Those area include:

A. B. C. D.

A. Bycatch B. Reef Fish and other Fishery Resources Associated with Reef Environments C. Red Snapper Research D. Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fisheries E. Gulf of Mexico Red Drum F. Essential Fish Habitat, G. Economic and Sociocultural Studies

Finfish Caribbean Fisheries Recreational & Charter Fishery Commercial Shrimp Harvest

CRP applications must be received by the State/Federal Liaison Branch by 5 pm Eastern Standard time (EST) on August 11, 2006. MARFIN The MARFIN program provides financial assistance for projects that optimize the use of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and off the South Atlantic involving the U.S. fishing industry, both recreational and commercial. MARFIN applicants are encouraged to address one of the priority

MARFIN applications must be received by the State/Federal Liaison Branch by 5 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EST) on July 12, 2006. For more information contact Robert Sadler via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 727-551-5760.

Louisiana closes shrimp season in Zone 2 The 2006 spring inshore shrimp season in Shrimp Management Zone 2 will close on Monday, June 19, at 6 a.m. local time. Zone 2 includes state waters from the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River to the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island. Zones 1 and 3 will remain open until further notice. State territorial waters south of the Inside/Outside shrimp line, as described in Louisiana R.S.56:495, will also remain open to shrimping. Zone 1 includes state waters from the Mississippi/ Louisiana state line to the

eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River and Zone 3 includes state waters from the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Louisiana/Texas state line. The closure was announced June 13 by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Dwight Landreneau, and it is based on recommendations made by LDWF Marine Fisheries Division biologists. The number, distribution, and percentage of small juvenile white shrimp within the area to be closed has progressively increased in recent weeks. Analysis of current LDWF shrimp trawl sampling data indicates substantial population increases this week and these waters are being closed to protect these developing shrimp. For more information, contact Martin Bourgeois at the Louisiana Department of wildlife and Fisheries at 225-765-2401.

Page 3

Gulf of Mexico fishery closures Recreational Closures: Red Grouper Per Interim Rule effective August 9, 2005, and the subsequent extension of that rule, Red grouper bag limit reduced from 2 to 1, and count as part of the 5-grouper aggregate. Interim rule bag limit provisions were extended on January 19, and are effective until replaced by permanent rule, which becomes effective July 16, 2006.

Commercial Closures: Deep-water Grouper NOAA Fisheries Service is closing the commercial deep-water grouper fishery (misty grouper, snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, Warsaw grouper, and speckled hind) in the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from 12:01 a.m., local time, June 27, 2006, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2007. The operator of a vessel with a valid reef fish permit having deep-water grouper aboard must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such deep-water grouper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, June 23, 2006.

King Mackerel The commercial hook-and-line fishery for king mackerel in the EEZ in southern Florida west coast subzone is closed effective 12:01 am, March 12, 2006, until 12:01 am, July 1, 2006. The NMFS has determined that the commercial quota of 520,312 pounds for Gulf group king mackerel for vessels using hook-and-line gear in the southern Florida west coast subzone has been met. The closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource. The commercial fishery for Gulf group king mackerel in the western zone is closed, effective 12:00 noon, EST, November 17, 2005, through June 30, 2006. The western zone extends from the U.S./Mexico border to the Alabama/Florida boundary. During the closure, no king mackerel caught in the closed zone/ subzone may be purchased, bartered, traded, or sold. This includes recreational and tournament caught fish. A person aboard a vessel that has a valid charter/headboat permit for coastal migratory pelagic fish may continue to retain king mackerel in or from the closed zone/subzone under the 2-fish daily bag limit, provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat. Charter vessels or headboats that hold a commercial king mackerel permit are considered to be operating as a charter vessel or headboat when carrying a paying passenger or when more than three persons are aboard, including operator and crew.

Gulf Fishery News

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Wayne Swingle Executive Director

Richard Leard Deputy Director

Appointed Voting Members DeGraaf Adams, III Richmond, TX (832) 476-5608

Julie Morris Sarasota, FL (941) 359-4527

Karen Bell Cortez, FL (941) 794-1249

Robert Shipp Mobile, AL (251) 460-6351

William Daughdrill Panama City, FL (850) 814-5468

Walter Thomassie Golden Meadow, LA (985) 396-2636

Myron Fischer Cut-Off, LA (985) 632-4525 Joseph Hendrix, Jr. Houston, TX (281) 597-1620

Bobbi Walker Orange Beach, AL (251) 981-6159 Kay Williams Vancleave, MS (228) 826-2160

Philip Horn Pascagoula, MS (228) 762-4511

State/Federal Voting Members Robin Riechers, Chair Vernon Minton Austin, TX Gulf Shores, AL (512) 389-4645 (251) 968-7576 Designee for Larry McKinney

Corky Perret, Vice Chair Biloxi, MS (228) 374-5000 Designee for William Walker

Roy Williams Tallahassee, FL (850) 487-0554

Karen Foote Baton Rouge, LA (225) 765-2383 Designee for John Roussel

Roy Crabtree St. Petersburg, FL (727) 570-5301

Designee for Ken Haddad

Non-voting Members Sam Hamilton USF&WS (404) 679-4000

Larry Simpson GSMFC (228) 875-5912

Radm Robert Duncan Eighth Coast Guard District (504) 589-6223

David Hogan Foreign Affairs Officer (202) 647-2335

W.J. of Tampa, Inc. Stephen E. Kikly

W.J. II of Tampa, Inc. David Wolf W.J. III of Tampa, Inc. Michael A. Dean Jeremy Phillips Ramblin Man, Inc. Jerry Guidroz Barry Lin Phipps James Lin Phipps Peggy Phipps Hy Ngoc Nguyen Ike & Zack, inc. Alfred Rocha

Steven L. Morris

Captain Memo Corporation Manuel Gallardo Sea Queen II Corp. Ly Huynh Dung Phan Cuong Nguyen

Randolph S. Scott Miss Susan, inc.

SE040169FM

SE040170FM

SE050251FM

SE050305ES

SE054040FM

SE055027ES/ FM

SE050111FM SE050243ES

SE050070ES

SE050048ES

SE040171FM

Respondent’s Name

Case No.

Miss Susan

Sea Queen III

Black Magic Paclui

New World Ike & Zack

GOM

Capt. Emery Miss B Haven

GOM

GOM

GOM

GOM

GOM GOM

GOM

GOM

WJ III

GOM

GOM

WJ WJII

Area

Vessel Name

USCG

USCG

USCG NMFS

NMFS

USCG USCG NMFS

USCG

USCG

NMFS

NMFS

NMFS

LE Unit $10,000 $10,000 $10,000

$ 5,500 1)$1,500 2)$3,000 $ 4,500 1) to 9) $8,000 each – total $72,000 $ 2,500

Fail to comply with at-sea observer coverage Fail to comply with at-sea observer coverage Fail to comply with at-sea observer coverage TED Violation TED violation 2) BRD violation BRD violation

$ 7,000 $20,000

$ 3,000

TED violation

Transport or have in possession or control HMS species harvested, retained, or possessed in violation of Mexico’s laws TED violation BRD violation

Fish without Atlantic HMS permit

1) to 9) TED violation

NOVA* Amount

Case Description

$ 7,338.50

$ 7,831

NOPF** Amount

30 days

45 days

30 days

30 days

30 days

NOPS*** Duration

Page 4 Gulf Fishery News

NOAA GCEL Southeast NOVA Quarterly Report

January 1, 2006 through March 31, 2006

Ike & Zack, Inc. Alfred Rocha

Lakeland Seafood, Inc.

Daniel Shiflett Joey’s Seafood Frederick Knight

Marcia B. Dodson

Jason Nguyen Tuan Thanh Nguyen Nho Ngo Nguyen TJ Partners Ramblin Man, Inc. Jimmy Ray Tipton Phuong Vy, Inc. Nuoi Han

SE060005ES/ FM

SE060006FM

SE060007FM

SE060008FM

SE060016FM

SE060018ES/ FM SE060025FM

Respondent’s Name

Case No.

USCG USCG

GOM

GOM GOM

Captain Emery Master Ray

NMFS

NMFS FFWCC

NMFS FFWCC

FFWCC NMFS

NMFS USCG

LE Unit

Nguyen T.J.

GOM

GOM

Kara Lynn

N/A

GOM

GOM

Ike & Zack

N/A

Area

Vessel Name

$10,000

1) $ 1,000 2) $ 6,000

$ 1,500

$10,000

Engage in an activity for which a valid Federal Permit is required without such permit (reef dealer) 1) possess, sell or purchase undersized fish 2) fail to comply with restrictions on sale/purchase Engage in activity for which a valid permit is required without such permit (reef dealer) Fail to maintain shark in proper form

$10,000 $ 6,000 $15,000

1)$10,000 2)$10,000 3) $ 3,000 4) $ 2,500

TED violation TED violation BRD violation Shrimp permit violation

TED violation BRD violation Deploy or fish pelagic longline with live bait or possess live bait, or set up a well or tank to maintain live bait

NOVA* Amount

Case Description

$12,000

$7,564

48 shark fins

$1,116.6 0

$1,1116. 60

$17,126. 20

NOPF** Amount

45 days

45 days

30 days

45 days

30 days

90 days

NOPS*** Duration

Page 5 Gulf Fishery News

* NOVA – Notice of Violation and Assessment ** NOPF – Notice of Proposed Forfeiture *** NOPS – Notice of Permit Sanction

Page 6

Gulf Fishery News

NOAA Fisheries requests comments on Amendment 18A The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, back in October, submitted to NOAA Fisheries for review Amendment 18A to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). NOAA Fisheries is now requesting public comment regarding the proposed rule. Amendment 18A was developed as a means to resolve several issues impacting the reef fish fishery. Chief among them are the issues associated with monitoring and enforcement of existing regulations. The plan amendment will prohibit vessels from retaining reef fish caught under the recreational size and possession limits when commercial reef fish harvests are onboard the vessel. It also adjusts the maximum number of crew

members allowed onboard when a dually permitted vessel is taking a commercial reef fish trip in order to resolve a conflict with U.S. Coast Guard minimum crew size regulations. The use of reef fish for bait is also prohibited. Perhaps most significant, though, is the requirement of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) onboard all commercially permitted reef fish vessels, including charter vessels with commercial reef fish permits. VMS units must be in operation 24/7. This measure will aid in the enforcement of restricted areas. Vessels fishing with fish traps under the fish trap phase-out program are exempt from the VMS requirement. The amendment also updates the framework procedure for setting

total allowable catch, and requires vessels with commercial or for-hire reef fish vessel permits to comply with sea turtle and smalltooth sawfish release protocols. Vessels must also possess a specific set of release gear and adopt guidelines for the proper care of incidentally caught sawfish. Written comments should be mailed to: Mr. Peter Hood NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 or sent via e-mail to: [email protected]. Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., Eastern Time, July 3, 2006.

Frequently used acronyms ABC

Acceptable Biological Catch

MSY

AP

Advisory Panel

BRD

Bycatch Reduction Device

MRFSS Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey

CPUE

Catch Per Unit Effort

EEZ

Exclusive Economic Zone

EFH

Essential Fish Habitat

FMP

Fishery Management Plan

GSMFC Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission HAPC

Habitat Area of Particular Concern

HMS

Highly Migratory Species

IFQ

Individual Fishing Quota

Maximum Sustainable Yield

NMFS

National Marine Fisheries Service

OY

Optimum Yield

SEDAR Southeast Data, Assessment and Review SSC

Scientific and Statistical Committee

SFA

Sustainable Fisheries Act

TAC

Total Allowable Catch

TED

Turtle Excluder Device

VMS

Vessel Monitoring System

Page 7

Gulf Fishery News

TENTATIVE COMMITTEE SCHEDULE GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL Baton Rouge Marriott Salons I & II Baton Rouge, Louisiana August 14—17, 2006

TENTATIVE COUNCIL AGENDA GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL Baton Rouge Marriott Salons I & II Baton Rouge, Louisiana August14—17, 2006

Monday, August 14, 2006

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Reef Fish Management Committee (Tab B)

I.

Call to Order and Introductions – Riechers (12:00 p.m. – 12:05 p.m.)

II.

Adoption of Agenda – Riechers (12:05 p.m. – 12:10 p.m.)

III.

Approval of Minutes (Tab A) – Riechers (12:10 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.)

IV.

Public Testimony ¹ ²- Riechers a. Regulatory Amendment on BRD Certification (Tab D) b. Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) (if any) (12:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

V.

Open Public Comment Period² ³– Riechers (2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

VI.

Committee Reports a. Reef Fish Management Committee (Tab B) Minton (3:30 p.m.—4:30 p.m.) b. AP Selection Committee (CLOSED SESSION) (Tab H) Horn (4:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m.)

• • •

•

Madison/Swanson Monitoring Program Status Report on Amendment 29 (Grouper IFQ) SEDAR 9: Greater Amberjack, Gray Triggerfish, Vermilion Snapper - SSC Recommendations - Reef Fish AP Recommendations SEDAR 10: Gag Grouper - SEFSC Presentation - SSC Recommendations - Reef Fish AP Recommendations

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 noon Joint Reef Fish/Shrimp Management Committees (Tab D)

• •

Report of Shrimp Effort Working Group

•

Public Hearing Draft of Reef Fish Amendment 27/Shrimp Amendment 14

Final Action on Regulatory Amendment for BRD Certification

-

Thursday, August 17, 2006 VI.

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Committee (Tab G)

• •

Ecosystem SSC Workshop Budget Extension of Ecosystem Grant

d.

3:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m. Administrative Policy Committee (Tab R) Proposed SEDAR Pool for NGO Representation

e. f.

3:30 p.m.—4:30 p.m. Migratory Species Committee (Tab I)

•

g,

NMFS Headquarter ICCAT Report

Other Business (Tab K) - Riechers (3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) a. See Tabs O, P, Q, and R for Written Reports b. Special Announcements c. Other Business Items

VIII.

Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman—Riechers (4:30 p.m.—4:45 p.m.)

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Mackerel Management Committee (Tab C) SSC Recommendation on SAFMC/GMFMC Joint SSC Report on SEDAR Mackerel Mixing Zone

•

Report on SAFMC Actions on Joint SSC Report

Conference Call Meeting Prior to Council Meeting SEDAR Committee (Tab H)

• •

Nomination of Members of Ad Hoc Shrimp Effort AP Nominations of Members of SEDAR NGO AP

Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Committee (Tab G) - Morris 1:30 p.m.—2:00 p.m.) Administrative Policy (Tab F) - Morris (2:00 p.m.—2:15 p.m.) Migratory Species Committee (Tab I) - B. Walker (2:15 p.m.—2:45 p.m.) Mackerel Committee (Tab C) - Minton (2:45 p.m.—3:30 p.m.)

VII. Wednesday, August 16, 2006

•

Committee Reports—Continued a. Reef Fish Management Committee (continued) (Tab B) - Minton (8:30 a.m.—9:30 a.m.) b. AP Selection Committee (Tab H) - Horn (9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.) c. Joint Reef Fish/Shrimp Management Committees (Tab D) - Perret/Minton (9:45 a.m.—12:00 noon) - recess -

1Persons wishing to testify must turn in a registration card before the beginning of the public testimony period. 2Persons wishing Council members to have copies of written testimony or information should provide 30 copies to staff for distribution to members. All written information shall include a statement of the source and date of such information. Oral or written statements shall include a brief description of the background and interests of the person testifying. ³The Council has set aside this time for open public comment regarding any fishery issue or concern. People wishing to speak before the Council should complete a public comment card, making sure to check the box marked Open Public Comment.

Page 8

Gulf Fishery News

Joint Reef Fish Amendment 27/Shrimp Amendment 14 A joint amendment to the Reef Fish and Shrimp Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) is currently underway. The purpose of the amendment is to rebuild the red snapper fishery by the year 2032. In order to do so, issues such as bycatch, in both the red snapper directed fishery and the shrimp fishery, and overfishing must be addressed. In its efforts to reach these rebuilding goals, the Gulf Council is considering, as part of Joint Reef Fish Amendment 27/Shrimp Amendment 14, possible actions to reduce total allowable catch (TAC), as well as alternatives to reduce the minimum size limits and recreational bag limits, and to revise the recreational fishing season. At its June meeting, the Council reviewed a draft options paper for Joint Reef Fish Amendment 27/ Shrimp Amendment 14, and requested additional analyses of each of the TAC alternatives in relation to acceptable biological catch (ABC), how rapidly the stock would recover for each of the TAC alternatives, and in which year overfishing would end, as well as the estimated discard mortality associated with the recreational bag limits, size limits, and seasons for each alternative. Dave Donaldson, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, gave a presentation that showed forces of nature, along with current economic conditions have substantially reduced shrimping effort in the Gulf of Mexico. It is predicted that current effort

Percent Change in Trips Wave 1

Wave 6

Wave 5

-100%

-80%

-60%

-40%

WFL

AL

-20% MS

0%

20%

The Council also heard testimony that the 9.12 million pound annual allocation for the red snapper directed fishery had not been reached in 2004 or 2005. Instead, it is estimated that catches were about 500,000 pounds under for each of those years. “Due to a reduction in mortality in both the red snapper directed fishery and the shrimp fishery, we’ve actually begun the rebuilding plan three years earlier than planned, therefore we may be able to reach an optimum red snapper population before our target of 2032,” said Degraaf Adams, a Council member from Texas. Based on this information, the Council requested that staff re-analyze the rebuilding program, taking into consideration the shrimp effort reduction beginning in 2005, and to conduct analysis on TAC based on reported underages of 500,000 pounds in each of the last three years. Calculations based on these early reductions will provide additional information on the rebuilding needs for Amendment 27/14. Those analyses will be presented during the August 14—17, 2006, Council meeting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In addition to its request for additional analyses, the Council also selected a range of alternatives based on setting TAC at 7.0 million pounds and 5.0 million pounds, respectively. The 7.0 million pound alternative includes options for weekend openings outside of a core fishing season. A list of options under this alternative will be developed based on both an assumption of no reduction in effort, as well as a possible 25% reduction in effort due to economic conditions and hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.

All areas

-120%

levels are reduced by as much as 60% in some areas and about 40% Gulf-wide.

40%

LA

Graphic from Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission presentation on recreational fishing effort

The effects of setting the bag limit of red snapper for captain and crew of for-hire vessels at zero and requiring circle hooks between 2/0 and 5/0 for the harvest of red snapper are also under consideration. Public hearings on the amendment have been scheduled for late September and early October. Please see page 9 for dates and locations.

Page 9

Gulf Fishery News

WWF SmartGear Winner Announced

Public Hearing Schedule Joint Reef Fish Amendment 27/Shrimp Amendment 14 Abbeville, LA Mobile, AL Chauvin, LA Pascagoula, MS Belle Chase, LA Orange Beach, AL Tampa, FL Panama City, FL Ft. Myers, FL Brownsville, TX Corpus Christi, TX Palacios, TX Galveston, TX

September 25, 2006 September 25, 2006 September 26, 2006 September 26, 2006 September 27, 2006 September 27, 2006 September 28, 2006 September 28, 2006 September 28, 2006 October 16, 2006 October 17, 2006 October 18, 2006 October 19, 2006

Public input is a necessary and valued part of the amendment process. It offers the public an opportunity to have ideas heard and possibly included as alternatives presented to the Council for consideration. Therefore, the Council strongly encourages public participation. Please contact the Gulf Council at 813-348-1630 for more information on how you can become part of the process.

Michael M. Herrmann, a Research Associate at SharkDefense LLC is the winner of this year’s WWF SmartGear competition. Herrmann’s winning entry proposes to reduce shark bycatch on longlines by taking advantage of the sharks ability to detect magnetic fields by placing small magnets just above the hooks on a longline. SmartGear judges chose Herrmann because his concept sets out a novel approach to reducing shark bycatch, is based on sensory perception, and addresses a problem which affects shark populations around the world. The method also benefits fishermen who want to fish more selectively to avoid sharks. Hermann has also designed underwater video systems, repellent delivery systems, and radiocontrolled devices for purposes of shark repellent tests.

Fisher Forum Pilot Program Underway Gulf Council staff will soon hold a series of Fisher Forums along the Florida coast, eventually taking the meetings gulf-wide, up through Texas.

are equipped with the knowledge and information necessary to become effectively involved,” said Wayne Swingle, Executive Director, Gulf Council.

The meetings are a part of a pilot program designed to provide a forum for stakeholders to interact with Council staff to present ideas and concerns, and to enhance awareness of the Gulf Council and the process.

The first series of meetings will be held in Marathon, Naples, and Madeira Beach, Florida beginning in late August.

“We think it’s important for us to take steps toward ensuring the public not only has sufficient opportunity to become involved in the process, but that they also

Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the Council, and are encouraged to introduce issues and ideas that may not currently be under consideration. “We’re basically reaching out

to our stakeholders and the general public,” said Rick Leard, Deputy Director, Gulf Council. Up for discussion is anything from what the Council can do to improve the process in general, to recommendations on specific management plans. “We’d like to hear from the people who are on the boats and in the communities who can’t necessarily attend our regular meetings,” said Leard. For more information, please call Charlene Ponce, Public Information Officer toll free at 888-833-1844 ext. 229.

GMFMC wants your news and views The Gulf Council would like to hear from you! Please contact us regarding fishery questions, comments, or concerns you would like to see covered in the Gulf Fishery News. Anyone interested in submitting information, such as articles, editorials, or photographs pertaining to fishing or fisheries management are encouraged to do so. Submissions may be mailed to Charlene Ponce, Public Information Officer, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. Materials can also be sent via fax to 813-348-1711, or e-mail; [email protected]. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council is responsible for the development and modification of fishery management plans (FMPs) that are designed to manage fishery resources in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico from state boundaries to the 200-mile limit. Gulf Fishery News is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Any material in this newsletter may be reprinted or reproduced; however, please credit the Council when reprinting articles from this newsletter. A publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NAO5NMF4410003

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Protecting our marine resources 2203 Lois Avenue Suite 1100 Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: 813-348-1630 Fax: 813-348-1711 E-mail: [email protected]

We’re on the Web www.gulfcouncil.org

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