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CCA blasts closure of Gulf amberjack recreational fishery
CCA is strongly objecting to a decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service to close recreational fishing for Gulf amberjack. In a strongly worded news release, CCA says the closure “borders on outright disregard for the recreational sector.” In 2007, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council declared that Gulf amberjack were overfished, yet increased the commercial share of the fishery while reducing the recreational bag limit to one and increasing the size limit to 30 inches. The recreational restrictions were implemented despite the fact that unchecked commercial overfishing since 1990 was the primary cause of problems in the fishery. The closure of fisheries for Gulf amberjack is effective this Saturday. Below is the CCA news release regarding the closure.
News Release
Coastal Conservation Association
Federal managers shut down another Gulf fishery
Decision on Gulf amberjack shows federal management on brink of breakdown
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) continued its bizarre history of biased management regarding Gulf amberjack when it announced this week that the recreational season for the popular offshore species will close on October 24 due to the recreational sector overfishing its quota. This announcement comes barely two years after the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council arbitrarily shifted a significant portion of recreational allocation to the commercial sector. “There is no way to defend what the Council has done with the management of amberjack. It borders on outright disregard for the recreational sector,” said Chester Brewer, chairman of the Coastal Conservation Association’s National Government Relations Committee. “Combined with what is happening with Gulf red snapper and the commercial catch share plan for Gulf grouper, this latest announcement gives recreational anglers no reason to have any faith in the federal management of recreational fisheries.” In 2007, the Council declared that Gulf greater amberjack were overfished, yet increased the commercial share of the fishery while reducing the recreational bag limit to one and increasing the size limit to 30 inches. The recreational restrictions were implemented despite the fact that unchecked commercial overfishing since 1990 was the primary cause of problems in the fishery - see Recreational Fishery Hijacked, CCA Press Release, September 10, 2007. “The reduction in amberjack recreational allocation in 2007 from 84 percent to 71 percent has to be the most egregious allocation shift ever enacted by the Gulf Council,” said Ted Forsgren, executive director of CCA Florida. “Anglers were punished for supporting conservation measures and the commercial industry was rewarded for fishing over its quota. The change in catch level was a direct result of NMFS’ failure to enact adequate measures to control commercial take and failure to ever enforce the adopted allocation. We are feeling the full effects of those failures today with a closed recreational season.” “If the Council had left the allocation where it was in 2007, and where it rightfully should have been, recreational anglers would not have been over their quota as of the end of August, and likely would not have gone over even by year’s end,” said Dr. Russell Nelson, CCA Gulf Fisheries consultant. “This is a case where an unwarranted allocation shift from recreational to commercial two years ago is shutting down our season, even though we are not the root cause of the problem.” Adding to the frustration of anglers is the fact that last year’s recreational harvest was under the quota, but that underage is not being taken into account this year. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, catch overages and underages from previous years may be calculated in the following year’s harvest limits, but doing so is not mandatory. In the case of Gulf red snapper, however, two years of recreational overages will result in a dramatically shortened season in 2010. “The one-sidedness of federal fisheries management is at a level that makes it almost impossible to believe recreational interests will ever be considered in any meaningful way,” said Brewer. “No fishery has ever been overfished by recreational angling alone, and any number of economic studies indicates that the recreational sector is by far the most valuable part of our marine fisheries. And yet, fishery after fishery is closing down for anglers while the Councils bend over backwards to keep the longlines and nets in the water. In the eyes of many recreational anglers, the federal management system is on the edge of a total breakdown.”
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31 Contender F 250s CCA Lifetime Member
And here is an organization that sounds like is making fishermans voice heard from the email above. If we want our voices heard and fight federal agendas that look to alter, regulate or change what is important to us, we need to join these type of organizations to make them stronger, for example the NRA, to fight these agendas with high numbers of members. The fed of this day in time do not want to hear what citzens have to say because they seem to be on a mission BUT they will have to listen and reevaluate their agendas when enough people are calling them out. If you are not happy with agendas like NMFS's stance on issues related to our fisheries and waters, join an organization like CCA that will make your voice heard and you will at least feel like you are doing SOMETHING, which you will be.
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"Fast is fine. Accuracy is final. You need to learn to shoot slow, real fast."--Wyatt Earp
I think the writing is on the wall that a total bottom fishing ban for the Gulf of Mexico will be put into effect by the end of 2010. It's already been proposed for the Atlantic.
I talked to the Louisiana CCA Executive Director last night at the STAR CCA Banquet and he said they were sending out an e-mail today or tomorrow to ALL CCA members with the e-mail address and phone number of the actual decision maker who pulled the trigger on this. Perhaps that Roy? In any event, I am going to post the CCA e-mail when I get it and we need to set this guy's e-mail and phone on fire with feedback.
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31 Contender F 250s CCA Lifetime Member
I talked to the Louisiana CCA Executive Director last night at the STAR CCA Banquet and he said they were sending out an e-mail today or tomorrow to ALL CCA members with the e-mail address and phone number of the actual decision maker who pulled the trigger on this. Perhaps that Roy? In any event, I am going to post the CCA e-mail when I get it and we need to set this guy's e-mail and phone on fire with feedback.
Damn right. You can bet I will. Time to saddle up boys.
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"Fast is fine. Accuracy is final. You need to learn to shoot slow, real fast."--Wyatt Earp
Just a question. Do any of you remember years ago when catch and release started. Did any of you then wonder if in the future this would be where we are now?
Most if not all of the bass fishing shows, promote this 90% of the time and the salt water programs have followed right behind them.
I think we are not only feeling we are seeing what has been right in front of us for a while.
Closed also means you can't keep. It does not say anything about you can't enjoy fishing for them. According to the post, the quota had been met for this year. It might be limited next year and this is what will come. We are already seeing inch limits on fish all around the country. More limits will follow but they will not cut us off completely.
Nothing was mentioned about cutting bottom fishing other than in Alaska but there again, with time, there will be more limits.
If a reduction in the TAC (Total Allowable Catch) is needed based on sound science (not a phone survey of random people in the phone book) than I am for it. However, to reduce the recreational share of the catch while increasing the commercial share of a stock that is already in trouble is absolutely ludicrous.
If a reduction in the TAC (Total Allowable Catch) is needed based on sound science (not a phone survey of random people in the phone book) than I am for it. However, to reduce the recreational share of the catch while increasing the commercial share of a stock that is already in trouble is absolutely ludicrous.
Please take a second and send Roy Crabtree. I sent that jackass an email today and got a canned response, but I am planning to call him tomorrow, and the next day and at least once a week after that. I know that we are all busy, but please take some time and make your voices heard. Also, please join CCA. Their membership dues are very reasonable and they are a great organization to be involved with. Contact your local chapter and volunteer to get involved. I have been on the board here in BR for a number of years and we have a kick ass time and make a difference. I know there are other good organizations out there, but I speak from personal experience with CCA and I think they are the the best option that we have.
Dr. Roy Crabtree is the head of the NMFS. Basically, the head honcho regarding these regulations. I pulled this phone number off of spearboard, the poster claims it is Dr. Crabtree's office number. 1-727-824-5301
I joined CCA and gave to their advocacy fund. Who's next?
Not me. I won't give those jerks in the CCA a dime. They have flip-flopped on issues before, and will stab offshore fishermen and spearfishermen in the back and throw them under the bus if it helps them achieve their redfish and tarpon chasing agenda.
The FRA is in the process of doing much more than the CCA. Who recently filed a lawsuit protesting the grouper reduction in the south atlantic waters? Not the CCA.
I am sorry you have a negative opinion of CCA, but they have a history of success in these types of issues and are at the forefront of this one. I was at the Gulf Council Meeting in Baton Rouge two years ago along with other CCA volunteers when the proposal was made to lower the TAC for AJ's. Their was no one there from FRA.
They are both good organizations, but CCA has many times more members than FRA and a reputation of success. I am a member of both groups since I figure it can't hurt and the membership costs are minor. See below regarding CCA's current work ....
"CCA has filed a lawsuit in federal district court challenging the adoption and implementation of Amendment 29 to the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Management Plan that gives away a majority shareof Gulf grouper to the commercial fishing industry through a catch share program. The Obama Administration has made implementation of catch share programs in federal fisheries a priority, and both CCA and the Center have been working at the state and federal level to oppose their use in fisheries that have a large and growing recreational component."
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