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Atlantic Offshore Fishermen Please Read!!
Capt. Chad Starling
January 13, 2009
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
Let me begin with a quick recap: Recently the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) collected some information that grouper and vermillion snapper in the South Atlantic waters (which is our fishery) is being overfished (this is hogwash!) They then submitted this information to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) asking them to approve dramatic measures to end alleged overfishing on these species. These measures would include closing grouper and vermillion snapper from any harvest for long periods of time, with extention options on the closures.
Plus, after these unreasonable seasonal closures, they want to implement more strict bag limits on top of it. For example: the current bag limit for vermillion snapper is 10 fish per harvester. The "management" recommendation is 5 fish per harvester. It should also be noted that the governement just recently raised the minimum size limit from 11" to 12" with a pinched tail on vermillion snapper as a management measure.
These ridiculous "management" measures would have a tremendous impact on the South Atlantic Fishery! Especially the charter fishing fleet.
The previous attempts to close grouper and vermillion snapper was not approved because the information the SAFMC collected could not be supported by any concrete evidence. The attempted closure was postponed basically so that SAFMC can collect more information to convince the NMFS that these "management" measures need to be implemented to save our fishery.Let me tell you; our fishery is not experiencing overfishing! As a matter of fact, if you ask any charter captain, all will tell you that the bottom fishing for snapper and grouper is better now than it has been in years.
The below message is from the NMFS asking for public comment regarding the SAFMC's intended "management" measures. It also includes the proposed measures that the SAFMC is suggesting. It basically boils down to Us (South Atlantic Fishermen) against the SAFMC. If the NMFS only hears one side, guess who their going to believe? We have to do our part to protect what's ours! Please take the time to read this information and do your part to have your voices heard to stop these foolish measures from occurring. We need all the help we can get to have people stand up and have our voices heard! It's going to be a long, hard fight; but if we join together, we have a much better chance of victory. I also invite you to visit www.keepoceanfishing.com where you can also join others to help. This website offers you information on how to contact our state representatives to tell our side of the story. Please forward this information to everyone in your mailing list that will be impacted if these measurements are approved.
If you have any further questions regarding any of this please don't hesitate to ask me. I'll do my best to help you. Thank you!!
http://safmc.net/Portals/6/News/Amend16NOAfisheryBulletin123008.pdf
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