08-02-2010, 02:50 PM
As many of you already know the recreational red snapper season was only open for 53 days this year despite an increase in quota from last years 5.0 million pounds to 6.945 million pounds. The season was shortened based, in part, on the logic that increased average size of red snapper, coupled with an increase in catch rates would yield a greater amount of fish in a shorter amount of time than in years past. However, the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and subsequent federal fishing area closures may have impeded the fishing effort, leaving the recreational fishing quota unfulfilled.
In light of this information, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has requested that NOAA reopen the recreational red snapper season if it is determined that the 2010 quota has not been met. NOAA is currently in the process of calculating the landings data from this year to determine whether or not any of the recreational quota remains. If the quota was not filled before the closure of the recreational season on July 24th of this year, the season may re-open sometime between September 30th and December 31st, 2010. The length of the reopening will depend on the amount of quota remaining, the time of year the season is reopened, and the amount of federal waters that are still closed due to the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
During the Council’s August 16th-20th meeting in Pensacola, Florida, NOAA Fisheries Service will provide the Gulf Council with updated information on areas cleared for reopening, along with the amount of remaining recreational red snapper quota, and the projected length of any supplemental season. Currently, the Council is seeking input from you on when, between September 30th and December 31st to re-open the snapper season. Please submit any comments or suggestions you have regarding the dates of reopening for the recreational red snapper season as soon as possible. We would like to have these comments sent to us soon so that they can be included the Council briefing book materials. Comments can be submitted via e-mail at gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org, please put “Red Snapper Season” in the subject line. Letters can be sent to Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. You are also welcome to submit comment in person during the public testimony portion of the August Council meeting in Pensacola, Fl. The agenda for that meeting can be found at www.gulfcouncil.org.
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In addition to the urgent need for your opinion on when to re-open snapper season for this year, there are a number of red snapper related items on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s agenda for their August meeting. Please review these items and comment on them separately. Instructions on how to comment on the following issues are found below.
First, there is a discussion paper (meaning this is the preliminary conversation, council will discuss whether or not they want to consider it further) on the regional management of red snapper. The Council will discuss the possibility of splitting the red snapper stock into two management groups (east and west), or splitting the stock into three different management groups (east, central, and west). To read more about it follow this link:
http://www.gulfcouncil.org/council_meeti...t_2010.php
And click on item B.9
Second, there is an options paper (further along in its development than a discussion paper, means that its already been through scoping or its part of a regulatory amendment that does not allow for scoping) on increasing total allowable catch for 2011 and 2012. The document suggests three different alternatives to the amount of total allowable catch for the future take of red snapper.
To read about that follow the above link and read about item B.13
If you care to include comment on about regional management or the increase of total allowable catch I recommend you do so by August 9th so that they will be included in the final Briefing Book given to council before the meeting. If you submit later your comments will still be brought to council, but not in the briefing book. To comment go to http://www.gulfcouncil.org/ and click on the contact us button.
When writing comment please include your name, your association to the fishery (charter, recreational, commercial) and any organization you are a part of. Then identify the issue you care to comment on, refer to its section in the briefing book if you can, and let them know how you feel and why.
You are also welcome to attend our council meeting on August 16-20th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pensacola, Fl; their phone number is (850) 433-3336. If you have any questions regarding the submission of public comment let me know, and I will try and help you through the process.
Your Chum,
Emily Muehlstein
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
[signature]
In light of this information, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has requested that NOAA reopen the recreational red snapper season if it is determined that the 2010 quota has not been met. NOAA is currently in the process of calculating the landings data from this year to determine whether or not any of the recreational quota remains. If the quota was not filled before the closure of the recreational season on July 24th of this year, the season may re-open sometime between September 30th and December 31st, 2010. The length of the reopening will depend on the amount of quota remaining, the time of year the season is reopened, and the amount of federal waters that are still closed due to the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
During the Council’s August 16th-20th meeting in Pensacola, Florida, NOAA Fisheries Service will provide the Gulf Council with updated information on areas cleared for reopening, along with the amount of remaining recreational red snapper quota, and the projected length of any supplemental season. Currently, the Council is seeking input from you on when, between September 30th and December 31st to re-open the snapper season. Please submit any comments or suggestions you have regarding the dates of reopening for the recreational red snapper season as soon as possible. We would like to have these comments sent to us soon so that they can be included the Council briefing book materials. Comments can be submitted via e-mail at gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org, please put “Red Snapper Season” in the subject line. Letters can be sent to Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. You are also welcome to submit comment in person during the public testimony portion of the August Council meeting in Pensacola, Fl. The agenda for that meeting can be found at www.gulfcouncil.org.
<*)))>< ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ><)))*>
In addition to the urgent need for your opinion on when to re-open snapper season for this year, there are a number of red snapper related items on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s agenda for their August meeting. Please review these items and comment on them separately. Instructions on how to comment on the following issues are found below.
First, there is a discussion paper (meaning this is the preliminary conversation, council will discuss whether or not they want to consider it further) on the regional management of red snapper. The Council will discuss the possibility of splitting the red snapper stock into two management groups (east and west), or splitting the stock into three different management groups (east, central, and west). To read more about it follow this link:
http://www.gulfcouncil.org/council_meeti...t_2010.php
And click on item B.9
Second, there is an options paper (further along in its development than a discussion paper, means that its already been through scoping or its part of a regulatory amendment that does not allow for scoping) on increasing total allowable catch for 2011 and 2012. The document suggests three different alternatives to the amount of total allowable catch for the future take of red snapper.
To read about that follow the above link and read about item B.13
If you care to include comment on about regional management or the increase of total allowable catch I recommend you do so by August 9th so that they will be included in the final Briefing Book given to council before the meeting. If you submit later your comments will still be brought to council, but not in the briefing book. To comment go to http://www.gulfcouncil.org/ and click on the contact us button.
When writing comment please include your name, your association to the fishery (charter, recreational, commercial) and any organization you are a part of. Then identify the issue you care to comment on, refer to its section in the briefing book if you can, and let them know how you feel and why.
You are also welcome to attend our council meeting on August 16-20th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pensacola, Fl; their phone number is (850) 433-3336. If you have any questions regarding the submission of public comment let me know, and I will try and help you through the process.
Your Chum,
Emily Muehlstein
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
[signature]