chasintail
11-22-2006, 01:10 AM
NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE NEWS RELEASE
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2006
Media Contact:
Kim Amendola - NOAA
727-551-5707
Recreational Grouper Fishing Closure Announced for Gulf of Mexico
Seasonal Closure to happen February 15 through March 15
NOAA Fisheries Service announces a February 15 through March 15
seasonal closure for the recreational red grouper, black grouper, and
gag fisheries in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The seasonal
closure will occur annually, and coincides with the commercial grouper
fishery closure established in 2000.
NOAA Fisheries Service initially intended to implement the
recreational seasonal closure when it reduced the recreational red
grouper bag limit earlier in 2006. However, the agency delayed
implementation of the seasonal closure in response to concerns about
the closure and knowledge that a new gag assessment was pending. The
gag assessment, completed in August 2006, indicates the stock is
undergoing overfishing.
"We thought it was a good idea to wait for the gag assessment before
determining the need for a seasonal closure," said Dr. Roy Crabtree,
NOAA Fisheries Service's Southeast Regional Administrator. "Now there
is no question the closure is needed to protect and conserve these
grouper populations." Thus, in light of the results of the recent gag
assessment, the fisheries service published a final rule on November
17, 2006 implementing the seasonal closure.
This closure is one of many management measures recently proposed by
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and approved
by the Secretary of Commerce in response to a plan set up to rebuild
the Gulf of Mexico red grouper population by 2012. This 10-year
rebuilding plan was implemented in 2004 after an assessment of red
grouper populations completed two years earlier indicated the species
was being fished too heavily. Other measures implemented earlier this
year to reduce red grouper landings to levels specified in the
rebuilding plan include: a 6,000-pound commercial grouper trip limit;
a recreational bag limit reduction to one red grouper per person per
day within the five grouper aggregate bag limit; and a zero bag limit
for captains and crews of for-hire vessels while under charter.
All of these management actions will help reduce red grouper landings
to levels specified in the rebuilding plan. Additionally, the
management actions will help address overfishing of gag. Implementing
a seasonal closure for all three species, which represent over 90
percent of the recreational grouper harvest, will also reduce bycatch
and discard mortality of these species. Although the current status of
the black grouper population has not been assessed, it is included in
the seasonal closure because black grouper is similar in appearance to
gag and, therefore, difficult for fishers to distinguish from gag.
The Council is considering the need for additional reductions in
fishing mortality on gag. The detailed process for developing
management alternatives will provide many opportunities for public
participation and input before the Council recommends any regulatory
changes to NOAA Fisheries Service and the Secretary of Commerce. Also,
a new red grouper assessment is scheduled for completion in early
2007. As a result, NOAA Fisheries Service continues to encourage
grouper constituents to stay informed and involved in the rulemaking
process. Information about Council meetings, meeting agendas, public
workshops or hearings, and grouper frequently asked questions is
available at the Web sites listed below.
NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our
nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific
research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides
effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the
nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and
helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and
recreational opportunities for the American public. To learn more
about NOAA Fisheries Service, please visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov.
In 2007, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an
agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of
science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the
Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of
the Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the
1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related
events and information service delivery for transportation, and by
providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine
resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than
60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global
monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes,
predicts and protects.
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2006
Media Contact:
Kim Amendola - NOAA
727-551-5707
Recreational Grouper Fishing Closure Announced for Gulf of Mexico
Seasonal Closure to happen February 15 through March 15
NOAA Fisheries Service announces a February 15 through March 15
seasonal closure for the recreational red grouper, black grouper, and
gag fisheries in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The seasonal
closure will occur annually, and coincides with the commercial grouper
fishery closure established in 2000.
NOAA Fisheries Service initially intended to implement the
recreational seasonal closure when it reduced the recreational red
grouper bag limit earlier in 2006. However, the agency delayed
implementation of the seasonal closure in response to concerns about
the closure and knowledge that a new gag assessment was pending. The
gag assessment, completed in August 2006, indicates the stock is
undergoing overfishing.
"We thought it was a good idea to wait for the gag assessment before
determining the need for a seasonal closure," said Dr. Roy Crabtree,
NOAA Fisheries Service's Southeast Regional Administrator. "Now there
is no question the closure is needed to protect and conserve these
grouper populations." Thus, in light of the results of the recent gag
assessment, the fisheries service published a final rule on November
17, 2006 implementing the seasonal closure.
This closure is one of many management measures recently proposed by
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and approved
by the Secretary of Commerce in response to a plan set up to rebuild
the Gulf of Mexico red grouper population by 2012. This 10-year
rebuilding plan was implemented in 2004 after an assessment of red
grouper populations completed two years earlier indicated the species
was being fished too heavily. Other measures implemented earlier this
year to reduce red grouper landings to levels specified in the
rebuilding plan include: a 6,000-pound commercial grouper trip limit;
a recreational bag limit reduction to one red grouper per person per
day within the five grouper aggregate bag limit; and a zero bag limit
for captains and crews of for-hire vessels while under charter.
All of these management actions will help reduce red grouper landings
to levels specified in the rebuilding plan. Additionally, the
management actions will help address overfishing of gag. Implementing
a seasonal closure for all three species, which represent over 90
percent of the recreational grouper harvest, will also reduce bycatch
and discard mortality of these species. Although the current status of
the black grouper population has not been assessed, it is included in
the seasonal closure because black grouper is similar in appearance to
gag and, therefore, difficult for fishers to distinguish from gag.
The Council is considering the need for additional reductions in
fishing mortality on gag. The detailed process for developing
management alternatives will provide many opportunities for public
participation and input before the Council recommends any regulatory
changes to NOAA Fisheries Service and the Secretary of Commerce. Also,
a new red grouper assessment is scheduled for completion in early
2007. As a result, NOAA Fisheries Service continues to encourage
grouper constituents to stay informed and involved in the rulemaking
process. Information about Council meetings, meeting agendas, public
workshops or hearings, and grouper frequently asked questions is
available at the Web sites listed below.
NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our
nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific
research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides
effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the
nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and
helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and
recreational opportunities for the American public. To learn more
about NOAA Fisheries Service, please visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov.
In 2007, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an
agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of
science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the
Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of
the Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the
1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related
events and information service delivery for transportation, and by
providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine
resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than
60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global
monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes,
predicts and protects.