Guest Column FWC

By Rodney Barreto, Chairman
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida needs a voice in the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee


Florida is fortunate to have both of our U.S. senators – Bill Nelson and George LeMieux – on the Senate Commerce Committee, overseeing marine fisheries issues, but Florida is not represented on the equally important House Natural Resources Committee.

Important federal fisheries law is going to affect lots of jobs and billions of dollars in Florida’s economy. Florida is unique. We are the only state that borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, with a lot riding on wise management of fisheries in these regions.

Recreational saltwater fishing alone has a $5.3 billion impact on Florida’s economy, and 54,500 jobs depend on it. Commercial saltwater fishing contributes $1.2 billion to the economy and supports 12,900 jobs – not to mention freshwater fishing, worth another $2.4 billion and 24,800 jobs.

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, last amended by Congress in 2007, directs how the federal government is required to manage saltwater fisheries. With Florida being such a major player in the industry, these federal management decisions greatly affect our state and citizens. It’s critical for us to have a more direct voice in federal law that affects marine fisheries. While we strongly support efforts to restore and protect all of our natural resources for the long term, the unintended consequence of the Magnuson-Stevens Act is that it will result in rapid closures of numerous fisheries at the same time. The result for Florida is likely to be a blow to one of the most important and unique components of our economy.

Florida is the fishing capital of the world with more world-record fish catches than any other state – and more than any other country. More anglers come to Florida to fish than anywhere else in the world. Multiply the number of anglers by the days they fish and the total is 23 million fishing days per year.

In the Atlantic, recreational anglers in Florida’s waters bag almost all of the black grouper and two-thirds of the gag grouper. They also catch almost 90 percent of the red snapper and 43 percent of the vermilion snapper.

Meanwhile, in the Gulf, almost 100 percent of red and gag grouper and 47 percent of recreational red snapper come from Florida.

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee oversees all saltwater fisheries and wildlife issues for the U.S. House of Representatives. Forty-nine representatives out of the 435-member House serve on the committee. California has seven seats on it, and all of the U.S. territories sit on it. But of the seven coastal states in the Southeast, Florida is one of four states that do not have a seat.

We’re playing in the big leagues here; we need a slugger to step up to the plate. As chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, I applaud our congressional delegation’s diligence in protecting Florida’s interests. I am thankful that both of our senators serve on the Senate committee responsible for marine fisheries issues.

I urge Florida’s congressional delegation to push for one or more of our representatives to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee. We need champions in both houses.

Resources

Research submitted by Dr. Bob Shipp, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Chairman, to NMFS’ Science and Statistical Committee and then not considered as ‘best available data’ confirms what anglers across the Gulf testified. Says Dr. Shipp, “There are not areas of the Gulf which have become less productive for red snapper in recent decades. And in fact, 1)recent landings data (1999-2002) from the Florida west coast when compared to landings data (1995-1999) provided by Schirripa and Legault (1999), 2) testimony by reputable commercial fishermen at GMFMC meetings (March, 2006), and 3) testimony by a NMFS scientist at FMFMC meeting (November, 2006) using fishery independent methods all support the view that red snapper stocks in that area are increasing.”

www.floridasportsman.com/casts/080701/

In addition to this research, Dr. Frank Hester disputes the validity of the Southeast Data Assessment Review (SEDAR) process which determines for the NMFS Science Center what regulations are to be implemented in order meet the MSRA requirements.

www.floridasportsman.com/casts/09626/

Catch Share Programs Exposed

Truths, Misconceptions and Misrepresentations about Catch Shares and IFQs.

http://www.floridasportsman.com/casts/091111/

History

• 1999-For-hire sector of Recreational fishery committed to limited access program in order to help rebuild the Red Snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.

• 2000-2006-Each year Red Snapper fishery was rebuilding, but for-hire industry questioned accuracy of statistics from MRFSS data collection system. The 6-month season/4 Red Snapper bag limit was implemented.

• 2006-National Research Council’s review of MRFSS data was found fatally flawed.

• 2006-Congress passed a law directing NMFS to improve the data collection process by January, 2009. Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) began to be developed.

• 2007, Jan.- Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act of 2007 was signed into law giving NMFS more strict mandates on rebuilding the fisheries.

• 2007, May 2-Red Snapper was deemed over-fished and undergoing over-fishing, thus, the bag limit was reduced in Federal waters to 2 per customer, and eliminated the bag limit for captain and crew.

• 2008-NMFS reduced the Red Snapper season in the Gulf from 196 to 65 days. State waters in Florida and Texas stayed open (for 196 days in FL and year round in TX). Federal registry stated 4-months-June 1-Sept. 30.

• 2008-Summer season was time of energy crisis, beginning of an economic crisis, many private anglers did not fish due to the $4.00/gal gas prices.

• 2009-Jan-NMFS imposes regulation to fine and/or revoke Fishing permits of For-hire vessels if caught keeping Red Snapper in State waters while Federal waters closed. NMFS reported the 2008 red snapper harvest was exceeded by 1 million pounds (had changed the standard pounds from 3# per RS to 4.2# per RS. Reduced the 2009 season to 75 days-June 1-August 14-if States agreed to comply with the same season dates. All complied except Texas.

• 2009-Jan-May 31- Long fishing trips and charter boats down 70% from when excess regulation first imposed-comparing to Jan-May 31, 2006. Same trips down only 11-15% June 1 thru August 14, which is similar to community due to economic downturn. August 15- season drops again 50-70% on long trips and charters.

• 2009-August-NMFS says Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures are to be implemented in January, 2010, due to mandates of Congress. But, these mandates were made with the assumption that the MRIP program was going to be in place, as mandated, by Jan. 2009.

• 2009-October-NMFS closed Amberjack season early, with no sound science to back up the regulation.

• 2009-October-NMFS Gulf Council added Sector Separation between For-hire and private recreational anglers to the upcoming scoping document that is to be presented for public comment in early December, 2009 for changes in the 2010 season.

You Can Help

Due to the devastating economic effects of these excessive regulations and the questionable science they are based upon, we must earnestly implore you to do everything in your power to help pass the MICA bill, and HB1584 (Pallone Bill) and s-1255 (Schumer Bill) along with the amendment to extend the over-fishing deadlines as long as a fishery is rebuilding.

These actions will allow people to get back to work, prevent the negative economic impacts that are occurring on the coastal communities, while at the same time rebuilding the fisheries.

Please call, fax, or email your congressman and let them know we need HR1584 and s-1255 to become law with an amendment such as is written below to extend the deadline for over-fishing.


“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the reef fish fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic shall not be required to be rebuilt, and over-fishing ended, by a specific date provided that the annual level of fishing does not exceed the net reproduction rate for that fishery such that the fishery is rebuilding each year. If the objective set forth in this section is not met for any of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic reef fish fisheries in one year, the Secretary of Commerce shall adjust the fishing rate in that specific fishery in subsequent years to compensate for any overage. “

Find your congressman http://www.congress.org/



Please, call, fax, or email Katherine Romans with the same language.

Katherine Romans
Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife
Committee on Natural Resources
U.S. House of Representatives
187 Ford House Office Building
202.226.0200
Katherine.Romans@mail.house.gov



Follow HR 1584 and S1255
http://thomas.loc.gov/

A Historic Day

November 7, 2009 is a day that will live in many people’s memories for a long time. From the Panhandle of Florida through the Louisiana coast recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, charter boat owners and coastal businesses gathered together for a peaceful on the water protest against devastating management measures put forth due to the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Over 250 vessels and a conservative estimate of over 10,000 affected families and supporters turned out for the event.

In January 2007, President Bush signed into law the reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery and Conservation and Management Act. Among many new requirements the RMSA established new regulatory mandates based on a required time line. Congress mandated that the National Marine Fisheries Service implement an improved Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey by January 2009. They mandated that the NMFS stop overfishing of all fish species under going overfishing by 2010 and all other fisheries under going over fishing by 2011.

The NMFS has failed to comply with the mandate for an improved MRFSS data system by January 2009 and still does not have an improved recreational data system. The NMFS is working to comply with the mandate for stopping overfishing of all fish species by 2010, without an improved data system. The unintended impacts of the Congressional mandates has caused severe economic and social harm to small family fishing businesses, anglers, support businesses, local fishing communities, and the coastal states. In the Gulf of Mexico, the Total Allowable Catch of red snapper has been reduced from 9.12 million pounds to 5 million pounds, the recreational bag limit reduced from 4 fish to 2 fish, the recreational red snapper fishing season reduced from 6 months to 30 days or less for 2010. The greater amberjack recreational fishery was closed on October 23rd; the commercial fishery was closed on November 6th. The recreational gag grouper fishery now has a two month closure and the recreational bag limit reduced from 5 fish to 2 fish.

In the South Atlantic area from North Carolina through Florida, the red snapper fishery has been targeted to be shut down within the next few months, the grouper fishery is facing extended closures and the recreational bag limit reduced to 1 fish per person. The recreational vermillion snapper fishery now has a 5 month closure and the bag limit reduced to 5 fish per person. Massive area fishery closures are proposed in the South Atlantic area. The recreational sea bass fishery in the North East was shut down on October 5th. These are just some of the massive restrictions, closures and seasonal adjustments being created by the NMFS due to the RMSA.

Saturday November 7, 2009 Thousands of individuals came out to tell congress that people should matter and they need to fix the Act that has created chaos among so many Americans. There is no excuse for putting rigid deadlines on rebuilding plans for resources that create livelihoods for so many families and small businesses.

These people want congress to save the people while they are protecting resources. Many said, “We aren’t going to take it anymore!” They want congress to stand up, take responsibility and relax laws so that people and resources can survive together.

House of Representatives Bill HR1584 and Senate Bill S1255 both address the issue of “overfished” in the RMSA. We need Congress to amend both bills to relax the overly restrictive “overfishing” requirements and pass both bills. Relaxing the “overfishing” requirements of the RMSA will allow the NMFS to ease up on the regulations and will keep the small family businesses, their families, and communities sustainable while allowing the fisheries to rebuild.