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Archive by date; newest to oldest Administration shows its contempt for America's anglers - by the Editor of Sport Fishing Magazine 12/23/08 - NOAA to Create Saltwater Angler Registry in 2010 NOAA’s Fisheries Service released its final rule today to create a national saltwater angler registry of all marine recreational fishermen to help the nation better protect our shared marine resources. A requirement to establish a registry was included in a statute approved by Congress in 2007. Click here for full release 12/4/08 - FWC approves Gulf gag and red grouper rule changes 12/4/08 - Size limits changed for Gulf amberjack and triggerfish The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved new rules Thursday to increase the minimum size limits for greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in Gulf of Mexico state waters. This action is consistent with new regulations in Gulf federal waters, which extend beyond nine nautical miles offshore of Florida...for more click here 12/4/08 - FWC proposes Gulf red snapper sport season change The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed a draft rule Thursday to change the recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state waters. A final public hearing on this proposed action will take place during the FWC’s February meeting in Destin...for more click here 11/19/08 - NOAA IS SEEKING COMMENTS ON A PROPOSED RULE TO CHANGE GAG, RED GROUPER, AND SHALLOW-WATER GROUPER MANAGEMENT MEASURES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO click here 11/20/08 - Commerce and Interior Departments Announce Launch of National System of Marine Protected Areas click here The FWC will be discussing the recreational red snapper issues for 2009. These could include, and not be limited to, having the state be compatible with the NMFS on all red snapper regs, separation of the for-hire sector from the private/recreational sector within the total recreational sector, requiring electronic logbooks and VMSs (vessel monitoring systems on all federal reef fish permitted for-hire vessels), changing the recreational season, and other issues regarding red snapper. Action by the fwc at this meeting could include preparing for final action at their Feb 09 meeting on any alternatives discussed at the key west meeting. If you have concerns about recreational red snapper and what the fwc may propose then you should attend this meeting to express your views or send your comments to the FWC staff. Florida FWC Meeting Dec 3-4 for info click here 10/2/2008 - The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council appears to be on the verge of major changes in recreational fishing regulations, both for private fishermen and charter boats. Get involved IMMEDIATELY or you may be restricted so much that it's not worth fishing. These issues are important! Either get out there and get involved in the process, or possibly watch your fishing become history! 10/7/2008 - NMFS announces the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 30B to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. The amendment proposes actions to end overfishing of gag, revise red grouper management measures as a result of changes in the stock condition, establish annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for gag and red grouper, manage shallow-water grouper (SWG) to achieve optimum yield (OY), and improve the effectiveness of Federal management measures. Copies of Amendment 30B, which includes an environmental impact statement, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis, and a regulatory impact review may be obtained from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone 813-348-1630; fax 813-348-1711; e-mail gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org; or may be downloaded from the Council's website at http://www.gulfcouncil.org/. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 29, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on Amendment 30B, identified by ``0648-AV80'' by any of the following methods: Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Fax: 727-824-5308; Attention: Peter Hood. Mail: Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. To submit comments through the e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov, enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2008-0203'' in the keyword search and then select ``send a comment or submission.'' NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, 727-824-5305. |
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