Southeast States Submit Revised EFPs to Test State Management of Recreational Red Snapper
The states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have applied for exempted fishing permits (EFPs) to pilot state data collection and management strategies for red snapper. If approved, the EFPs would allow the recreational harvest of red snapper in state and Federal waters daily during October, with additional fishing days possible in December.
Earlier this year, NOAA granted EFPs to the South Atlantic states to test state-led data collection for recreational red snapper management in the South Atlantic. Hours before Florida’s season was set to begin, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, halting the season and causing significant economic harm to sportfishing businesses in the region.
The applications for these EFPs address the court’s decision on the prior EFPs, while maintaining their original purpose: to improve data on recreational fishing effort, catch, and discards of red snapper in the South Atlantic to inform development of a long-term state-led management strategy. The EFPs will also evaluate mandatory electronic reporting programs for monitoring catch, quantify angler participation and characterize angler behavior, and collect related biological information from the fishery while providing recreational fishermen increased red snapper harvest opportunities.
NOAA is accepting public comment on the revised EFPs through August 25. Take action today – tell NOAA to approve the revised EFPs and support recreational access to South Atlantic red snapper.
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California’s Proposed MPA Expansion would Reduce Recreational Fishing Access
Right now, the State of California is deciding whether to keep or expand its Marine Protected Area (MPA) network.
On July 31, the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) recommended approving or partially approving seven petitions that would establish new MPAs, expand existing MPAs, or impose additional fishing restrictions
These recommendations contradict those of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who concluded the proposed MPAs bring no new or compelling science to the table and would not actually improve conservation.
Now is your chance to speak up for recreational fishing access in California – click the link below to tell the Commission: follow the science, keep the current zones, and protect fishing access for everyone.
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ASMFC Moves Forward with Atlantic Menhaden Industrial Reduction Fishery Reform
Last week, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved a motion to move forward with Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum II, which will consider reducing the Chesapeake Bay Reduction fishery cap by up to 50% and creating quota periods to distribute harvest under the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season.
The Draft Addendum was initiated in response to concerns regarding declining pound net harvest and catch per unit effort in the Bay in recent years, coinciding with an increase in the concentration of reduction harvest in the summer months, and the possible downstream effects on menhaden predators, such as striped bass and bluefish.
The comment period will open in the coming weeks, with final action expected to be taken at the Commission’s annual meeting in November. Click the link below to read the full recap from ASMFC.
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LWFC Passes Resolution of Support for Amberjack Exempted Fishing Permit
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) passed a resolution at today’s commission meeting supporting the Department’s application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office for an Exempted Fishing Permit to test state management of the recreational Greater Amberjack season using LA Creel harvest monitoring, as well as allowing the Department to collect much-needed biological data critical to a stock assessment during times of higher encounter rates of Greater Amberjack.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is proposing a 61-day Greater Amberjack season from June 1 through July 31 in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
Click the link below to read the full release.
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ASA Joins in Support of Fisheries Science Modernization Act
Last week, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation that would help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) better assess and conserve marine fisheries. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecular tools into NOAA’s fisheries science programs, allowing for more cost-effective and expanded survey coverage.
“America’s 15 million saltwater anglers depend on healthy fisheries, and sound fisheries management starts with sound science,” said Mike Leonard, the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) Vice President of Government Affairs, in support of the bill.“Environmental DNA has shown tremendous potential as a tool to supplement traditional fisheries surveys, improve our understanding of marine fish populations, and help managers make more informed decisions.”
Click below to read the full release.
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