South Atlantic Charter Boat Association
P.O. Box 462, Islamorada, Florida33036
www.sacba.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 5, 2008
Contacts:
Capt. Bill Kelly, 305-394-5333
Capt. Ray Rosher, 305-992-4130
According to Public Information Officer Kim Iverson, the Snapper/Grouper Committee for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, has postponed any decision making on a controversial provision of Amendment 15B pertaining to the sale of recreationally caught snapper and grouper. Terminology in the provision has recently been changed and is now addressed by the Council as “bag limit commercial sales.”
The postponement will give the Council additional time to gather data through a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study (SEIS), as well as, compilation of catch and commercial sales figures from charter/headboat operators in all four states (NC, SC, GA, FL) under their jurisdiction.
The “NO SALE” provision of Amendment 15B is one of many proposed management measures by the Council to address major cutbacks in total allowable catch (TAC) numbers slated for implementation in 2009 as all of the regional Councils struggle to comply with provisions in the Magnuson-Stevens Act to end over-fishing of all species of fish by 2010. The reductions will affect recreational, charter/headboat and commercial fishing efforts.
Members of the charter/headboat industry feel the Council’s approach is one-sided and benefits the commercial sector at the expense of their industry and will cause irreparable financial damage. Commercial sales by properly licensed charter/headboat operators contribute significantly to their incomes and have been an accepted practice for decades.
At issue is why the Council would impose such a harsh restriction on the charter/headboat industry without a thorough examination and review of the economic impact it would have and failure to have accumulated this data prior to any decision making on their part. The Snapper/Grouper Committee and the full Council are now slated to revisit this issue at the South Atlantic Council meeting scheduled for June 8-13, 2008 in Orlando, FL.
The aforementioned data is crucial to the industry in order to establish an equitable allocation for the charter/headboat industry. This is particularly true, if the Council, as planned, opts to move to an allocation based system. Presently, charter/headboat statistics are classified under recreational angling activity. However, sales of fish by the charter/headboat sector are classified as commercial. This is confusing in light of the fact that charter/headboat operators are required to maintain a battery of commercial licenses, a United States Coast Guard license to carry passengers for hire and whose fish sales have been counted as part of the commercial quota since inception.
We must all do our part to stop over-fishing of all species of fish but not at the expense of one particular segment of the angling community. We have and continue to urge the South Atlantic Council to maintain separate record keeping reflecting the valuable role the charter/headboat industry plays in the overall scheme of things. Passage of a “NO SALE” provision for snapper/grouper, also known as “bag limit commercial sales” will have a major impact on the financial status of charter/headboat operators throughout the Council’s jurisdiction and we must negotiate an acceptable standard for continuing this practice.
Maintaining support for our initiative is of paramount importance to all concerned, charter/headboat operators, fish houses, restaurant owners, hotel operators and marina operations, if we are expected to survive in an ever-increasing federally regulated business. Please continue to voice your support at www.sacba.net.
Please copy your e-mail or written comments to:
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson U.S. Senator Mel Martinez
716 Hart Senate Office Building 317 hart Senate Office Building
Wshington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
martinez.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?
Governor Charlie Crist James Balsinger
PL 05 Capitol Assistant Administrator
400 S Monroe Street National Marine Fisheries Service
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 1315 East-West Highway
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com Silver Springs, MD 20910