All bottom fishing prohibited.

[tsubaki]

Due to public outcry, they have now approved a modified closure area.
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council News Release June 9, 2010 CONTACT: Kim Iverson
Public Information Officer
(843) 571-4366 Council Approves Measures to End Overfishing of Red Snapper

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved an amendment to address overfishing of red snapper and rebuild the South Atlantic stock during its meeting in Orlando earlier today. Measures include a continuation of the closure of the red snapper fishery for both commercial and recreational fishermen in federal waters in the South Atlantic and a new area closure off of northeastern Florida and southern Georgia, where fishing for all snapper grouper species in water depths of 98 - 240 feet would be prohibited. Fishing for pelagic species such as tuna, dolphin, and billfish would be allowed within the area. Amendment 17A to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan was approved by the Council in a split vote (9 to 4) for submission to the Secretary of Commerce. The amendment will undergo further review by NOAA Fisheries Service before submission to the Secretary. The amendment is designed to meet the requirements of the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act to end overfishing and rebuild stocks within a specified time period.

After reviewing public comment and the management alternatives, the Council modified the area closure for snapper grouper species, reducing the closed area by eliminating much of the previously proposed area off the coast of Georgia. The proposed closure encompasses federal waters where red snapper landings are highest. The area closure is designed to help eliminate release mortality for red snapper that occurs when fishermen target other co-occurring snapper grouper species.

If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, management measures in Amendment 17A will likely be implemented later this year. A new stock assessment is being conducted for red snapper in the South Atlantic and the results will be presented to the Council in December 2010. The Council will consider adjusting management measures following the stock assessment if warranted.

The Council will continue to meet this week in Orlando, Florida. Information about the meeting, including a link to a live video feed is available from the meeting information page.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida.

[tsubaki]

For those of you unable to comprehend the purposes of the SAMFC.
This is only one a federal fisheries department, it governs recreational and commercial fishing from North Carolina to Miami, from 3 to 200 miles offshore.
The past regulations have apparently failed to reduce the "bycatch" of "closed to possession" of certain species of fish (Red Snapper has become the Spotted Owl in this instance).
In order to protect these species, it has been determined that a closure of fishing in their habitat is the only solution. Being spear fishing and top water trolling pose no real threat to these species, it is at this time still allowed in the closed areas.

[Destroyer]

Why do I get the feeling that the "fisheries management" people have no real clue as to what is going on? In the northeast it's the Fluke population that is the spotted owl, although from all indications the biomass of this species is greater than it's been for the past 10 years... Now they've set their sights on Black Sea Bass and Weakfish. In all cases I personally think that if they would just BAN commercial fishing of these species there would be no problems. Instead it's the recreational fisherman that takes it in the neck while the commercial fisheries continue to get larger and larger quota's. Damn them all!!

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

Why do I get the feeling that the "fisheries management" people have no real clue as to what is going on? In the northeast it's the Fluke population that is the spotted owl, although from all indications the biomass of this species is greater than it's been for the past 10 years... Now they've set their sights on Black Sea Bass and Weakfish. In all cases I personally think that if they would just BAN commercial fishing of these species there would be no problems. Instead it's the recreational fisherman that takes it in the neck while the commercial fisheries continue to get larger and larger quota's. Damn them all!!

When the agencies that allocate who can catch what are part of the department of commerce, it will ALWAYS go the commercial way since they are a commercial agency for commercial harvesting. Florida gets it dry yet again. If it aint the oil on one side, it's the fisheries management on the other side.

[tsubaki]

I just never expected the fisheries management to come to this.
With the failure of all the regulations and education using circle hooks, barbless J hooks, proper handling and deflating requirements, besides the catch sizes, limits and seasons, seems there should have of been other alternatives (which escape my limited education) besides completely closing down an entire environment.

PETA, I'm sure is proud of the SAFMC.

Well, if all this pans out and succeeds, seems the next best thing would to rotate the closure area locations year to year. However they haven't yet announced this.


You guys not affected by this........
take a good look and remember.
Could be coming to your home port soon.
The precedent has been made.

[Destroyer]

If you look closely at what the fisheries management councils around the country are doing, how they are going about their tasks, what the end results are and where they seem to be leading us, I firmly believe that their final goal (unstated to be sure, but their goal nevertheless) is nothing less than the complete closure of the ocean to all recreational fishing. It's just one more method of controling us. If the only place you can get fish is from a store, and they control who is able to get those fish from the oceans, then who do they wind up controlling?

If you control a persons health, (Healthcare) and their money, (Government takeover of banks) and their food, (looks like they're working on that one)........The end result will be you needing Big Brother to even live.

BAH..... There's that silly conspiracy theory person inside of me talking again... my country would never do that to it's citizens....

[tsubaki]

There is a very fine line difference between citizens and subjects. Strangely enough it seems that today's voting public would prefer the latter.
And very oddly, there are only brief mentions of this subject around the fishing forums.
I just expected these people that manage this stuff to already to have the right answers.
My ignorance is obviously showing again.