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| Press Release |
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| For Immediate Release: |
Contact: Ted Forsgren |
| September 20, 2007 |
1-850-224-3474 |
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FLORIDA COMMISSION ACTS TO SUPPORT GULF AMBERJACK PROTECTION MEASURES AND RECREATIONAL FISHERY ALLOCATION
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted unanimously to support measures to restore overfished Gulf amberjack stocks and to keep and enforce the allocation of 84 percent recreational and 16 percent commercial which was established in the original plan in 1990. The FWC’s recommendation will be sent to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.“The Commission plays a very important role in the federal Council’s decision making process,” said CCA Florida Executive Director Ted Forsgren. “We greatly appreciate their strong action and support for keeping the original recreational allocation.”In addition to CCA Florida, representatives from the National Association of Charter Boat Operators, Florida Guides Association, Fishing Rights Alliance, Destin Charter Boat Association, and the Panama City Boatman’s Association, also spoke in favor of keeping the current allocation.At the meeting, CCA Florida comments included the following:
- In the mid 1980’s, a new market for amberjack developed and the commercial industry began a concentrated effort specifically targeting then unregulated amberjack when they gathered in large spawning aggregations. CCA Florida, charter boat associations and other recreational groups pleaded with state and federal agencies to control the slaughter of amberjack by commercial hook and line boats in an effort to avoid a stock collapse.
- In 1990, when the original amberjack management plan and regulations were adopted, the Gulf Council established an allocation of 84 percent recreational and 16 percent commercial based on landings prior to any regulations.
- The original management measures were a 28 inch minimum size and a 3 fish bag limit for recreational fishers. The commercial interests opposed any quotas or total catch limits and instead obtained only a 36 inch minimum size. These actions were supposed to produce a 45% reduction in harvest for both sectors. There was no 45% reduction in commercial harvest. In the four years prior to 1990 annual recreational landings averaged 4.45 million pounds, commercial landings 1.65 million pounds. In the three years from 1990 to 1993 annual commercial landings averaged 1.29 million pounds – or only a 22% reduction. In the same years recreational landings were reduced by 42%.
- In 1997, the regulations changed to one fish recreational bag limit and closed March, April, and May to commercial take.
- The end result of those regulations had more impact on recreational fishers than commercial fishers and the percentage of take shifted more to the commercial side.
- Amberjack are now overfished and the Gulf Council has to enact regulations reducing amberjack fishing mortality. The Gulf Council analysis of the fishery states that “The original allocation criteria are now 20 years old and the fishery has been allowed to naturally adjust within the constraints of the above management measures since that time.”
- CCA Florida asserts that there has been absolutely no natural adjustment! The change in catch level is a direct result of the failure to enact adequate measures to control commercial take and failure to enforce the adopted allocation.
- At the August 2007, Gulf Council meeting several alternatives were offered to change the allocation. The one which was adopted as the “preferred alternative” reduced the recreational share from 86 to 71 percent. That will be the largest recreational allocation reduction ever enacted by the Gulf Council.
“The recreational fishery is in fact, being punished for supporting conservation measures and the commercial industry is being rewarded with a doubling of their allocation because they opposed equivalent regulations,” said CCA’s Forsgren. “The Florida Commission’s vote will have a major impact on this allocation battle.” |
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State Office: P.O. Box 568886 • Orlando, FL 32856
Phone: (407) 854-7002 • Fax: (407) 854-1766
e-mail: Marcia Dunfee |
Advocacy Office: 905 East Park Avenue • Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 224-3474 • Fax: (850) 224-5199
e-mail: Amy Harllee |
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