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Table
of Contents:
CCA
Florida's 2001 Fisheries Conservation Work Plan
by Ted Forsgren
At the CCA
Florida Board of Directors meeting in February, directors representing
27 local chapters reviewed and established strategies for affecting
major marine conservation issues during 2001.
Bluewater
Campaign Longlines, Dolphin, Sargassum
During 2001, CCA Florida will continue its support of CCA National
legal actions to maintain and expand existing National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) time and area longline closures.
Regarding protection
for dolphin (mahi mahi), CCA Florida will continue working
with South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils
and the National Marine Fisheries Service on dolphin/wahoo management
plans to insure that CCA’s recommendations remain in management plans
now under review by NMFS.
CCA Florida is
also monitoring the progress of an emergency rule being considered
by NMFS that would prohibit any dolphin take (including by-catch)
by longlines in areas along the Florida east coast that are closed
to the longline harvest of other pelagic species.
Work will also
continue in support of a permanent “no harvest rule” for sargassum
vegetation in offshore waters. Current efforts are focused on working
with the South Atlantic Council to overcome a NMFS rejection of a
complete harvest prohibition, and gain NMFS approval of a revised
sargassum plan which contains a small exception for a single harvester.
CCA Florida will also pursue efforts before the Gulf Council to achieve
harvest prohibition on sargassum in the Gulf.
Legislative
Session
During the
2001 Legislative Session CCA Florida plans to carefully monitor and
support specific Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) budget items including $2 million for law enforcement overtime,
$435,000 for saltwater hatchery needs for the Tampa Bay redfish stocking
project, new FWC marine law enforcement officers, and two artificial
reef budget requests totaling $1,150,000. We will also work to safeguard
important FWC marine programs from the Governor’s agency budget cuts.
Net
Ban Enforcement
The year 2001 will see the completion of the “Special Project” on
illegal netting and prosecutions of net ban violations in Southwest
Florida. The project will lead to the development of major recommendations
to improve enforcement, prosecution and application of penalties.
Federal
Councils
CCA Florida will work for federal Magnuson Fisheries Act amendments
which would prohibit paid lobbyists and other persons with financial
conflicts of interest from being appointed to regional fishery management
councils, and would provide options for state fish and wildlife agencies
to suggest federal fishery management plans.
Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Plan Amendments will also be developed to protect
red and gag grouper stocks, restore historical recreational/commercial
allocation levels, and advocate a prohibition on the use of commercial
bottom longlines out to 50 fathoms.
Manatee
Refuges and Sanctuaries
During 2001, CCA Florida will be actively involved in proposals to
establish “no entry/no boating” zones as they relate to impacts on
saltwater recreational fishing. Local chapter members will be coordinating
with the Tallahassee office in providing public comments regarding
proposals which unfairly or arbitrarily restrict recreational fishing.
[See next article below.]
Redfish
Stocking/Saltwater Hatchery Programs
In addition
to working with the Florida Legislature to enhance funding for the
FWC’s saltwater hatchery and redfish stocking program, CCA Florida
will continue its direct support of the Port Manatee saltwater hatchery
facility, and expanded stocking programs through targeted funding
and volunteer labor.
Large
Scale Marine “No Take- No Fishing” Reserves
CCA Florida will continue opposing the creation of arbitrary “no take”
reserves while advocating more effective, proven fisheries management
measures including time and area closures to protect spawning aggregations
and catch-and-release fishing. The organization will also provide
support for the CCA National lawsuit against NMFS which unnecessarily
prohibits all fishing, including surface trolling for dolphin and
wahoo, as part of a Gulf gag grouper spawning aggregate closure.
Freedom
to Fish Act
CCA Florida will also actively support “Freedom to Fish” congressional
legislation which seeks to designate prohibitions on all forms of
recreational fishing as a measure of last resort to be used only after
other management measures have been tried and have failed.
Additional
Issues - SNOOK, POMPANO, LIMITED ENTRY
During 2001, CCA Florida will continue working to:
- monitor effects
of new regulations and status of snook population stocks to ensure
that benefits have resulted from the new regulations, and also seek
a reevaluation of the status of snook in Southwest Florida/Charlotte
Harbor area;
- develop and
advocate new FWC pompano management regulations to control illegal
netting and restore pompano stocks; and
- support CCA
National position opposing the Gulf Council’s limited entry plan
on “for hire” vessels.
[return to
Table of Contents]
CCA
Florida Enters Manatee Debate
By
Ted Forsgren, Executive Director
Recognizing a
need to insure that saltwater anglers are fully and fairly represented,
CCA Florida has become actively involved in the state and federal
actions to establish new manatee sanctuaries and refuges. The Board
of Directors is seeking to insure that reasonable alternatives are
considered which are based on fact, not emotion.
We are not proposing
actions that would undermine the continuing recovery of manatees,
however, we are concerned that many of Florida’s premier fishing areas
are being considered for severe boating restrictions or total closures
at the very time when manatee population counts are at an all time
high.
Last December,
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) released information indicating
that it is considering establishing manatee sanctuaries and refuges
in 150 new areas. In addition, one of the major groups suing the state
and federal government over manatee protection prepared a list recommending
115 new sanctuaries and refuges. These lists include many of Florida’s
major saltwater fishing areas including Chokoloskee Bay, Bull and
Turtle Bays, Mosquito Lagoon, Pine Island Sound, Terra Ceia Bay, Cockroach
Bay, Bishops Harbour and Whitewater Bay.
Moreover, some
of the coastal areas identified for “no entry/no boating” zones have
never had a watercraft-related manatee death in the 30 years that
governmental agencies have been tracking manatee mortalities.
Last year, environmental
and animal rights groups sued both the USFWS and the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission to force an increase in protection
for manatees, including creating more sanctuaries and refuges. In
the federal lawsuit settlement agreement, the USFWS agreed to have
new sanctuaries in place no later than September 28, 2001.
When the lawsuits
were filed, however, one of the major manatee groups stated that “manatee
deaths continue to climb—causing manatees to sink further toward extinction,”
and “only an estimated 2,400 (manatees) survive in the wild in Florida’s
coastal waters.”
Yet, in January
2001, scientists counted an all time record 3,276 manatees in statewide
aerial surveys; more than double the number counted 10 years ago.
In some areas
of the state, such as the Crystal River/Kings Bay area, manatee abundance
has dramatically increased. The first careful counts were made in
the late 1960s. Since then, manatee numbers have increased in King’s
Bay from a maximum count of 38 animals in 1967/1968 to 114 in 1981/1982,
and 284 manatees in 1997.
Manatee increases
in the Crystal River/Homosassa area have occurred over the same time
period and in the same areas that saltwater recreational fishing activity
for tarpon, redfish and seatrout has also increased. “It’s pretty
clear that you don’t have to prohibit all boating and recreational
fishing for manatee populations to increase,” said Karl Wickstrom,
publisher of Florida Sportsman magazine. “There are measures such
as enhanced law enforcement, public education and innovative speed
zones that provide greater manatee protection without prohibiting
public access and fishing.”
Environmental
and animal rights groups have also distributed information which leads
people to falsely believe that boats are the largest source of manatee
mortalities. Scientific information collected for the past 30 years,
however, clearly indicates that natural, perinatal (natural birth
related), and unknown causes constitute 70 percent of all manatee
deaths; watercraft related is 23 percent.
We are also concerned
that the boating mortality issue is not being accurately portrayed
in the context of the overall growing manatee population. The latest
statewide manatee count—showing 3,276 animals—was the highest number
since aerial wintertime surveys began in 1991. The number represents
a 123 percent increase in the “minimum” population count over the
last 10 years. During the same time span, manatee deaths attributed
to watercraft have increased 50 percent—from 52 in 1991, to 83 in
1999, and to 78 last year. In 1991, watercraft mortalities represented
3.5 percent of the total “minimum” manatee count. In 2000, it was
also 3.5 percent of the minimum count.
“No one in our
group wants any harm to come to manatees,” said Jeff McFadden, chairman
of CCA Florida. “We believe recreational fishing and manatee conservation
are compatible activities. Thus, we can’t stand by and watch the unfair
closing of major fishing areas when manatee population counts are
climbing to record numbers.” For a complete list of the new manatee
refuges and sanctuaries being proposed by one of the major groups
suing the federal government: new
manatee refuges and sanctuaries
[return to
Table of Contents]
Year
2000 Conservation Achievements in Review
Following
is a review of CCA Florida’s involvement last year in a number of
significant marine conservation issues for both inshore and offshore
fisheries.
BLUEWATER
CAMPAIGN
Commercial Longline Phase Out/Buy Out
In 2000, CCA National took the lead in advocating congressional legislation
(S-1911) that would permanently prohibit drift longlines in 80,000-square-nautical-miles
off of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina; establish an 80,000-square-nautical-mile
time and area closure in the Gulf for four years; and provide a $25
million longline boat and permit buy-out program.
CCA Florida supported
this national effort by developing an Issues & Answers Paper on the
facts behind the legislation, gaining Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission endorsement for the legislation, and promoting support
through the state’s outdoor press.
The federal legislation
was passed unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee; however,
opposition from a key House Committee Chairman from New Jersey stalled
congressional actions. Primary opposition came from a national environmental
group and a New Jersey based recreational fishing group. In the final
weeks of the congressional session, agreements were reached with virtually
all parties, but time ran out as Congress focused on the presidential
election issues.
Although it did
not pass, the bill and CCA’s efforts had a major impact on the longline
time and area closures adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) in response to lawsuits filed by environmental groups. The
NMFS longline closure area off of Florida and Georgia is virtually
identical to the area closure that was in the CCA-backed federal legislation.
Thus, as of March 1, 2001, the entire Gulf Stream off the east
coast of Florida from Key West to the Florida/Georgia line is permanently
closed to all longlining for swordfish, tunas and sharks.
The commercial
longline industry, however, has already filed a lawsuit to block the
closures. Several national environmental groups have also entered
the lawsuit, and CCA has filed legal actions as well, to insure that
the current closures are retained and expanded to further reduce billfish
by-catch.
Dolphin
(mahi mahi) Federal Fisheries Management and Protection Plan
During 2000, the South Atlantic Council adopted the first federal
fishery management plan for dolphin and wahoo. CCA Florida developed
and gained the support of other CCA state affiliates and the FWC for
a “CCA Five Point Plan and Recommendations for Dolphin.” The FWC’s
endorsement and support proved to be essential in the Council’s action.
Most of the CCA recommendations (or measures that were very similar)
were incorporated into the final plan which will be submitted to NMFS
in 2001.
Sargassum
Habitat Protection
The South Atlantic Council modified and resubmitted the Sargassum
Management Plan to NMFS. The revised plan allows for a very small
harvest in a designated area 100 miles off of North Carolina. NMFS
will review and act on the new plan in 2001.
SPOTTED
SEATROUT
The FWC modified and simplified recreational seatrout rules, and set
up two management regions (North and South) instead of the previous
four regions. Recreational changes included increased restrictions
in the former Northwest and Southwest regions and lesser restrictions
in the former Northeast region. A commercial industry request to expand
the current three-month commercial season was rejected. The biggest
disappointment in FWC action was the decision to increase recreational
restrictions without corresponding reductions in the commercial trip
limit of 75 fish per day during June, July and August.
TAMPA
BAY REDFISH STOCKING/SALTWATER HATCHERY
In addition to helping achieve FWC legislative appropriations for
the state’s saltwater hatchery, CCA Florida donated a $10,000 grant
from the Fish America Foundation, plus the Tampa and Pinellas chapters
donated $12,000 to the hatchery. FWC status reports indicate that
nearly one million redfish fingerlings were “strategically” stocked
in Tampa Bay in the year 2000, and follow-up sampling is already showing
a high survival rate for stocked fingerlings.
NET
BAN ENFORCEMENT
In August, CCA Florida began a “Special Project” to address continuing
problems with illegal gill netting. The initial focus has been on
Southwest Florida and an examination of all areas of net ban enforcement.
Various types of poaching activities, arrests and prosecutions were
documented as part of the initial investigation. Photographic evidence
of obvious, ongoing illegal netting activity was also gathered and
presented directly to FWC Commissioners and staff. One positive outcome
of our efforts was a “full court press” against net poachers during
the fall 2000 mullet roe season which resulted in numerous major arrests
and net confiscations.
YEAR
2000 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
All of the primary legislative objectives of CCA Florida were achieved
during the 2000 session including a $2 million law enforcement overtime
appropriation for the FWC and $187,000 for the saltwater hatchery.
In addition, an aquaculture bill was modified to include conservation
recommendations from the FWC to protect recreational fishing. An FWC
bill to extend the saltwater license to shore anglers failed to move
because of a “no new taxes” mandate by legislative leaders.
POMPANO
MANAGEMENT PLAN
CCA Florida successfully convinced the FWC that substantial illegal
netting of pompano was occurring in state waters. The FWC consequently
developed a draft rule containing commercial trip limits, special
pompano permits, and other elements designed to control illegal netting.
The newly-proposed rule, which still requires substantial strengthening,
will be on the FWC’s May 2001 agenda.
TARP
NET/BAITFISH PILOT PROGRAM
Early in 2000, with strong urging from CCA Florida, the FWC unanimously
voted not to continue the legislatively enacted “Baitfish Pilot Program,”
which had temporarily allowed the use of huge tarp seines in state
waters. CCA Florida also battled the tarp net interests during the
2000 Legislative Session when they tried to extend the program by
adding “tarp net” amendments onto various bills. Legislators supporting
CCA Florida’s position successfully blocked all such attempts. In
addition, tarp netters twice filed lawsuits in circuit court to force
the FWC to extend the program. CCA Florida intervened in support of
the state in both lawsuits, which were eventually dismissed.
GULF
GAG GROUPER
CCA Florida and the CCA National office successfully worked to get
NMFS to reject one of the major inequitable recreational restrictions
in the Gulf Council’s gag grouper amendments. An earlier increase
in the recreational size limit from 20 to 22-inches was approved,
but a subsequent increase to a 24-inch size limit was rejected. In
a related matter, CCA filed its first ever lawsuit against NMFS in
opposition to the Gulf Council’s decision to establish total “no fishing
zones” (which prohibits even surface trolling for dolphin and billfish)
in gag spawning closure areas. CCA Florida supported the grouper closure
as a scientifically sound way to protect spawning aggregates, but
the total closure, including surface trolling, was added at the last
minute after conservationists had signed onto the original proposal.
GULF
RED SNAPPER
In early 2000, NMFS approved the Gulf Council’s red snapper plan which
contained major elements developed and endorsed by CCA Florida, Texas,
Louisiana and Alabama.
“NO
TAKE-NO FISHING” RESERVES
CCA Florida and CCA opposed the Dry Tortugas “No Take-No Fishing”
reserves because the federal agencies prohibited all recreational
fishing, even types that are less damaging to fishery resources than
other activities which were specifically allowed in the “reserve.”
CCA advocates the use of more effective, proven fisheries management
measures including spawning aggregation, time and area closures and
catch-and-release fishing. The Tortugas reserves continue to move
toward final approval in 2001.
CCA and the American
Sportfishing Association have also developed and gained congressional
sponsors for the “Freedom to Fish” bill, which basically states that
prohibiting all forms of recreational fishing must be a measure of
last resort and should be implemented only after other management
measures have been tried and have failed.
HOOP
NETS
CCA Florida mounted a successful, grassroots campaign in opposition
to a commercial fishing industry request to begin using “hoop net/fish
traps” in state marine waters in Northeast Florida. The proposal was
ultimately denied by the FWC.
LIMITED
ENTRY PLAN
A joint CCA/CCA Florida position was established in opposition to
the Gulf Council’s limited entry plan for charter boats, head boats
and guides. The FWC refused to endorse the measure, however, the Gulf
Council voted to take the proposal out to public hearings in early
2001.
Thank You
We are deeply appreciative
of Mercury Marine for their continued support of CCA Florida conservation
initiatives. Mercury donates two motors for every CCA Florida
banquet.
CCA Florida would
also like to recognize:
 |
SAM
SHINE for his generous offer of matching funds for the
Fall 2000 membership appeal. The donation allows contributing
members to double the size of their contribution.
|
|
STELLA
MARINE of Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart for a major Gold
Level donation in support of "our waters and fisheries
and to do our part to make sure our children have the opportunity
to enjoy those great natural resources." |
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