Government Affairs
Current Issue
Gag Grouper in the Gulf of Mexico
The Issue
How You Can Help
Background
Our Goal
Our Position
The Issue
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has proposed the following actions
in order to address the problems facing gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. The Council is recommending a 45 percent reduction in gag grouper take; closing the recreational fishing season for all species of grouper from January 15 to April 15 every year; and transferring the fishing rights of more than half of the Gulf grouper complex to a limited number of commercial fishermen. In contrast, the Council is proposing that the commercial fleet retain its current take and have only a one month closure.
ASA believes there are better ways to address the grouper issue and will be providing its suggestions to the Council.
How You Can Help
Please send a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and your Members of Congress asking them to support a management plan that protects recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico while restoring the gag grouper fishery. Written comments to NMFS and the Council are currently being accepted.
Additionally, please attend and comment at the June 2-6, 2008 Council meeting in Houston, Texas.
Hilton Houston Hobby Airport
8181 Airport Drive
Houston, Texas 77061
713-645-3000
Background
In order to address problems facing gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is proposing Amendment 30B to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. The amendment includes a suite of catch reductions for the entire Gulf grouper complex; expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs); and transferring fishing rights from recreational anglers to commercial fishing fleets.
The Council is proposing a forty-five percent reduction in gag grouper take; limiting the recreational angler to only one gag grouper in an aggregate bag of three fish. In addition, the Council is recommending closing the recreational fishing season for the entire Gulf grouper complex from January 15 to April 15 each year. While proposing these reductions to recreational anglers, the Council proposes that the commercial fleet can retain its current gag grouper take and have only a one month closure of the Gulf grouper commercial fishery. The Council is also proposing expanded MPAs in which recreational fishing would potentially be prohibited year-round.
In addition, through a management system known as the individual fishable quota (IFQ), the Council proposes to transfer the fishing rights of more than half of the entire Gulf grouper complex to a limited number of commercial fishermen. These commercial fishermen would be permitted to practice long-lining in some shallow water areas.
Our Goal
ASA’s goal is to retain optimal recreational fishing opportunity while conserving the gag grouper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.
Our Position
ASA believes there are better ways to address the recovery of gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico and recommends the following measures.
ASA opposes attempts to recover the gag grouper fishery primarily at the expense of recreational fishing opportunity and the associated economic impacts. The Council must develop management measures that distribute fishing reductions for gag and other Gulf grouper between the recreational and commercial fishing sectors.
In order to provide optimal recreational opportunity while conserving the gag grouper resource, ASA recommends that the gag grouper season be closed only for three months (January 15 to April 15) to recreational fishing while allowing other grouper to be recreationally taken in an aggregate bag. There is no indication that other species of grouper, or reef fish, are being overfished. Reducing recreational fishing opportunity for the entire grouper complex will cause a significant economic loss to the recreational fishing industry and the businesses it supports across the Gulf. Closing the season during this time for both commercial and recreational fishing protects gag grouper during the time they aggregate for spawning and are more vulnerable to take.
ASA strongly opposes the expansion of marine protected areas, in which recreational fishing would potentially be prohibited year-round. The designation of MPAs should be based on sound science. However, there is no data to support that the current closures have benefited gag grouper, or the grouper complex as a whole. Seasonal spawning closures to commercial fishing throughout the entire Gulf grouper fishery complex would yield a much higher conservation benefit than additional marine protected areas.
IFQ Program
ASA opposes the grouper IFQ program. Allocating and giving exclusive right of access to more than half of the Gulf grouper fishery to the commercial fleet gives that segment an even greater disproportionate share of the fishery. The commercial fleet will be able to take, sell lease, or broker the grouper quota shares. The entire Gulf grouper fishery needs to be equitably distributed between the two user groups.
