ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO PUT COMMERCIAL LONGLINE SWORDFISH BOATS INTO FLORIDA EAST COAST PROTECTED AREA!

THIS TIME BY THE FEDERAL FISHERIES AGENCY!

THE FEDS ARE ONLY GIVING THE PUBLIC UNTIL NOVEMBER 20 TO COMMENT!

ACT NOW! TELL THEM NO! AGAIN!

1. WHAT TO DO:  All CCA Florida Chapter and other Grassroots Alert members should immediately contact their members and get them to e-mail the National Marine Fisheries Service and urge them to:

REJECT THE “RESEARCH” PROPOSAL TO PUT COMMERCIAL SWORDFISH LONGLINE BOATS IN THE FLORIDA EAST COAST PROTECTED AREAS CLOSED TO LONGLINING.

      SEND YOUR STRONG OBJECTIONS TO:
            Margo Schulze-Haugen
            Highly Migratory Species Management Division
            NMFS
            1315 East-West Highway
            Silver Spring, MD 20910
           
Email – PLL.ResearchEA@noaa.gov
(Include this ID in e-mail subject line I.D. PLL Research EA)

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Gulf Stream off of Florida’s East coast has been closed to commercial swordfish longlining since 2000. The longlining ban has resulted in a dramatic recovery and increased abundance of sailfish, swordfish, dolphin and wahoo in these areas. Putting even a single large commercial longline boat into the protected areas under the guise of “research” and “fisheries data collection” is unwarranted, unnecessary, and bad public policy.

Earlier this year when the longliners proposed to put 15 longline boats into these protected areas, the public opposition was huge and intense. CCA, The Billfish Foundation, IGFA, fishing clubs, charter boat and guide associations, and hundreds of individuals opposed the “bogus” experiment. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Florida Governor Charlie Crist strongly opposed the project. NMFS eventually denied the permit.

BUT AS EXPECTED, THEY ARE BACK AGAIN. THIS TIME THE FEDERAL AGENCY ITSELF IS APPLYING FOR THE LONGLINE PERMITS! SUPPOSEDLY FOR A “LIMITED” NUMBER OF BOATS (TWO HAS BEEN SUGGESTED).

Fifteen longline boats, five boats or two it doesn’t matter. All of this is a thinly veiled campaign by the longliners and NMFS to put commercial swordfish longliners back into the Florida East Coast Protected Areas, the same area that was ruined by longliners before.

The commercial longliners and the National Marine Fisheries Service have virtually the entire Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to conduct the so called by-catch research – THEY ABSOLUTELY DO NOT NEED TO LONGLINE IN THE PROTECTED AREAS!

ACT NOW! TELL THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE TO WITHDRAW THEIR REQUEST TO LONGLINE IN THE PROTECTED AREA!

SEND YOUR E-MAIL OPPOSING THE LONGLINE DEAL NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 20!

TELL THEM NO LONGLINING IN THE PROTECTED AREA!

GULF FEDERAL COUNCIL PROPOSES MAJOR SHIFT IN AMBERJACK ALLOCATION TO COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY

EMAILS / LETTERS NEEDED TO GET THE COUNCIL TO KEEP THE ALLOCATION APPROVED IN 1990.

THE ALLOCATION DOES NOT NEED TO BE CHANGED,
IT NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED!

1. WHAT TO DO:  All CCA Florida Chapters and Grassroots Network Contacts should activate their networks to get emails and letters to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and urge them to:

KEEP THE ALLOCATION APPROVED IN 1990 WHICH SET RECREATIONAL HARVEST AT 84% OF TOTAL AND COMMERCIAL AT 16%.

      SEND YOUR STRONG COMMENTS NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 24 TO:
      Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council
            2203 N. Lois Avenue
            Suite 1100
            Tampa, FL 33607
           
Email - Amendment30A@gulfcouncil.org

(Correspondence should include reference to Amberjack – Amendment 30A)

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• In September, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted unanimously to support keeping the amberjack allocation approved in 1990. In addition to the FWC and CCA Florida, the National Association of Charter Boat Operators, Florida Guides Association, Fishing Rights Alliance, Destin Charter Boat Association, and the Panama City Boatman’s Association support keeping the current allocation.

• 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 in Amendment 1 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 four 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, Amendment 12 changed the regulations to a one fish recreational bag limit. One year later, Amendment 15 closed March, April, and May to commercial take.

• The end result of all regulations resulted in more impact on recreational fishers than commercial fishers. The impact of regulations over time have resulted in shifting the percent allocation based on landings in favor of the commercial fishery.

• Amberjack are now overfished and the Gulf Council has to enact regulations reducing amberjack fishing mortality. The Gulf Council economic 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!

ANGLERS HAVE DONE THEIR PART AND ARE WILLING TO DO MORE. HOWEVER, THE FEDERAL COUNCIL’S ACTION IS PUNISHING THE RECREATIONAL FISHERY FOR SUPPORTING CONSERVATION MEASURES. KEEP THE ALLOCATION APPROVED IN 1990 WHICH SET RECREATIONAL HARVEST AT 84% OF TOTAL AND COMMERCIAL AT 16% BECAUSE THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY MUST NOT BE REWARDED FOR EXCEEDING THEIR ALLOCATION.

ACT NOW! SEND YOUR COMMENTS NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 24!

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ANGLER ACCESS AT RISK IN
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK!

LAST CHANCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON PRELIMINARY ALTERNATIVES!

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In May, the National Park Service (NPS) released four preliminary alternatives for the development of the Everglades National Park General Management Plan. The alternatives range from maintaining current management measures to draconian restrictions on boating access. One alternative would prohibit the use of internal combustion engines in all waters less than three feet deep. In Florida Bay alone, that alternative would prohibit traditional boating in more than 150 square miles!

The NPS proposals for such severe restrictions in one of the world’s premier saltwater fishing destinations have set off a firestorm of public opposition. Hundreds of anglers showed up at each of the public workshops held by the NPS to oppose the unnecessary restrictions.

CCA Florida set up a special subcommittee of its Government Relations Committee to review and develop recommendations on the general management plan alternatives as they go through the process. The subcommittee contains representation from local chapters around the Park and from individuals across the state with detailed knowledge of fishing within the Park. Some have fished the area for more than forty years.

The subcommittee’s recommendations were presented and approved by the CCA Executive Board on July 14. The recommendations include the following.

1. ALTERNATIVE A IS ACCEPTABLE WITH MODIFICATION

• Alternative A should be revised to reflect all restrictions presently in place, including existing No Wake Zones in the Flamingo, Everglades City and Key Largo areas, the no motor zones in designated canoe trails and no landing areas in Florida Bay.

• The Park should engage an active program to educate all users in proper vessel operation, courteous operation and respect for the Park’s resources.

• The NPS should provide signage for channels and transit areas around the grass flats in the more commonly used areas.

2. ALTERNATIVES B, C, AND D ARE UNACCEPTABLE
CCA does not support any large area “Management by Water Depth,” “Backcountry,” “Research,” “Management by Vessel Length” or other such zones which exclude normal or traditional access by motorized recreational fishing boats. We have requested the NPS to provide documentation such as boat strandings data, aerial photos of grass bed damage or other such evidence which may indicate a need for additional protection measures. The seagrass information should be over a specific time period and in the context of total seagrasses within the park. CCA will participate with the NPS, when such information is provided, to help establish effective channel marking, public education and enforcement measures to solve any resource problems.

PUBLIC COMMENT IS BEING ACCEPTED UNTIL JULY 31.

ACT NOW, SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS!
WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE “A” AS MODIFIED BY
CCA FLORIDA COMMENTS!

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
National Park Service, Everglades Planning Team, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287

Comments can also be provided via the internet at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov

For more information on CCA Florida position and recommendation go to www.ccaflorida.org

For more information on ENP Management Plan Alternatives go to:  http://parkplanning.nps.gov

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May 24, 2007
CCA FLORIDA GRASSROOTS ALERT:

MAJOR CHANGES IN ANGLER ACCESS MAY OCCUR IN
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK!

PARK HAS SCHEDULED FIVE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS TO GET INPUT!

ANGLERS URGED TO ATTEND AND GET INVOLVED IN PROCESS!

1.  BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Park Service (NPS) has recently released four preliminary alternatives, which are being taken to the public as options and the basis of the development of the Everglades National Park General Management Plan (GMP). As a result from the public comment process the NPS will select one as the Preferred Alternative. The NPS will then over the next year develop the Draft GMP. The four alternatives range from Alternative A which is the no action – status quo option (which is unlikely to occur) to Alternative D which would prohibit the use of internal combustion engines in waters less than three feet deep. Virtually all of Florida Bay would be in such a zone. It is imperative that if you have interest in continuing to fish in the Everglades National Park you read these alternatives and comment! Note: Written comments are being accepted as well but are a poor substitute for being at one of these meetings in person.

2. PUBLIC WORKSHOPS

The ENP has scheduled the following five public workshops to take public input.

YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO ATTEND ONE!

The NPS will conduct 2 separate, repeated sessions at each workshop (5:00 – 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.). There will be overview presentations at 5:15 and 6:45 p.m. Before and after the presentations, there will be opportunities to learn more about the project through informational displays, and by asking questions and providing your ideas to park staff.

3. ACCESS TO ENP PRELIMINARY PLAN DETAILS

Detailed descriptions of the four alternatives with color maps of the proposed management zone can be accessed at the following link:
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkId=374&projectId=11170&documentID=19058

There is a format for public comments to be submitted directly to the NPS at this site as well.

CCA FLORIDA WILL BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS! HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO APPEAR AND PARTICIPATE. NUMBERS MATTER IN THIS EXERCISE AND WE URGE ALL CCA MEMBERS AND ANGLERS TO BECOME INVOLVED!

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MAJOR COMMERCIAL SWORDFISH LONGLINE BOATS WANT TO GET INTO FLORIDA EAST COAST PROTECTED AREA!

OPPOSITION TO LONGLINERS ATTEMPT NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!

CONTACT THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE NOW!

1. WHAT TO DO:  All CCA Florida Chapter and other Grassroots Alert members should immediately contact their members and get them to e-mail the National Marine Fisheries Service and urge them to:

REJECT THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL SWORDFISH LONGLINE BOATS TO FISH IN AREAS CLOSED TO LONGLINING.

SEND YOUR STRONG OBJECTIONS TO:
Michael Clark
Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SFI)
Office of Sustainable Fisheries
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
E-MAIL ADDRESS – SF1.030107C@NOAA.GOV
(Include this ID in email subject line I.D.030107C)
            

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Gulf Stream off of Florida’s East coast and the DeSoto Canyon area off of the Florida Panhandle have been closed to commercial swordfish longlining for several years. The longlining ban has resulted in a dramatic recovery and increased abundance of sailfish, swordfish, dolphin and wahoo in these areas. Putting 13 large commercial longline boats into these protected areas under the guise of “research” and “fisheries data collection” is unwarranted, unnecessary, and bad public policy.

The commercial longliners and the National Marine Fisheries Service have virtually the entire Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to conduct the so called by-catch research – THEY ABSOLUTELY DO NOT NEED TO LONGLINE IN THE CLOSED AREAS!

This is not the first attempt by the longline industry to get back into the protected longline closure areas. Their previous attempt in 2005 was met with huge public, angling and conservation group objections and their proposal was rejected.

ACT NOW!  TELL THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE TO REJECT THE REQUEST TO LONGLINE IN THE PROTECTED AREA!

SEND YOUR E-MAIL OPPOSING THE LONGLINE DEAL
NO LATER THAN APRIL 25!

TELL THEM NO LONGLINING IN THE CLOSED AREA!

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MAJOR COMMERCIAL SWORDFISH LONGLINE BOATS WANT TO GET INTO FLORIDA EAST COAST PROTECTED AREA!

OPPOSITION TO LONGLINERS ATTEMPT NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!

CONTACT THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE NOW!

1. WHAT TO DO:  All CCA Florida Chapter and other Grassroots Alert members should immediately contact their members and get them to e-mail the National Marine Fisheries Service and urge them to:

REJECT THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL SWORDFISH LONGLINE BOATS TO FISH IN AREAS CLOSED TO LONGLINING.

SEND YOUR STRONG OBJECTIONS TO:
Michael Clark
Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SFI)
Office of Sustainable Fisheries
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
E-MAIL ADDRESS – SF1.030107C@NOAA.GOV
(Include this ID in email subject line I.D.030107C)
            

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Gulf Stream off of Florida’s East coast and the DeSoto Canyon area off of the Florida Panhandle have been closed to commercial swordfish longlining for several years. The longlining ban has resulted in a dramatic recovery and increased abundance of sailfish, swordfish, dolphin and wahoo in these areas. Putting 13 large commercial longline boats into these protected areas under the guise of “research” and “fisheries data collection” is unwarranted, unnecessary, and bad public policy.

The commercial longliners and the National Marine Fisheries Service have virtually the entire Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to conduct the so called by-catch research – THEY ABSOLUTELY DO NOT NEED TO LONGLINE IN THE CLOSED AREAS!

This is not the first attempt by the longline industry to get back into the protected longline closure areas. Their previous attempt in 2005 was met with huge public, angling and conservation group objections and their proposal was rejected.

ACT NOW!  TELL THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE TO REJECT THE REQUEST TO LONGLINE IN THE PROTECTED AREA!

SEND YOUR E-MAIL OPPOSING THE LONGLINE DEAL NO LATER THAN APRIL 24!

TELL THEM NO LONGLINING IN THE CLOSED AREA!

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LEGISLATION TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR SALTWATER FISHERIES MANAGEMENT WILL BE UP FOR SENATE COMMITTEE VOTE

SB 1982 by the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee WILL BE UP ON THURSDAY – MARCH 8!

PLEASE SEND EMAILS AND CALLS URGING
SUPPORT FOR SB 1982

WHAT TO DO:  All CCA Florida Chapters and Grassroots Network Contacts should activate their networks to get emails and phone calls to the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee members. URGE THEM TO SUPPORT SB 1982.

WHAT THE BILL DOES – SB 1982 is the bill supported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) which increases recreational license fees on freshwater fishing, hunting and saltwater recreational licenses. The original recreational saltwater license passed in 1990 as a result of CCA Florida. It was our initiative and work that brought about the saltwater license. There have been no increases in these saltwater license fees since the law was created 17 years ago.

The proposed saltwater increases are as follows:

• Saltwater resident (annual) $12.00 to $15.50

• Saltwater resident - fresh and saltwater (annual) $24.00 to $30.00

• Non resident - 3 days  $5.00 to $15.50, 7 days $15.00 to $28.50, Annual $30.00

SB 1982 also has a provision which would eliminate the saltwater “shoreline exemption.” That exemption allows residents to fish from the shoreline in saltwater without having to buy a license. The bill also has a provision which will allow low income and disadvantaged persons the opportunity to obtain a license at no cost. CCA Florida strongly supports eliminating the shoreline exemption as outlined in the bill.

Florida’s saltwater recreational fishery is the largest in the United States and is valued at six billion dollars. The commercial fishery is valued at one billion dollars. The FWC needs to have sufficient funding to properly manage these valuable resources.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT SB 1982 and the saltwater license increases and to eliminate the shoreline exemption.

IF YOUR AREA LEGISLATOR IS NOT LISTED THEN CONTACT SENATOR BURT SAUNDERS, COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN OR THE SENATOR CLOSEST TO YOU.

ACT NOW!

________________________________________________________________________________
   

SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE:
SENATOR BURT SAUNDERS (R) – CHAIRMAN
(850) 487-5124 / saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov

BROWARD CHAPTER:           
Senator Nan Rich (D)            Vice Chair         (850) 487-5103 / rich.nan.web@ flsenate.gov

DADE CHAPTER:                       
Senator Nan Rich (D)            Vice Chair       (850) 487-5103 / rich.nan.web@ flsenate.gov

EMERALD COAST CHAPTER:
Senator Don Gaetz (R)         (850) 487-5009 / gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov

FT. MYERS CHAPTER:
Senator Burt Saunders (R) Chair    (850) 487-5124 / saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov

HERNANDO CHAPTER:
Senator Paula Dockery (R)                (850) 487-5040 / dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov

LAKE CHAPTER:
Senator Paula Dockery (R)                (850) 487-5040 /dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov

NAPLES CHAPTER:
Senator Burt Saunders (R) Chair   (850) 487-5124 / saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov

PENSACOLA CHAPTER:
Senator Don Gaetz (R)                (850) 487-5009 / gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov

PINELLAS CHAPTER:
Senator Dennis Jones (R)               (850) 487-5065 / jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Charlie Justice (D)               (850) 487-5075 / justice.charlie.web@flsenate.gov

POLK CHAPTER:
Senator Paula Dockery (R)                (850) 487-5040 /dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov

SOUTH WALTON:
Senator Don Gaetz (R)                (850) 487-5009 / gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov

TAMPA CHAPTER:
Senator Charlie Justice (D)                (850) 487-5075 / justice.charlie.web@flsenate.gov

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