GULF GROUPER ALERT!
__________________________

STOP THE INEQUITABLE REDUCTIONS ON RECREATIONAL FISHERS!

STOP THE GULF GROUPER COMMERCIAL GIVEAWAY!

ATTEND PUBLIC HEARINGS – MARCH 13, 19 AND 20.

OPPOSE THE PROPOSED FEDERAL GULF COUNCIL GROUPER REGULATIONS.

1.  BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has proposed inequitable reductions in gag grouper take. These proposals brought opposition from hundreds of anglers and divers at the Council’s January 30 Public hearing. The Council is proposing a forty five percent reduction in gag take. This results in recreational fishers being limited to only one gag grouper in a three fish aggregate bag limit. Fishing for all groupers will be closed to recreational take from January 15 to April 15. These severe restrictions on recreational fishers are being proposed while commercial fishers retain their 6,000 pound trip limit of any grouper, and have only a one month closure during the spawning aggregation period.

In addition, the federal Council is expediting the implementation of a program which will transfer the exclusive right of access to more than one half of the Gulf grouper into the hands of a limited number of commercial fishermen. The program is called an Individual Fishable Quota (IFQ).

CCA opposes the Council’s preferred alternative for bag limits and seasons, opposes the commercial IFQ for grouper, and requests the development of management measures that fairly and equitably distribute the impacts of the quota reduction between the sectors.

For more detailed information, please see the attached CCA Comments and Recommendations.

March 13, 2008 Edgewater Conf Ctr. 11212 Front Beach Blvd. Panama City, FL	March 19, 2008 Radisson Hotel 12600 Roosevelt St. Petersburg, FL	March 20, 2008 Comfort Inn 3860 Tollgate Blvd. Naples, FL 34114
All public hearings begin at 6:00PM