This one worries me… I can’t help but to think that there is some posturing going on which will affect us in other areas.
Note that the Nassau grouper has been closed to harvest since 1992 (That’s 22 years now for the mathematically challenged). Just remember for all the people who think that closures are an answer. Obviously it didn’t make a (**() bit of difference for Mr. Nassau. More than 2 decades later, and there has been 0 improvement in the population.
Why am I worried? Because when a species is listed as threatened for extinction, I bet the federal government gets a whole new set of management processes available to them. There was one time they wanted to list white marlin as endangered which would have essentially ended the marlin fishing tournaments on the East Coast.
Do we have Nassau grouper in our waters? I have seen 2. I wouldn’t call them common, but they exist.
But what will this mean from the feds? More “justification” to slide in MPA’s? I guess we will see… Be sure to check out reason (4) and (5) below… Is this a power grab? Somehow they expect to “solve” this problem. Oh just what will the next move be?
They wanted to close down Georgetown Hole to bottom fishing because it’s a potential habitat area for speckled hind. Imagine how it might come back up for discussion if they can “prove” that it’s a spawning ground for Nassau groupers?
I would almost put money on it, that they have their eyes on more MPA’s in South Florida, but you never know at this point.
SOUTHEAST FISHERY BULLETIN
FB14-066
727-824-5312
September 2, 2014
NOAA Seeks Public Comment for a Proposed Rule to List Nassau Grouper as Threatened under the
Endangered Species Act
NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comments on a proposed rule to list Nassau grouper as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed rule filed in the Federal Register on September 2, 2014 (79 FR 51929).
Pictures of Mr. Nassau have been posted on this site, in fact. Of course they are out there, and of course any catch data has been non existent since 1992, but of course the government hasnt spent any money on a legit stock assessment since the late 90’s, and of course that doesn’t matter because some people thought it would be a good idea to mandate, not ask, mandate that a federal agency take extreme measures out of an abundance of caution in order to protect the unknown from the possibility of the unknown. More sound science dictating rational scientific conclusions and natural resources management, right?
Wrong.
People also forget there’s thousands of square miles of live bottom out there that can only be fished with bottom long lines due I the Gulf Stream current, but long lines inside of 100 fathoms were also banned in the early 90’s. The fish have been more than protected and draconian measures at this point to try and redress the wrongs of earlier generations sometimes have disastrous consequences no matter how well intentioned.
Our local reef features and populations of other fish (which includes effects from mismanagement of fast-growing species that we know of but will never hear from NMFS) do not lend themselves to Nassau groupers happiness.
The only ones that I have heard of or seen up here were very old fish. There’s a reason they’re called “Nassau.”
I agree! I’m glad that megladon sharks are extinct instead of out there snacking on sports fishing boats. I remember when one could catch Nassau grouper within sight of land. If 20 years of zero fishing pressure has not improved stock numbers , then it could be extrapolated (the favored SAFMC method) that MPA’s will not help either. Something else is hurting Nassau grouper - environmental issues - or perhaps a disease - like the hard head catfish virus. By the way, Fishing for hard head catfish has been over for years, but you still can’t catch one.
First grouper I ever caught was a Nassau Grouper while we were billfishing in Eluthera. Trolling out of the marina I threw a ballhoo out early before we got over the ledge. Captain was pissed thought it was a cuda. Drug him out of the rocks on a 130. I would say down there they pretty much keep whatever. I’ve seen 16 ft fish and ski’s filled with grouper and no ice. Wonder if any of that population is the same a Florida’s.