NMFS decision making

Saltwater Offshore Discussion
1
  1. Close grouper season from Jan - April because that’s gag spawning season and they are worried that spawning aggregations are too easy to target and exploit.
  2. Open up a mini red snapper season, a “critical” fish stock in July which is the primary spawn for red snapper on the entire Eastern Seaboard…

Let’s just trust their logic… They know best folks…

2

My theory: This offers the highest chance for anglers to catch the snappers they “saved,” thus giving them the feeling they fixed their self-created problem.

Also in their eyes, fuel to create and “fix” more problems through catch shares, wide closures of species and bottom structure.

3

The e mails I get from the RFA say the house is working on, and is close to a MSA reauthorization. Can anyone confirm…??

4

Several things come to mind. I may have to do with data collection of the spawning state of red snapper, which could tie into “rolling closures” (a southern season and a northern season for example). If the season was held January-April, the grouper mortality rate could possibly skyrocket if spawning aggregations were encountered and lots of fish “floated off”. If it was held in the fall, I’m sure there would be a bunch of people whining about not being able to fish due to hurricanes, cold fronts and deer season. Much of this was covered during the Visioning Project/Port Meetings that were held this past winter/spring.

Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam F150
Carolina Skiff (old school model)17’ Suz D50

5
quote:
Originally posted by Beaufort Boy

Several things come to mind. I may have to do with data collection of the spawning state of red snapper, which could tie into “rolling closures” (a southern season and a northern season for example). If the season was held January-April, the grouper mortality rate could possibly skyrocket if spawning aggregations were encountered and lots of fish “floated off”. If it was held in the fall, I’m sure there would be a bunch of people whining about not being able to fish due to hurricanes, cold fronts and deer season. Much of this was covered during the Visioning Project/Port Meetings that were held this past winter/spring.

Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam F150
Carolina Skiff (old school model)17’ Suz D50

Not sure I buy that logic... Honestly, they could shut down everything in Jan-April. What's the point of bottom fishing in the coldest part of the year if you can't keep anything big anyway?

I don’t see your point about doing it in the fall. It was in September last year if I recall. Sure, there was weather, but that could just as easily happen in July. No difference. As far as hurricanes, let’s just use our heads here. If there is a hurricane that threatens the region, then they can move that date. Easy. It doesn’t take rocket surgeons to figure this out. Honestly, I think they are shooting from the hip… And if they are not, then it sure as hell seems that way and it’s up to them to explain things. Hell, the SAFMC has a full time “PR Officer” responsible for public communication. So, let’s communicate…