Control Date for the Federal For-Hire Recreational Sector of Fisheries for the Atlantic Dolphin and Wahoo, Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagics, and South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper
On September 27, 2016, NOAA Fisheries published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to set a control date of June 15, 2016, for the federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) component of the recreational sectors of the coastal migratory pelagics fishery in the Atlantic, dolphin and wahoo fishery in the Atlantic, and snapper-grouper fishery in the South Atlantic. This notice informs current and potential future fishermen that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is considering restrictions limiting participation in these fisheries. Fishermen who enter the federal for-hire recreational sector for these fisheries after June 15, 2016, will not be assured of future access should a management regime that limits participation in the sector be prepared and implemented.
The establishment of a control date does not commit the Council or NOAA Fisheries to any particular management regime. The Council may or may not make use of this control date as part of the requirements for participation in these fisheries. Fishermen are not guaranteed future participation in the sector, regardless of their entry date. The Council may take action that would affect participants who were in these fisheries prior to the control date, or the Council may choose to take no further action to control entry or access.
Request for Comments:
Comments on this control date must be received no later than October 27, 2016, to be considered by NOAA Fisheries.You may submit comments by the following methods:
Electronic Submission:
Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at: www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0121. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail:
Mary Vara
NOAA Fisheries
Southeast Regio
My understanding is that this is being driven within the council by a charter captain named Zach Bowen (GA). His email is ■■■■■■■■@comcast.net His phone number is: 912-398-3733
How convenient that a charter captain is calling for a moratorium on charter captains… Well, he has his license, so I can see why he would want to ABUSE HIS POSITION on the council to keep other charter captains from entering the fishery.
Please make your comments… The recreational charter fleet is a SERVICE to RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN, some own boats and some do not. It allows recreational people the chance to get out and enjoy the resource for which their tax dollars also support.
We really need to object to this. Its easy just click on the link.
The SAFMC has just set a control date which will basically shut out any new charter fishermen from the dolphin or snapper grouper fisheries.
What does this have to do with recs?
This is sector separation where fisheries will no longer be allocated to recs and comms, but they will now be split up between recs/comms and for hire.
The for hire quotas will be allocated from the recreational fishermen.
SEND YOUR COMMENTS OPPOSING THIS TO SAFMC AND THEY WILL BE PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD
The thing that gets me the most is the people that aren’t old enough, people that are working on becoming charter captains, or otherwise aren’t going to have a chance in doing what they want to do. With this limiting of charter permits, that they have already done in the gulf, can add up to another 30,000 dollars beside the cost of the boat and gear needed. Another way of squashing small business. Also you think the creeks and rivers are full of Captains now, wait until they can’t get permits to go offshore.
Also, when the black sea bass quota for the recreational guys is a third of what it is now the season will be over a month after it is open and so on.
So now “they”(SAFMC) is going to determine the business side of fishing with as little investigation as “they” did with the catching side. I’m with Sellsfish…return control to the states.
The thing that gets me the most is the people that aren’t old enough, people that are working on becoming charter captains, or otherwise aren’t going to have a chance in doing what they want to do. With this limiting of charter permits, that they have already done in the gulf, can add up to another 30,000 dollars beside the cost of the boat and gear needed. Another way of squashing small business. Also you think the creeks and rivers are full of Captains now, wait until they can’t get permits to go offshore.
Also, when the Black Sea bass quota for the recreational guys is a third of what it is now the season will be over a month after it is open and so on.
Offshore Captains couldn't hack it inshore. They would have to actually work.
’
Down here is where a signature goes but they can confuse and anger some people so I don’t have one.
I told him my name and asked him why he would wish to close down the Rec Charter Capt’s in the future?
His reply; Hi Glenn, I think you have bad information. I am on the council AND a full time charter captain and have been for 20+ years. I will be glad to hear your concerns if you would like to call me tomm. Thanks and have a great night.
He doesn’t want to shut down charter captains. They want to put a moratorium on issuing new charter licensing. Basically keep NEW competition out. Basically, he is safe because he had his license before the control date.
He doesn’t want to shut down charter captains. They want to put a moratorium on issuing new charter licensing. Basically keep NEW competition out. Basically, he is safe because he had his license before the control date.
Will Captains be able to sell their permits like the bottom fish stuff that goes on in Florida?
’
Down here is where a signature goes but they can confuse and anger some people so I don’t have one.
He doesn’t want to shut down charter captains. They want to put a moratorium on issuing new charter licensing. Basically keep NEW competition out. Basically, he is safe because he had his license before the control date.
He doesn’t want to shut down charter captains. They want to put a moratorium on issuing new charter licensing. Basically keep NEW competition out. Basically, he is safe because he had his license before the control date.
Will Captains be able to sell their permits like the bottom fish stuff that goes on in Florida?
’
Down here is where a signature goes but they can confuse and anger some people so I don’t have one.
There is nothing preventing it. Commercial fishing license was $25 before the moratorium. Now it’s $40,000 to the license holder. Government still only gets $25 at renewal time.
The way I see it , if this reg (law) goes through I could still get a USCG license, and I could still take 6 people offshore - or anywhere I wanted to take them but they would all have to carry their own fishing license. I would still have to maintain a HMS ticket on the boat. A
14 day non resident fishing license is $11.00 Whats to stop someone from doing this?
This is a HUGE overreach by the SAFMC and we need to stop it !
The Georgia Captain that’s pushing this needs to catch a bunch of crap from the rest of the charter community
Wow, You’ve got to be kidding!!! The only boat I’ve ever chartered or may again is for off shore. So when a Captain retires is his share gone forever or is it like the old tobacco allotments and can be pass along… of course at a huge price.
What I see is greed and money to be made by a select few driving this nonsense.
Looks like all the replies on the comments in the link supplied by skinny are opposed to it.
“If Bruce Jenner can keep his wiener and be called a woman, I can keep my firearms and be considered disarmed.”
Wow, You’ve got to be kidding!!! The only boat I’ve ever chartered or may again is for off shore. So when a Captain retires is his share gone forever or is it like the old tobacco allotments and can be pass along… of course at a huge price.
What I see is greed and money to be made by a select few driving this nonsense.
Looks like all the replies on the comments in the link supplied by skinny are opposed to it.
“If Bruce Jenner can keep his wiener and be called a woman, I can keep my firearms and be considered disarmed.”