I’m sure you’ve seen those horror movies where despite repeated attempts to kill the monster, it always comes back to life and wreaks havoc.
Charter and headboat operators are now living one of these horror movies as the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council once again moves forward with limiting the number of for-hire snapper-grouper permits, this time through Snapper-Grouper Amendment 47.
And now the SAFMC is not just talking about limiting the number of charter and headboats, they are now talking about decreasing the number.
The SAFMC is now taking written comments on the amendment. I urge you to click here today and tell the SAFMC that you are strongly opposed to for-hire limited entry: https://safmc.wufoo.com/forms/r1oo92dz10xf9hr/
Please make your comments no later than August 17th.
The SAFMC keeps pushing limited-entry despite the fact that the number of snapper-grouper for-hire permits has remained virtually unchanged over the last 10 years and for-hire fishing effort in federal waters is 22 percent below the effort in 2007.
This has nothing to do with fishery sustainability. A limited-entry fishery is the first step toward a catch share fishery, one that will set up a “stock market” for permits.
Just click the link below to read the comments from the National Association of Charterboat Operators, which describes the for-hire limited entry disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and states that the “limited entry program has resulted in an additional stock market for fisheries” and is “working to eliminate for hire vessel owners from the industry.” https://www.nacocharters.org/news/alerts/1149-proposed-limited-entry-on-charter-for-hire-vessel-permits.html
Tom,
Thank you for posting this and keeping us informed as you ALWAYS DO !!
I have said it before and despite the ignorance of many seemingly intelligent people on this site, I will say it again…
This is a long term plan and goal to privatize the ocean. Step by step by step. This systematic play against freedoms is seen all over the world for those that aren’t blind or in denial.
This is not only a billion dollar resource but it is the control and corruption of food and food access…the biggest crisis already facing the world today.
Please show face at the SAFMC meeting this september and strongly voice your intelligence. We are not being represented on the council and the entire thing should be disbanded as is.
The bigger agenda will always be against us and if you think differently, please go head butt the wall a few more times.
The history of the SAFMC shows that by the time a date for public comment is set, the decision is already made. The only thing that has made a difference has been pressure from our elected officers , and overwhelming public disapproval, and sometimes even that’s not enough!
It’s not a given that the SAFMC will continue to support for-hire limited entry no matter what.
There will be three new members (two from GA and one from FL) sworn in at the September meeting. One of the departing members is Zack Bowen, the most vocal advocate of for-hire limited entry.
We’re very hopeful this new SAFMC will be more inclined to listen to the overwhelming opposition to limited entry.
That’s why submitting comments to the SAFMC opposing for-hire limited entry and Amendment 47 is so important.
Please guys - this one is important. Its another effort by an out of control council to restrict fishing rights. The man pushing this one - Zack Brown - is conflicted on this one. He operates for hire off Savannah and wants to restrict his competition. If this slips through , it will embolden the council to get their other pet projects through. Like more MPA’s, recreational trip reporting , and the one they really want - ankle bracelets for your boat. There should be 1000 comments by now!
We’re pleased that Rep. Lee Hewitt, R-Georgetown, has gone on record opposing limiting or decreasing the number of charter and headboats in the snapper-grouper fishery.
I rarely if ever get off shore and participate in this fishery but I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone that opposes this type of amendment. Comment submitted.
Our thanks to Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, R-Georgetown, for speaking out in opposition to limiting or reducing the number of charter and head boats in the snapper-grouper fishery in this letter to the SAFMC.
Always Conflict!! The catch share “ish” programs are always started by council members that will benefit by the monopoly market they are continually trying to create. Conklin and Phillips are on the top of the “Remove Scumbags ASAP” list
The most poorly represented group on the council are recreational fishermen. The commercial dominated council has decided that rec fishers catch more fish than their professional effort can produce. Just look at it this way, The commercial bottom boats are out there every day unless theres a gale blowing, they fill their holds until the seasonal quota is met. They catch enough fish to supply a nations seafood dealers. I travel extensively in my work - recently in Nashville TN I had triggerfish in a eatery. I asked the manager where the fish came from. He showed me a whole gray trigger and a certificate if origin - they were from South Carolina. The Rec guys want enough fish for a few dinners, the commercial guys feed a nation.
Please click this link and listen to the short clip of the awkward admission last week from South Atlantic Fishery Management Council scientist John Hadley that there are no scientific findings or biological science to support limiting for-hire permits – something we’ve been saying all along: https://www.sustainablefishing.org/no_scientific_findings_to_justify_limited_entry
Here’s an excerpt of what he said:
“So, there’s no scientific findings really, I mean, the only, as far as biological reasons there hasn’t been any biological science. As far as social science…you cannot do that [analysis] for the for-hire sector because we really don’t have essentially the logbook or record of how many people are fishing exactly. So, to succinctly answer your question, no, there are no scientific findings that have been identified to support the need, as far as quantitative need, to limit the amount of [for-hire] permits.”
