CCA Grouper Alert!

[kneeknocker]

Please visit ccaflorida.org for more information


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.

2. ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND EXPRESS YOUR OPPOSITION

March 13, 2008 March 19, 2008 March 20, 2008
Edgewater Conf Ctr. Radisson Hotel Comfort Inn
11212 Front Beach Blvd. 12600 Roosevelt 3860 Tollgate Blvd.
Panama City , FL St. Petersburg , FL Naples , FL 34114


All Public Hearings Begin at 6:00 P.M.

ACT NOW AND ALSO SEND YOUR OPPOSITION EMAIL OR LETTER TO:

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson U.S. Senator Mel Martinez
716 Hart Senate Office Building 317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington 20510 Washington 20510
http://www.billnelson.senate.gov" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; mel_martinez@martinez.senate.gov" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
You can contact Senator Nelson
through his website.

Governor Charlie Crist James Balsiger
PL 05 Capitol Assistant Administrator
400 S. Monroe Street National Marine Fisheries Service
Tallahassee , FL 32399-0001 1315 East-West Highway
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Silver Springs , MD 20910
jim.balsiger@NOAA.gov" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
U.S. Congressional Representatives

To locate your Congressman or Congresswoman go to http://www.votesmart.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and type in your zip code.


This Alert Prepared By: Ted Forsgren
Executive Director
CCA Florida
905 E. Park Avenue
Tallahassee , FL
(850) 224-3474

[Dubble Trubble]

The bastids is gonna do what they want to any way.

We got the best fishery management that money can buy.....

Dubble

[mjsigns]

I'm glad I own a flats boat...