Mr. Nash:
Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding gag grouper, greater amberjack, and gray triggerfish. As you may know, recent stock assessments for red grouper and gag have found that, while red grouper has fully recovered to its optimum yield level, gag is still undergoing overfishing. In addition, greater amberjack and gray triggerfish are both overfished and undergoing overfishing.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), the Council is required to submit a plan to end overfishing within two years of being notified of such a determination.
Consequently, the Council, in Reef Fish Amendment 30B, is seeking ways to allow red grouper harvest to increase while at the same time reducing the fishing mortality rate on gag. Although a one-gag bag limit is under consideration, it is just one of a range of alternatives contained in the draft amendment. Other strategies up for Council deliberation include seasonal closures, size limit changes, or combinations of these management measures.
Amendment 30A will address the issues with greater amberjack and gray triggerfish. That amendment outlines ten management actions, some of which include modifications to greater amberjack allocations, as well as both recreational and commercial alternatives for both species.
Prior to the approval of any plan, public hearings will be held throughout the Gulf coast. Public hearings on Amendment 30A are scheduled as follows:
September 10
Biloxi, MS
New Orleans, LA
September 11
Orange Beach, AL
Galveston, TX
September 12
Panama City, FL
Palacios, TX
September 13
Corpus Christi, TX
September 17
Madeira Beach, FL
September 18
Ft. Myers, FL
Meeting locations to be determined and posted at a later date. All meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. local time and end no later than 10:00.
The Council encourages you to participate in the public hearings, inasmuch as public comment is an important part of the Council process.
PLEASE NOTE: These public hearings are for Amendment 30A which deals with greater amberjack and gray triggerfish, and Amendment 29, which deals with Commercial Grouper Effort Management/LAPPS – these public hearings are NOT to discuss Amendment 30B - gag and red grouper. Gulf wide hearings for that amendment will be scheduled in the near future.
Again, thank you for contacting the Gulf Council. A copy of your e-mail will be forwarded to each Council member for review and consideration as the Council continues to deliberate these issues. In the meantime, if you should have additional comments or concerns, please call.
Sincerely,
Charlene Ponce
Public Information Officer
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
813-348-1630 ext. 229
charlene.ponce@gulfcouncil.org