The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene Public Hearings on two proposed actions to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. Reef Fish Amendment 37 proposes modifications to the gray triggerfish rebuilding plan including modifications to the annual catch limits and annual catch targets for the commercial and recreational sectors. Proposed commercial management measures needed to meet the reduction in the annual catch limit and annual catch target for gray triggerfish include establishing a fixed closed season and a trip limit. Proposed recreational management measures include establishing a fixed closed season and modifying the recreational bag limit for gray triggerfish within the 20-reef fish aggregate bag limit. This amendment also includes proposed modifications to the recreational accountability measures to allow NOAA Fisheries Service to close the recreational sector once the annual catch target is reached or projected to be reached, and if the annual catch limit is exceeded, to apply an overage adjustment by reducing the annual catch limit and optional annual catch target the following fishing season.
The Framework Action to set the 2013 gag recreational fishing season, bag limit, and to modify the February through March shallow-water grouper closed season contains alternatives for modifications to regulations addressing recreational fishing for gag and shallow-water grouper. Alternatives being considered to modify the recreational gag fishing season would change the starting date for the recreational gag season from July 1 to an earlier time when there is greater demand to fish for gag, or would split the season into two or three sub-seasons. Changing the season to times when there is greater demand may reduce the number of fishing days relative to the status quo, so suboptions within the alternatives consider either retaining the current gag bag limit of 2 fish per person within the 4-fish aggregate shallow-water grouper bag limit, or reducing the bag limit for gag to 1 fish in order to extend the season. The Framework Action will also consider revising the current closed season on recreational harvest of shallow-water grouper by either shortening or eliminating the closed season, moving it to a different date, or having the closed season apply only seaward of the 20 fathom depth contour while eliminating it shoreward of 20 fathoms.
October 15, 2012
Country Inn & Suites
4415 Commons Dr. E.
Destin, FL 32541
(850) 650-9191
Courtyard Marriott
3250 Tamiami Trail N.
Naples, FL 34103
October 16, 2012
Sirata Hotel
5300 Gulf Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33706
Holiday Inn Express
160 W. Commerce Blvd.
Gulf Shores, Al 36542
October 17, 2012
Courtyard Marriott
11471 Cinema Drive
D’Iberville, MS 39540
(228) 392-1200
Hilton Galveston
5400 Seawall Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77551
(409) 744-5000
October 18, 2012
Harte Institute
6300 Ocean Dr., Rm. 127
Corpus Christi Tx 78412
Crowne Plaza Airport
2829 W. Williams Blvd
Kenner, La 70062