Monthly Archives: June 2016

Menhaden Changes

Comments are due by 5:00PM, July 11, 2016 on Draft Addendum I to Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Menhaden proposes modifying the FMP’s bycatch allowance provision.  

The current regulations pertaining to fixed multispecies stationary gear (i.e. pound net) fishing allows one licensed individual to harvest 6000 lbs. of menhaden bycatch per vessel per day. The public is asked to comment on changing this regulation to allow 2 licensed individuals fishing from a single boat the ability to harvest 12,000 lbs. per day when fishing multispecies stationary gear. This change is requested primarily for the Chesapeake Bay pound net fishery.  It will allow licensed individuals to pool their resources for fuel and crew and work from a single boat, vs. multiple boats.  This change will not increase the total landings of menhaden.   This method of fishing represents less than 2% of the total coast wide landings for menhaden.

VSSA can support this change since the total landings of menhaden will not be increased.  VSSA continues to advocate that there should be no increase in the total allowable catch (TAC) for menhaden.

Unless, we hear to the contrary from our members, VSSA will support the change in Addendum 1 to Amendment 2.

The complete document can be found at

http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/573dd50fAtlMenhadenDraftAddendumI_PublicComment_May2016.pdf

SAFMC Cobia Amendment

Dear Cobia Anglers,

While the 2016 cobia regulations are settled, SAFMC is hard at work to severely limit our cobia season for 2017 and beyond. 

Please see the decision framework posted here:

http://blog.safmc.net/download/Briefing%20Book%20June%202016/Mackerel/Att6b_CobiaFrameworkAm4_DecisionDocument_052316.pdf

Full framework amendment 4 posted here.

http://blog.safmc.net/download/Briefing%20Book%20June%202016/Mackerel/Att6a_DraftCMPFrameworkAm4_AtlCobia_052516.pdf

VSSA is requesting all anglers submit their comments online at the SAFMC web form.  Comments need to be submitted not later June 16 to be included in the record.

http://www.safmc.net/CommentForm_June2016Council

Suggested wording you can copy and paste or feel free to write your own comments

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I request the following letter be included as a public comment for the June Council meeting regarding the proposed cobia amendment.

I support a federal limit of 1 cobia per person (reduction from 2 per person). I do not support boat limits until a new stock assessment is completed to justify that such drastic measures are needed. The council and committee have failed to demonstrate that cobia are overfished based on a single year of data.  

I recommend redoing the automatic triggers to Accountability Measures (AM) that call for closures based on 1 years’ worth of data. Automatic triggers to AMs is a poor way to manage stocks when based on a single year of data. And certainly a full closure is unwarranted when other management options are clearly available such reduced limits, sizes, and partial seasonal closures.  

I strongly urge SAFMC to return the Atlantic coast to a single zone. The zone split providing the Florida Atlantic coast their own zone and higher ACL is grossly unfair and represents unprofessional favoritism to a single state. The science used to justify this action is not sound nor accepted by any respectable fisherman.  

I do not support closed seasons. SAFMC and the committee have failed to justify the need for closed season.

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Here is a copy of the VSSA letter submitted. 

VSSA Cobia Letter to SAFMC 6 Jun 16