(Valid through May 31, 2012)

Issues covered in this posting:

Red Snapper, Commission Meeting, Marine Life Workshops, Season Updates, Events

Issue: Red Snapper

→Gulf of Mexico

Action: Proposed rule to increase quotas, set recreational season in federal waters

Information: NOAA Fisheries Service is reviewing public comment on a proposed rule that will increase the commercial and recreational red snapper quotas in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and set the 2012 recreational season to June 1 through July 10, a total of 40 days. This rule is expected to go into effect in May.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will decide whether or not to adopt a similar season at the May 2-3 Commission meeting in Crystal River.

Links for more information:

Gulf Red Snapper Information [MyFWC.com]

Southeast Fishery Bulletin [sero.nmfs.noaa.gov]

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Issue: MAY COMMISSION MEETING

Action: Marine Fisheries agenda items May 2, 2012

Information: The next FWC Commission meeting will take place May 2-3 at the Plantation Golf Resort and Spa, 9301 W. Fort Island Trail, Crystal River. The date for this meeting was originally schedule for April 25-26 but was moved. Marine Fisheries items will be presented May 2 and include Gulf of Mexico red snapper and federal council updates. Visit MyFWC.com for more information.

Links for more information:

FWC Commission Meeting Press Release [MyFWC.com]

FWC Commission Meeting Agenda [MyFWC.com]

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Issue: MARINE LIFE WORKSHOPS

Action: Workshops scheduled with focus on changes to sea anemone harvest

Information: Several workshops are planned to solicit public comment on possible changes to the Commission’s Marine Life rule (Chapter 68B-42, F.A.C.). Specifically, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be gathering public comments on a proposed harvest closure for the giant Caribbean sea anemone,Condylactis, due to industry concerns and observed declines in commercial landings.

The Commission will also be taking comments on various other topics for possible future rulemaking, including but not limited to regulatory changes for sea cucumbers and reef-building sabellariid tube worms and the removal of fish species like sand perch and unicorn filefish, which are not typically targeted by marine life collectors, from the list of species regulated under 68B-42, F.A.C.

Workshop dates and locations:

• April 23, 2012, 6-8 p.m. EDT, FWC South Regional Office, 8535 Northlake Boulevard,West Palm Beach
• April 24, 2012, 6-8 p.m. EDT, City of Key Colony Beach – City Hall Building, City Hall Auditorium, Mile Marker 53.5, 600 W. Ocean Drive,Key Colony Beach
• April 25, 2012, 6-8 p.m. EDT, Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue,Key West
• May 7, 2012, 5:45-7:45 p.m. EDT, Manatee County Central Library, 1301 Barcarrota Boulevard W,Bradenton
• May 8, 2012, 6-8 p.m. EDT (5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CDT),
  PLACE:Statewide telephone conference call. The public may access this workshop via voice-only phone line. Please RSVP to the Division of Marine Fisheries Management at 850-487-0554 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 850-487-0554 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to obtain instructions to join the meeting via the voice-only line.

Links for more information:

Marine Life Workshops Information [MyFWC.com]

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Issue: SEASON UPDATES

Action: Upcoming and continuing season openings and closures

Information: The following species have upcoming season openings/closures.

• Stone Crab:The recreational and commercial harvest season for stone crab will close May 16 in state waters. The season will reopen Oct. 15.
• Grouper:
  • Atlantic(including Monroe County): The following species of grouperopento recreational harvest instatewaters of the Atlantic startingMay 1: gag, black, red, yellowmouth, yellowfin and tiger grouper; scamp; rock hind; red hind; coney; and grasby. The season will remain open through Dec. 31.
  • Gulf(excluding Monroe County): The following species of grouperopenedto recreational harvest instateandfederalwatersApril 1: black, red, yellowfin and yellowmouth grouper; rock hind; red hind; and scamp. This season is open through Jan. 31, 2013.
  • Gag Grouper:
    • Gulf:Gag grouper openedfor recreational harvest April 1in statewaters off of Franklin, Wakulla, Jeffersonand Taylorcounties, including all waters of the Steinhatchee River, Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass. This season is for 2012 only and will be open through June 30, 2012. Gag grouper will be open in Gulf of Mexico federal waters and in all other Gulf of Mexico state waters July 1-Oct. 31. Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing for more information.

• Permit:The recreational harvest of permit inside the Special Permit Zone (includes state waters south of Cape Florida on the Atlantic coast and south of Cape Sable on the Gulf Coast) will close May 1. The season will reopen Aug. 1.

Other current recreational closures in state waters:

(May not include all harvest closures. View regulations online at MyFWC.com for more.)

Red snapper (Gulf) through May 31, 2012

Shrimp (Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties) through June 1, 2012

Bay scallop through June 30, 2012

Spiny lobster through Aug. 5 (will also open for the sport season, July 25-26)

Snook (Gulf) through Aug. 31, 2012

Links for more information:

Stone Crab Information [MyFWC.com]

Atlantic Grouper Information [MyFWC.com]

Gulf Grouper Information [MyFWC.com]

Gag Grouper Q&A [MyFWC.com]

Permit Information [MyFWC.com]

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Urgent- Australia Marlin Fishing Threatened- Your Comments Needed

Eight regional fishery management councils were established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to advise the NOAA Fisheries Service on federal fishery management issues.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council manages fisheries in federal waters (beyond three miles) off the Florida Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council manages fisheries in federal waters (beyond nine miles) off the Gulf coast. These Councils develop fishery management plans and recommend regulations to the U.S. Department of Commerce based scientific data, public comment and stock assessments conducted by the SouthEast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) program as required by the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

NOAA Fisheries Service reviews Council recommendations and decides whether or not to approve the regulations as an agency of the Department of Commerce.

The FWC manages fisheries in state waters, but has a strong interest in how fish are managed in federal waters and how that management affects Floridians. FWC staff serves on both the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils and coordinates with the Councils to improve fisheries management. The Councils and the FWC often enact consistent regulations in state and federal waters, but sometimes use different approaches to meet management goals. The FWC also partners with the Councils and NOAA Fisheries to collect fishery data, conduct research, assess fish stocks and enforce regulations.

To learn more about federal fisheries management, visit the following links.

Federal Fisheries Information

NOAA Fisheries Service -- The federal agency, a division of the Department of Commerce, responsible for the stewardship of the nation's living marine resources and their habitat. NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office is responsible for fisheries management in federal waters off Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Fisheries Management Councils

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council - Manages fisheries with the federal waters of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Gulf federal regulations are available here.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council - Manages fisheries within the federal waters of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east Florida to Key West. South Atlantic federal regulations are available on the SAFMC website.

Marine Fisheries Commissions

Marine Fisheries Commissions were established to determine priorities for fishery management in coastal waters and recommend management measures that will benefit fisheries.

Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission - Member states include Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission - Member states include Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

For more information:

• Federal Register
• SouthEast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Stock Assessments
• Latest NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fishery Bulletins

Alphabetical Listing

Amberjack ( Reef Fish 68B-14)
Baitfish Trawl Fisheries ( 68B-50)
Ballyhoo ( 68B-56)
Billfish ( 68B-33)
Black Drum ( 68B-36)
Blue Crabs ( 68B-45)
Blue Fish ( 68B-43)
Blue Land Crabs ( 68B-54)
Bonefish ( 68B-34)
Clams, Hard ( 68B-17)
Cobia ( 68B-19)
Conch, Queen ( 68B-16)
Dolphin ( 68B-41)
Eels ( Marine Life 68B-42)
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ( 68B-6)
Flounder ( 68B-48)
Gear Specifications & Prohibited Gear ( 68B-4)
Grouper ( Reef Fish 68B-14)
Grouper, Goliath ( Reef Fish 68B-14)
Hogfish ( Reef Fish 68B-14)
Horseshoe Crabs ( 68B-46)
Jellyfish ( 68B-51)
King Mackerel, Resource Renewal ( 68B-12)
King Mackerel, Atlantic ( 68B-30)
Live Rock ( Marine Life 68B-42)
Lobster, Spiny ( 68B-24)
Lobster, Biscayne Bay ( 68B-11)
Local Laws, Special Acts of Local Application ( 68B-3)
Marine Life ( 68B-42)
Miscellaneous ( 68B-5)
Mullet ( 68B-39)
Ornamentals ( Marine Life 68B-42)
Oysters ( 68B-27)
Permit ( 68B-35)
Pompano, African ( 68B-35)
Pompano, Florida ( 68B-35)
Red Drum ( 68B-22)
Red Porgy ( Reef Fish 68B-14)
Reef fish ( 68B-14)
Sardines ( 68B-29)
Scallops, Bay ( 68B-18)
Scallops, Calico ( 68B-53)
Sea Bass ( Reef Fish 68B-14)
Seatrout, Spotted ( 68B-37)
Shad and River Herring ( 68B-52)
Sharks and Rays ( 68B-44)
Sheepshead ( 68B-48)
Shells, Southwest Florida ( 68B-26)
Shrimp ( 68B-31)
Shrimping and Trapping ( 68B-38)
Snapper ( Reef Fish 68B-14)
Snook ( 68B-21)
Spanish Mackerel ( 68B-23)
Spearing ( 68B-20)
Sponges ( 68B-28)
Stone Crabs ( 68B-13)
Sturgeon ( 68B-15)
Swordfish ( 68B-33)
Tampa Bay ( 68B-25)
Tarpon ( 68B-32)
Tilefish ( 68B-14)
Trap Retrieval and Trap Debris Removal ( 68B-55)
Triggerfish, Gray ( Reef Fish 68B-14)
Triggerfish, all others ( Marine Life 68B-42)
Tripletail ( 68B-49)
Tropicals ( Marine Life 68B-42)
Wahoo ( 68B-41)
Weakfish ( 68B-47)

For more information, call the Division of Marine Fisheries Management at 850-487-0554 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 850-487-0554 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

(Valid through February 29, 2012)

Issues covered in this posting:

Marine Fishery Management Changes, Gag Grouper, Commission Meeting, Season Updates

Issue: UPCOMING MARINE FISHERY MANAGEMENT CHANGES

Information: Listed below are upcoming marine fishery management changes that were approved by the FWC Commission during the Nov. 16, 2011, Commission meeting. These rules go into effect Feb. 1, 2012.

• Red drum:
  • Recreational bag limit increased from one to two fish in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the state
  • Statewide vessel limit of 8 red drum (the maximum number of red drum allowed on a boat while on the water) established
  • An off-water transportation limit of 6 red drum per person (the number of fish allowed in a vehicle on land being transported away from a fishing site) established.
• Spotted seatrout:
  • Recreational season open year-round
  • Recreational bag limit increased from 5 to 6 fish in Northeast region
  • Commercial season extended to 5 months in the Southeast, Southwest and Northwest areas of the state and to 6 months in the Northeast
  • Sale of spotted seatrout allowed 30 days after season closure
  • A commercial vessel limit of 150 fish when at least two licensed commercial fishermen are on board

Links for more information:

FWC November Commission Meeting Agenda [MyFWC.com]

FWC Commission Meeting Press Releases [MyFWC.com]

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Issue: GAG GROUPER

→Gulf of Mexico

Action: Gag grouper recreational harvest closed in state and federal waters of the Gulf

Information: Gag grouper has been closed instatewaters of the Gulf of Mexico (excluding Monroe County) since Nov. 15, 2011. In federal waters of the Gulf, gag grouper is also closed.

Federal fishery managers approved long-term management measures for gag grouper that would set the recreational season in Gulf of Mexico federal waters to July 1 through Oct. 31 and reduce the commercial minimum size limit from 24 to 22 inches. These measures have been approved by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce although the new management changes will not be implemented until the final rule is printed in the Federal Register.

The FWC will discuss consistency with the July 1 through Oct. 31 federal season at the February Commission Meeting.

Links for more information:

FWC News Release – Gulf grouper closure [MyFWC.com]

Southeast Fishery Bulletin [sero.nmfs.noaa.gov]

Gulf Grouper Information [MyFWC.com]

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Issue: FEBRUARY COMMISSION MEETING

Action: Marine Fisheries agenda items February 7-8, 2012

Information: The next FWC Commission meeting will take place Feb. 7-9 at the Florida Public Safety Institute Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy, 215 Academy Dr., Havana. A workshop on marine fisheries stock assessments will be on Feb. 7 and all other marine fisheries agenda items will be presented Feb. 8. Items on the agenda include king mackerel, roundscale spearfish, Gulf of Mexico gag grouper, Apalachicola Bay oyster harvest and Tampa Bay commercial shrimp permits. Visit MyFWC.com for more information.

Links for more information:

FWC Commission Meeting [MyFWC.com]

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Issue: SEASON UPDATES

Action: Upcoming and continuing season openings and closures

Information: The following species have upcoming season openings/closures:

• Grouper:
  • Gulf:The recreational harvest of red, black, scamp, rock hind, red hind, yellowfin and yellowmouth grouper closes Feb. 1, 2012, instatewaters of the Gulf (excluding Monroe County). The season will reopen April 1, 2012. Gag grouper also remains closed in the Gulf. Management efforts for gag grouper will be discussed at the February FWC Commission meeting.
• Spotted seatrout:
  • The recreational harvest of spotted seatrout opened Jan. 1, 2012, in the southern region of Florida (south of the Flagler-Volusia county line in the Atlantic and south of the Fred Howard Park Causeway in the Gulf of Mexico). The recreational season is open in the northeast and northwest regions. Due to management changes, spotted seatrout will no longer have closed seasons.
• Snook:
  • Atlantic:The recreational harvest of snook opens Feb. 1, 2012, in Atlantic state waters (excluding Monroe County). The season will close June 1, 2012.

Other current recreational closures in state waters:

(May not include all harvest closures. Visit regulations online at MyFWC.com for more.)

Grouper (several Atlantic species including gag, red and black) through April 30, 2012

Red Snapper (Gulf) through May 31, 2012

Snook (Gulf) through Aug. 31, 2012

Vermilion Snapper (Atlantic) through March 31, 2012

Bay Scallop through June 30, 2012

Links for more information:

FWC Grouper Information [MyFWC.com]

FWC Spotted Seatrout Recreational Rules [MyFWC.com]

FWC Snook Information [MyFWC.com]

FWC Snook News Release [MyFWC.com]

February 17th, 2012 | Add a Comment

MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence intercepted a 28-foot vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics Feb. 9 in the Caribbean Sea.

The Confidence crew was patrolling south of Cuba, in international waters, when they spotted the go-fast, which led to the confiscation of approximately 1,100 pounds of marijuana and the detainment of six suspected smugglers.

As the Confidence’s boatcrew pursued the go-fast vessel, the suspected smugglers were witnessed jettisoning bales of marijuana into the water. A second boatcrew was launched to recover the evidence, resulting in the collection of 36 bales packed with illegal drugs.

Coast Guard cutter crews consistently train to respond to emergencies, search and rescue, and drug and migrant interdiction cases, all of which often occur without warning.

Confidence’s drug interdiction is one example of many that exhibits the Coast Guard’s efforts in stopping the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. The Confidence is a 210-foot, medium-endurance cutter homeported in Port Canaveral, Fla. The Confidence crew primarily conducts counter-drug and undocumented migrant interdiction patrols in the Caribbean Sea.

Medium-endurance cutters like the Confidence are built for multi-week offshore patrols including operations requiring enhanced communications, and helicopter and pursuit boat operations, which provide a key capability for homeland security operations at sea.

Fishing Regulations Federal Regulations State Regulations Allowable Gear

Federal Fishing Regulations are not always the same as state fishing regulations. For species that are not managed by federal regulations, states have the authority to extend state rules into federal waters for residents of that state or vessels landing a catch in that state.

Federal Fishing Regulations:

• Quick Guide to Recreational Fishing Seasons

• Recreational Fishing Regulations pamphlet available here - When printing the online version, be sure to select two-sided, short-edge binding to ensure proper page order.

• Commercial Fishing Regulations pamphlet available here - When printing the online version, be sure to select two-sided, short-edge binding to ensure proper page order.

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Regulations

• Unofficial compilation of Federal Regulations prepared by the Southeast Regional Office/NMFS

• Official Electronic Code of Federal Regulations for 50 CFR 622 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf and South Atlantic

Proposed Federal Regulations