South Atlantic Council pushing Catch Shares and IFQ's in new "Vision"

ACME Ventures Fishing

The new "Vision" for the Snapper-Grouper complex is taking shape and after a few rounds
of public input that saw support for Catch Shares, IFQ's and Sector Separation near Zero,
much like that in the GOM, the South Atlantic Council has released a preliminary "Vision"
so laced with the very schemes opposed so greatly in the 2014 Port Meetings, that it smells
like a sells pitch scripted by EDF itself.

Public Input "Port Meetings" are starting in Florida next week. Seems the SAFMC is following
the Gulf Councils script of ignoring Public input and rolling ahead in a divide and conquer plan.
The only "Support" for the schemes came from the "Southern Catch" group, which of coarse
is like the Gulf Commercial EDF and Charter Groups that have funding from a few well known
eNGO's pushing the scheme. A few years ago amid massive opposition, the SAFMC voted to
discontinue work on Catch Share schemes, but here we go again.

http://tinyurl.com/Draft-Science
http://tinyurl.com/Draft-Communication
http://tinyurl.com/Draft-Mgmt
http://tinyurl.com/Draft-Governance

Comment Form
http://www.safmc.net/resource-library/comment-form-vision-blueprint-snapper-grouper-fishery

Florida meeting times and locations.


July 13 at 6 PM

Hampton Inn & Suites

95 Vilano Road

St. Augustine, FL 32084



July 14 at 6 PM

FL FWC Northeast Region/Titusville Office

1A Max Brewer Memorial Parkway

Titusville, FL 32796




July 15 at 6 PM

City of Stuart Offices

121 SW Flagler Avenue

Stuart, FL 34994



July 16 at 6 PM

Marathon Government Center

2798 Overseas Highway, 1st floor

Marathon, FL 33050

Jack Hexter

What did you expect with Crabtree running of both the SAFMC and Gulf Council

markw4321

A,couple of months ago i noted a cfh captain on the east coast of florida was requesting help from Mike Jennings and the CFA on their Facebook page to get something going on sector separation on the east coast of Florida. Jennings replied they would set up a meet.

Their working on it you can bet on it.

ACME Ventures Fishing

The South Atlantic Fishermens Association, aka "Southern Catch", is the equivalent of the Gulfs
Reef Shareholders alliance. It shares funding partners and you'll notice a lot of familiar names also.
They apparently are the only one suggesting these unwanted schemes and like the GOM, the
minority seems to hold all the power. I know of no Charter Captains on the east side wanting the
privatization scheme in CFH, but sure that certain groups have already promised funds to get things
rolling. The GOM should be a great example of the need to STOP any "Grassroots" attempt before it
gets rolling, or at least start the fight while its still in its infancy.

saltysenior

The Council for Sustainable Fishing is a group that is trying to put a halt on stuff like this. They have a website and are on facebook. Look them up and join the fight.

ACME Ventures Fishing

Went o the Titusville meeting last night and the idea of Catch Shares again was a big focus. Ben Harding
assured all that they only would be a possibility if a majority brought forth the idea, and this included all
similar schemes. It was also assured that a referendum would be held for any such moves that made it that
far and again, for all similar management schemes (NOAA has a history of using loopholes to avoid a referendum).

ALL Commercial anglers there were strongly opposed to any type of Catch Shares, and repeatedly ask WHY it keeps
coming up with them rejecting it at each and every turn...by wide margins.

While I was the only recreational/CFH fisherman there, I did go on record with opposition to all schemes like what were
seeing in the GOM with the Headboat EFP. Sector Separation, etc. I did make sure that all knew that Recreational Anglers
DO want better data AND want management based on Reliable data. I offered my personal take on how it could be improved
since the Feds MRIP is failing miserably. I noted that Fish Tags for effort control were a non starter BUT if they really wanted
better effort numbers, Tags to determine participant numbers would have been a better proposal. Also The states data collection has proven much more reliable than Feds, so the idea of FWC's reef permit for recreational anglers to collect participant numbers
in the Gulf may be appropriate here also. That is actually being worked on, and next Wednesday will be a FWC meeting in Cocoa
Beach on that very subject.

Bottom line, no management, especially "New and Novel" schemes, Without FIRST having reliable data.

drgibby

ACME, Thanks for your time and effort. It is appreciated............

markw4321