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Sunday,May 20,2012

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I guess the whole idea of actually establishing the fact that a fishery is indeed overfished or overfishing is occurring has just turned out to be too pesky so they are moving ahead and acting as if having a stock assessment of 99% of the biomass needed for maximum  Interim measure?  Aren't we in a review stage for this thing?  Isn't the period for public comment supposed to open until January 2, 2009 ?  Yes, I think they have just underlined how worthless they consider these "public comment periods".  According to Steve Brown Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 727-896-8626 Steve.brown@myfwc. Gulf of Mexico gag landings avg 1,715,178 from 1986 to 2004  Now set at 1,320,000 lbs for 2009  "Population levels of gag are healthy, but overfishing is occurring. " http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/species/gag.htm  Well, how the hell do we determine that?  If the population is healthy, did overfishing just start yesterday so it isn't reflected in the population or does someone over there at the NOAA have a crystal ball. (By the way, if someone at NOAA DOES have a crystal ball, could they lend it to the guys in the weather department once in a while?)  I mean, come on now.  I'm all for a good careful approach and I'm getting pretty much used to being hosed in these matters but this is getting ridiculous.  There own information leads them to post this on the WWW.NMFS.NOAA.gov site:  Sustainability Status  Biomass: South Atlantic biomass is 94% of the biomass needed to support maximum sustainable yield (BMSY). Gulf of Mexico biomass is 99% of BMSY. Overfishing: Yes Overfished: No (South Atlantic); Undefined (Gulf of Mexico)* Fishing and habitat: There is little scientific information on the impacts on marine habitats from hook-and-line gear, but habitat impacts appear to be minimal. Numerous Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, marine reserves, and a reef fish stressed are in the Gulf of Mexico have been established to protect and minimize impacts on habitat associated with fishing activities. Bycatch: The South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) prohibits the use of trawl gear, fish traps, and bottom longlines inside 50 fathoms to reduce bycatch in the South Atlantic fishery. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council continues to explore new methods to further reduce bycatch. The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish FMP prohibits the use of trawl gear, fish traps, and bottom longlines inside 20 fathoms in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and inside 50 fathoms in the western Gulf of Mexico. The FMP also provides measures to reduce bycatch of endangered sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish in the Gulf of Mexico. Recreational and commercial fishermen are also required to use circle hooks, venting tools, and dehooking devices to minimize mortality of reef fish when they are released. Aquaculture: There is currently no commercial aquaculture of gag in the United States, but this species is considered a good candidate for aquaculture.  *The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has not approved a new overfished definition for gag; therefore, the stock status is listed as undefined. Based on definitions recently used for other species and results from the latest stock assessment, gag would not be considered overfished.   Read that carefully.  Even given the worst of interpretations, the stock level (or biomass) is at 99% of that needed to sustain maximum sustainable yield.  Is there anyone who believes these studies don't have a few percentage points give and take?  However, that ONE percent of lack of stock level is enough to generate a TWENTY FOUR percent drop in the maximum allowable catch?  Who thinks this stuff up?

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