CCA Florida Fisheries Conservation plan for 2008

CCA Florida Fisheries Conservation plan for 2008

On November 3, 2007, CCA Florida’s Government Relations Committee reviewed the Florida Fisheries Conservation and Advocacy Workplan for 2008. Soon after, the Executive Board adopted the workplan. These two groups meet to discuss issues that concern anglers in Florida. CCA goes to battle on most of these issues to insure that we will always have access to our fisheries. Issues include new ways to establish allocations, greater focus on federal issues, and a cooperative effort to remove the “shoreline exemption” from the saltwater fishing license.

The following are some of the priority items from the Fisheries Conservation, Angler Access, and Communication elements of our 2008 workplan.

FISHERIES CONSERVATION

FISHERIES ALLOCATION

• Work with CCA National to develop a comprehensive plan and campaign to address growing problems with the National Marine Fisheries Service to determine “fair and equitable” allocations between recreational and commercial fisheries. Concerns with Individual Fishery Quotas for commercial fisheries. Work with CCA National and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council on initiative to consider all current snapper and grouper allocations as interim allocations and develop guidelines which would serve to establish allocations for snapper, grouper and other Fishery Management Plan (FMP) species in concert with establishment of Annual Catch Limits (ACL).

FWC REDFISH MANAGEMENT

• New stock assessment will be released in fall of 2008. Participate in FWC redfish hearings and workshops to review regulations to meet resource protection goals.

      Achieve redfish protection and management measures that will meet the FWC     
and CCA Florida recommended 40-percent escapement resource protection goal.

2008 LEGISLATION REGARDING FWC AUTHORITY AND BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS

• Support FWC’s Law Enforcement budget request to obtain parity and be able to compete with other state and local law enforcement agencies to help prevent loss of FWC officers. Use Magnuson Act amendments regarding “angler registration” to highlight need for state action.

GULF COUNCIL GROUPER AND AMBERJACK PLANS

• Work with CCA National Gulf Committee, FWC and CCA Florida gag grouper subcommittee to develop recommendations to rebuild Gulf gag and red grouper populations and to achieve equitable allocations for recreational fishermen. Push Gulf Council and NMFS to complete economic value comparison of Gulf recreational and commercial grouper fisheries as requested by FWC in 2005. Work with CCA National, FWC and Gulf Council to keep and enforce the amberjack recreational and commercial allocation that was approved in 1990. Support new conservation measures to restore fishery using the 1990 allocation.

MARINE “NO-TAKE, NO-FISHING” RESERVES

• Oppose “no-fishing zones” (NFZs) as fisheries management tools and advocate more effective, proven fisheries management measures such as spawning aggregation protection, time and area closures, and size and take limits.

ANGLER ACCESS

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK (ENP) – GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

• Work with CCA National, FWC, ENP staff and Florida Congressional delegation to maintain traditional access for boats and anglers and to implement CCA Florida recommendations approved in July 2007. CCA will continue to oppose any large area “Management by Water Depth” or other such zones which exclude normal or traditional access by motorized recreational fishing boats.

BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK – FISHERIES AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLANS

• Work with BNP, FWC, and other interest groups to provide comments and recommendations on BNP General Management Plan and Fisheries Management Plan. Urge implementation of fishery recommendations made by Biscayne National Park stakeholder panel. Oppose any no fishing and angler exclusion zones.

ORGANIZE CCA VOLUNTEER PUBLIC HEARINGS TEAM

• Select, organize and educate a team of CCA Florida members to present written CCA testimony at federal and state public hearings. Special attention shall be given to areas where such hearings and meetings are normally held. Volunteers will be encouraged to wear CCA apparel so CCA’s presence at hearing will be visible.

As you can see, CCA Florida is very much concerned about the waters that you and I fish in and around. It’s nice to know that you have a grassroots, watchdog organization out there, on a local level, to stand up for you on big issues like these, not to mention the two federal lobbyists in Washington D.C. that are looking out for you on even bigger federal issues. You can always visit www.CCAFlorida.org to learn more about what CCA Florida is doing for you, or www.JoinCCA.org to look at federal issues. If you do not find what is of particular concern for you, give us a call or send us an e-mail. We’d love to hear what you have to say.