NCFA WEEKLY UPDATE FOR – September 30, 2024

Ending Overfishing of Red Snapper / Our Family and Friends in Western NC / ASSISTANCE FOR STORM VICTIMS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Ending Overfishing of Red Snapper – NOAA Fisheries announced at the last South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (SAFMC) meeting their intention to prepare a Secretarial Amendment to end overfishing of red snapper. In a press release following their announcement, NOAA Fisheries says they are planning “to increase fishing opportunities for landing red snapper by reducing the number of fish released dead”.

Preparation of a Secretarial Amendment instead of a traditional Amendment is the direct result of failure to act by the SAMFC. The SAFMC was officially notified that the red snapper stock was experiencing overfishing in July of 2021. Since this time, the SAFMC has failed to act to end overfishing as required in the Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA). This failure to act has caused reduced opportunities for both commercial and recreational fishermen to harvest red snapper.

It is a shame the public has to sue the government to abide by the very laws they created, but I guess that is how our broken system works nowadays. Three lawsuits were brought against NOAA Fisheries in reference to red snapper and the SAFMC’s failure to act in a timely manner. On August 22, 2024 a settlement was reached in which NOAA Fisheries agreed to submit the final ruling to end overfishing on or before June 6, 2025.

There will be opportunities for public input during the Secretarial Amendment process, but the development of the Amendment will be done internally by NOAA Fisheries. The SAFMC and the public will receive at least one presentation before the plan is finalized for consideration and comment.

Ending overfishing by reducing recreational dead discards will increase opportunities for harvest of red snapper and if we are lucky, we can find a template that helps reduce discards and increases harvest opportunities in other fisheries as well.

Upcoming Meetings – NC Advisory Committees begin meeting next week to discuss Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout) management options. Stay tuned for more information.

Our Family and Friends in Western NC

I also wanted to ask for everyone to continue praying for Western North Carolina.

The devastation of Hurricane Helene is unreal and unimaginable. There are many small communities further up the mountain from Asheville that are not getting much news coverage. Speaking with locals in the areas of Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery Counties in particular, they are still very much in the search and rescue stage of recovery.

Many people are still unaccounted for and most shelters, schools, and churches do not have any form of communication to let people know they need help or to let loved ones know they are ok. Due to the nature of the area, landslides and canyons created by the flooding has destroyed many roads and made many areas only accessible by helicopter.

The prayers the people of Western North Carolina requested is for hope and peace for their communities in these long days ahead. Hoping everyone is ok and hopeful that their loved ones will soon be contacting them. Peace for the long nights and peace for the families that have no answers.

I ask that anyone wanting to help out to coordinate with your local churches and mission/aide groups. Travel in all these areas is still heavily restricted and supplies and people wanting to help need to be coordinated with local and state government officials. It is very important to keep the roads open for search and rescue at this point.

Thomas Newman

Fisheries Liaison

[email protected]

URGENT!!! 10.1.2024 – ASSISTANCE FOR STORM VICTIMS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Everyone knows about the devastation in western North Carolina from last week’s storm. In the past North Carolina’s seafood industry has helped with bulk ice being shipped to the affected areas.

I have been in contact with disaster assistance folks working out of Marion, NC, and we are working on the logistics.

Here are a few questions:

1.) Do you have any bulk ice that you can spare?

2.) Are you able to provide refrigerated transportation to get the ice to Marion?

3.) Do you have a refrigerated truck or a trailer that could be left on site for a few days?

4.) Do you have anyone who could stay and help bag the ice for easier distribution?

Keep in mind that all we are trying to do at this point is assess what we may be able to do.

Please let me know by calling or texting: 252-361-3015 or [email protected]

God bless, Jerry Schill
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