Proposed Snowy Grouper Management Measures Will Harm the Stock and Commercial Fishermen — Help Us Fight

Last fall the [SAFMC] South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved Amendment 51 to the South Atlantic Snapper/Grouper FMP. Now the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is considering whether or not to sign it into law.

Amendment 51 would modify snowy grouper management measures for the worse . It will continue to allow recreational sector over-harvesting, increase recreational dead discards, harm the stock, and deal another devastating blow to commercial fishermen in the South Atlantic. Our commercial fisheries are under attack with a 43% reduction of ACL and Amendment 51 is just the latest salvo with more to come . Now is our chance to stand up for conservation and commercial fishermen.

Amendment 51 violates the Magnuson-Stevens Act in many ways:

  • ●  It fails to implement accountability measures to hold the recreational sector to its annual catch limit.
  • ●  It will allow continued recreational sector over-harvesting and jeopardize stock rebuilding.
  • ●  It will result in a de facto reallocation of more fish to the recreational sector.
  • ●  It does nothing to address increased recreational fishing effort and will result in more

    dead discards of snowy grouper.

  • ●  It will continue taking away fishing opportunities for the commercial sector and harm

    commercial fishing communities along the South Atlantic Coast.

    We are assembling a coalition of fishermen to fight this unlawful action. We are hiring lawyers to help us document all the ways that Amendment 51 violates the law and submitting comments to NMFS. If NMFS approves Amendment 51, we may have to challenge it in court.

    Our objective is to force the recreational sector to be accountable to its catch limits as the law requires, to protect our commercial fishery for the future, and to ensure all our fisheries are rebuilt to benefit consumers across the country.

    In connection with this lawsuit:

    We will urge the Council and NMFS to adopt the following to measures to improve management of our fisheries:

  •   Measures to limit fishing effort and dead discards in the recreational sector.
  •   Mandatory catch and bycatch reporting by the recreational sector.
  •   Possible targeted Time/area closures to recreational fishing to protect grouper and

    snapper species from recreational sector bycatch.

  •   Promoting the long-term viability of the commercial sector, including by eliminating the

    2/1 permitting requirement.

    These efforts will require all of us to band together. We hope you join us in making a donation to a Legal Fund. Write a check out to [A51/Snowy] and be sure to also include your contact information with your email and cell number, and once your donation is received you will be contacted.

    MAILING ADDRESS: “ A51/Snowy” PO BOX 280

    HATTERAS, NC 27943

    Contacts: Jeff Oden Hatteras NC 252-475-0973

    Dewey Hemilright Wanchese NC 252-473-0135