Releases – August 30, 2012
NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that the 2012-2013 recreational annual catch limit of 409,000 pounds for black sea bass has been reached. As a result, the recreational sector for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic from the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina to Key West, Florida, will close effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) September 4, 2012, through 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2013.
For vessels with a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper grouper, the closure applies to state and federal waters. The operator of a vessel that has a federal for-hire permit for snapper grouper must land any black sea bass harvested from either state or federal waters prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, September 4, 2012.
Black sea bass are experiencing overfishing (rate of removal is too high). For the 2012-2013 fishing year the commercial annual catch limit is 409,000 pounds. Harvest levels must be kept below these levels to prevent fish from being removed too quickly, and to rebuild the black sea bass population.
NOAA Fisheries requests public comments on a resubmitted action from Amendment 18A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper/Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 18A). The notice of availability published in the Federal Register on August 22, 2012 (77 FR 50672).
Amendment 18A was implemented on July 1, 2012, and established a black sea bass pot endorsement program. Amendment 18A also contained an action to allow black sea bass pot endorsements to be transferred to individuals or entities that hold or simultaneously obtain a South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper-Grouper Permit. However, Amendment 18A had the wrong preferred alternative designated and there were discrepancies in the record regarding the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s discussion of the alternatives.
Therefore, NOAA Fisheries did not implement the transferability action in Amendment 18A, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council addressed the action in a separate amendment.
The Resubmitted Amendment 18A Action Amendment would allow black sea bass endorsements to be transferred under the following conditions: (1) valid or renewable black sea bass pot endorsements would be transferable upon the effective date of the final rule implementing this action; (2) valid and renewable endorsements could only be transferred to any individual or entity holding or simultaneously obtaining a valid South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper-Grouper Permit; (3) valid and renewable endorsements would be transferable, independently from the South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper Grouper Permit.
All landings of black sea bass using the black sea bass pot endorsement would be associated with the South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper-Grouper Permit with which the endorsement is associated regardless of when landings occurred. Landings of black sea bass using the black sea bass pot endorsement would not be transferred with the endorsement. Endorsements would not be automatically renewed when the associated South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper-Grouper Permit is renewed. (Endorsement holders would need to check a box on the application to renew their black sea bass pot endorsement.)
Comments on the Resubmitted Amendment 18A Action Amendment must be received no later than October 22, 2012, to be considered by NOAA Fisheries.
Electronic or hardcopies of the Resubmitted Amendment 18A Action Amendment may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries website: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/SASnapperGrouperHomepage.htm, or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s website at www.safmc.net.
To request by mail a CD of the Resubmitted Amendment 18A Action Amendment contact: NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. To request a copy by phone contact: (727) 824-5305
You may submit comments by the following methods:
Electronic Submission: The Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (select “Submit Comment”, then type in NOAA-NMFS-2012-0128 in the “Keyword or ID” box). All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change.
Mail: NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, c/o Kate Michie, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. NOAA Fisheries will accept anonymous comments.
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Comments received through means not specified in this bulletin may not be considered.
For more information on the Resubmitted Amendment 18A Action Amendment, please click on the link to the Resubmitted Amendment 18A Action Amendment Frequently Asked Questions found at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/SASnapperGrouperHomepage.htm or view the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s webpage at www.safmc.net.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding recreational boaters to be safe while having fun this Labor Day weekend, especially if alcohol is involved.
“Labor Day weekend is always a busy time on the water,” said Sgt. Tim Lominac, a wildlife officer who patrols Lake Fontana and other western North Carolina waterways. “We see more night boating, more congregating of boats, and more boats in general. We want boaters to enjoy their experience and that means staying safe. A boat operator must be attentive and cautious at all times.
“Operating a vessel while impaired is against the law, subject to fines up to $1,000 and possible jail. It also puts you at greater risk for an accident, with 20 percent of boating fatalities being alcohol related.”
Throughout the holiday weekend, wildlife officers will remind boaters of various safety campaigns and regulations:
Boat Safe, Boat Sober—During Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to combat intoxicated and dangerous boaters held June 22-24, officers in North Carolina charged 32 people with operating while impaired.
Meet Boating Education Requirements—Anyone younger than 26 operating a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater on a public waterway must have successfully completed an approved boating education course or otherwise be in compliance with N.C.G.S. 75A-16.2.
No Wake—Boats approaching within 100 feet of a law enforcement vessel displaying flashing blue lights must slow to a no-wake speed. In narrow channels, the distance is within 50 feet.
Observe Personal Watercraft Safety—No one can operate a personal watercraft (PWC or “jet ski”) between sunset and sunrise, and all PWC riders, passengers, and those being towed must wear approved personal flotation devices.
For more information on safe recreational boating or to enroll in a free boating education course by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, go to www.ncwildlife.org/boating or call (919) 707-0031.
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher is holding three Surf Fishing workshops in September: Saturday, September 8, 2012, at 9:00 a.m., and Saturday, September 22, 2012, at 9:00 a.m., and Saturday, September 29, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.
This 3-hour workshop includes one hour of classroom discussion, then surf fishing on the beach nearby. All equipment and bait are provided. The program is rain or shine, with extra activities added in event of bad weather (e.g., throwing a cast net).
The workshop is for ages 10 and up, and the fee is $15 per participant (aquarium admission is not included).
Pre-registration is required for these Surf Fishing workshops. For more information or to register for a workshop, please call (910) 458.7468 or visit ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located just south of Kure Beach, a short drive from Wilmington, on U.S. 421. The site is less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal.
