Attention Gulf Red Snapper Anglers

Photo provided by: MyFWC
Photo provided by: MyFWC

Big changes to Gulf recreational red snapper management could be coming – here’s your chance to weigh in and make sure your voice is heard. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) is holding public hearings on a proposal known as regional management that could give states a larger role in red snapper management in federal waters. See meeting dates and times below.

Currently, the Council is responsible for management of the recreational red snapper fishery in all Gulf of Mexico federal waters. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manages state waters off Florida. If the Council approves regional management, the federal recreational red snapper quota would be divided state-by-state or at a regional level, and states would set recreational seasons and bag limits in both state and federal waters off their coast.

Regional management could allow for recreational red snapper regulations in federal waters to be tailored to more local needs. However, there are possible trade-offs, such as potentially fewer fishing days for Florida red snapper anglers.

Two meetings will be held in Florida on regional management during October. Council and FWC staff will be on hand at these meetings to discuss proposal details and what it might mean for Florida anglers. If you cannot attend an in-person meeting, there will also be a webinar.

The FWC Commission will discuss regional management and review input from the public hearings at its Nov. 18-19 meeting in Panama City. This input will help the FWC Commission decide how the FWC representative on the Council should vote on the Council’s regional management proposal.

The Council is expected to make a final decision on regional management at its Jan. 25-29 meeting in Orange Beach, AL.

Meeting dates and locations:
All in-person meetings begin at 6 p.m. local time and end no later than 9 p.m. local time. The webinar begins at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

Thurs, October 22, 2015
Embassy Suites
570 Scenic Gulf Drive
Destin, FL 332550
850-337-7000

Tues, October 27, 2015
Hilton St. Petersburg
Carillon Park
950 Lake Carillon Dr.
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
727-540-0050

Wed, October 28, 2015
Webinar

Click here to register!

Public Hearing Guides with details about the Council’s regional management proposal will be posted on the Council website at http://gulfcouncil.org/fishery_management_plans/scoping-thru-implementation.php.

Posted by pearl Member News

News Release: Coast Guard to hold public meeting for waterways review in Punta Gorda, Fla.

imgA

Coast Guard to hold public meeting for waterways review in Punta Gorda, Fla.

WHO: The Coast Guard
WHAT: Public meeting to discuss Aids to Navigation
WHEN: 6 p.m., Jan.15, 2015.
WHERE: Laishley Park Municipal Marina Community Room, 120 Laishley Ct., Punta Gorda, Florida, 33950.

CHARLOTTE HARBOR, Fla. – The Coast Guard is scheduled to hold a public meeting to discuss the current Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) in the Charlotte Harbor area Jan. 15, 2014.

The review consists of Charlotte Harbor, including Boca Grande Pass and the southern, navigable waters of the Peace and Myakka Rivers that are marked by Coast Guard Aids to Navigation.

The WAMS process is an essential component of both the Aids to Navigation Program and the Marine Transportation System. Coast Guard officials use WAMS to validate the adequacy of the existing aids to navigation systems and to get a better understanding of the uses of each waterway and general safety issues. WAMS focuses on the waterway’s present Aids to Navigation system, marine casualty information, port and harbor resources, changes in recreational and commercial marine vessel usage and future dredging and development projects.

This is an opportunity for the public to recommend changes for improvements of Aids to Navigation, federal publications and nautical charts within the area.

For more information, contact Chief Warrant Officer Darren Pauly, 813- 228-2191 Ext 8184 or darren.a.pauly@uscg.mil

Posted by pearl SWFMIA News

SWFMIA Annual Dinner

IMPORTANT! Due to a very strong response from our members and guests, we have moved Wednesday’s dinner across the street from the City Pier back to Harborside (1375 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901). Looks like this will be our biggest Annual Dinner ever.

INVITE ANNUAL MEETING 0914

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 17th for our Annual Meeting at the City Pier building on the Caloosahatchee in downtown Fort Myers. Cocktails, Dinner, a candidates “Meet and Greet” prior to elections, an auction to raise funds for our scholarship/community donation fund, and our “State of the Association” Presentation. Please RSVP by emailing Laura@swfmia.com.

Posted by pearl Member News SWFMIA News