For those Florida divers out there who may be spearfishers, this may be of interest to you, as it is to me. This is a time sensitive blog.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is meeting soon to decide the NEW REGULATIONS FOR GAG GROUPER, including:
Bag Limit of One (1) Fish per Person Five Month Closed Season (Dec.-April)
These regulations will be based on their “findings” that recreational fishermen (which also includes Charters and HeadBoats) KILL (not “release”) almost two pounds (1.85 lbs) of Gag for every pound they take home. In other words:
YOU KILL FOUR SHORT GAGS FOR EACH KEEPER!!!
Quote: “Nearly all of the dead discards (99%) come from the recreational sector”
(Do you think this is true???) Visit www.GulfCouncil.org and read the document entitled “Scoping Document for Reef Fish Amendment 30”, for this and more “amazing” statistics!
What CAN YOU DO?
CALL or Write the Gulf Council at: 1-888-833-1844, 2203 North Lois Ave, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607 (e-mail: GulfCouncil@GulfCouncil.org)
CALL or Write the NOAA National Marine Fisheries- SE Regional Office (Dr. Roy Crabtree, director) at: 1-727-824-5301, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701
Call or Write your Congressmen, Senators, and Gov. Crist
Attend one of these Public Hearings...the next one is: March 21, 2007 Best Western 6400 Dudley Drive Naples, Florida 239-643-6655
It starts at 7pm.