Attention All Recreational Fishermen and Businesses that rely on Recreational Fishing to survive.

Below is a proposal that will be presented to the FFWCC in Key West December 3rd & 4th 2008 by a group of Charter Boat Owners. 

The supporters of the "SOS Plan" (Save Our Selves) want to take 50% of the Recreational Total Allowable Catch and create a "For-Hire" sector similar to the Commercial Sector. 

I was told by a very reliable source that Roy Crabtree likes this idea and said as much at a meeting in Mobile a few weeks ago during an "Off-the-Record" meeting with several of the attendees.

What would this mean to Private Recreational Fishermen? It would mean that we would go from having 49% of the TAC (Total Allowable Catch) to having 24.5% of the TAC.

Basically, if adopted, 2 very small special interest groups (Commercial & For-Hire) would be GIVEN 75.5 percent of all the fish that are allowed to be caught in the Gulf of Mexico! 

 This would be devastating to not only the recreational fisherman but also to Boat Dealers, Boat Mechanics, Marina’s, Fishing & Tackle stores, Scuba shops that sell spearfishing gear, boat insurance sales, all the mechanics that service the millions of private boats and the list could go on and on!  Florida’s economy enjoys approximately $10,000 per minute from Recreational Saltwater Fishing.  We must be proactive and save our rights to fish and our economy!

 BTW, not all Charter Boat Owners support this plan!  However, support is growing because many Charter Owners are hurting and desperate due to the restrictions placed on the Fishery by NMFS limiting the Federal Red Snapper Season. 

I have always supported the Charter Industry because they are professional transportation for Recreational Fishermen, however; I don't support this scheme to hijack 50% of the Recreational Total Allowable Catch. 

 The best plans are always WIN-WIN plans.

This plan is a big looser for Recreational Fishermen and the Businesses that rely on them!

 If you would like to participate in writing a Win-Win plan, Please contact me with your ideas.  candy@valp.net

Spread the word, the future of Recreational Fishing could be at stake!

 Candy Hansard

*************************************************

SOS Plan  (Save-Our-Selves)

Exploring a New Direction to Improve For-Hire Red Snapper Fishing

What’s happening? – The 2008 red snapper season was the shortest on record.  This was due to the NMFS’s commitment to making sure that all sectors stay within their allotted allocation.  Additionally, new government accountability measures will require that any future overages are compensated for, which could result in even shorter seasons in the future. The continued loss of fishing time and subsequent loss of business revenues highlights the desperate situation facing our industry.

It has become clear that we must reevaluate the position of the for-hire recreational fisheries sector. If negative trends continue, we stand to lose all the investment and years of labor we have collectively put into making our profession an industry. Something has to change.

Until this year, many of us thought that we could get by with shortened seasons and fewer fish. Some of our industry leaders have even suggested the solution is the status quo and have promoted the continuity of the relationship we have with the private recreational fishers.

This is no solution at all and the reason is simple: We are professional fishers who operate for-profit businesses.  Both the National Research Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service agree on this point. Sure, we may all fall under the recreational sector allocation umbrella for fisheries management purposes, but we approach fishing from an entirely different perspective. Our opinion is simply that we can no longer afford to be attached to a recreational sector of unknown quantities, effort, landings and unregulated growth.

The time to become involved is now - Several for-hire businessmen are exploring how to better serve our customers, count and conserve fish, and build equity in our businesses assets.  We realize the consequences of inaction: longer fishery rebuilding, fewer fishing days, and lost economic potential for our businesses.  Any profitable business must have stability so owners can plan for the future.  It is imperative that we all take a leadership role in developing common-sense management options to obtain stability, sustainability and give us hope for a better future.  The NMFS and the Gulf Council have both indicated that they are ready to roll up their sleeves and work for better management.  We believe they will be receptive to an industry led effort to make positive change.  

Getting started - To begin, we want to develop a set of goals to guide our discussions and the development of this proposal such as:

·        Provide a reliable platform for the public to access and enjoy sport fishing.

·        Improve service to customers with year-around access and the ability to custom-tailor trips.

·        Build stability and equity in for-hire businesses.

·        Achieve high accountability by counting all fish caught.

·        Rebuild and maintain a viable for-hire fishery.

·        Gain fair and equitable management.

·        Increase industry control over management.

Achieving our Goals - Changes in recreational management will require compromise by several parties, including our industry, and it will neither be easy nor pain- free, but it is an opportunity to put our industry back on track to recover what we have lost, rebuild our investment, and eventually recover equity in our fishery. There are a lot of steps to a new management program, including a proposal, Gulf Council plans, and implementation by NMFS.  This is a daunting task, but the alternative – the status quo - equates to nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. 

Here is a summary of our proposal:

1. Secure our allocation. We would begin by obtaining a “control date” from the NMFS which would freeze the current percentages of recreational sector allocation between the private recreational anglers and the For-Hire Sector based upon landings history. We don’t want anything more than our fair share: only that what we have historically caught.  Then we would obtain an agreement from NMFS that the percentages will remain fixed for a minimum of two years to provide enough time to get the proper monitoring tools in place by NMFS and the industry.

2. Put monitoring tools in place. The next step is to decide what monitoring tools we want. For starters, we think just two: VMS and electronic logbooks. These tools will provide us the opportunity of real-time catch reporting and will determine, at a high level of accuracy, who is fishing and what they are catching.

3. Professionalize the industry: Monitoring tools such as VMS and electronic log books will give scientists and managers better data for management decisions and will give the industry accountability, so that when fish stocks rebound, the information can be trusted and catch levels can be increased.  Increasing the fishermen’s role in data collection and management of the fishery will instill a positive stake in data collection and foster a proactive attitude and participation to further enhance fisheries management.

4.  Create a Red Snapper Endorsement:  As our new sector begins to collect accurate, real-time data through the implementation of VMS and electronic logbooks, a clear picture of who is dependent on red snapper for their livelihoods will immerge.  This information can then be used to determine eligibility for any future management plan for the red snapper fishery.  Fishermen who have implemented VMS and electronic logbooks and have snapper landings can then be given an endorsement for red snapper and will be eligible to participate in the fishery.  Fairness is of utmost importance, whether you have been in business for 6 months or 50 years, have a six-pack boat or a party boat all participants start on the same date with the same access dictated by the NMFS current opening and closings that we are fishing under now.

5. Support law enforcement.  Throughout this process, we will support law enforcement, which will authenticate our honesty in record keeping.  Through VMS, enforcement officers can easily contact vessels and verify catch, and catch composition, with random, unannounced inspections. We support strict penalties including disqualification for anyone caught cheating or “cooking the books.” We also encourage the apprehension and prosecution of individuals illegally conducting a For-Hire business. 

Hopefully, you’ll agree with us that failure to do nothing is certain failure. We welcome your participation in changing the current direction of our industry into a productive business where our sons and daughters have a future in the fishery.

 

Candy Hansard
www.ecreef.org

Capt. Tony Blanton

Certified Marine Technician

Powerpole dealer and Outfitting specialist

SAMS SA Marine surveyor

http://powerpole.com/

Please do not support any of the captains or vessels on the list below. They support the SOS plan and intend destroy the recreational fishery for you and I.

http://saveoursector.com/supporters/supporters_full.aspx

If you agree with the above, please copy and paste this as your signature as well.

Capt. Tony Blanton

Certified Marine Technician

Powerpole dealer and Outfitting specialist

SAMS SA Marine surveyor

http://powerpole.com/

Ms Hansard, I appreciate you sharing our plan with a lot of the people that we do not have normal contact with. Unfortunately you may have some confusion concerning some of the most important aspects of this plan to help our industry survive in this new MSA reauthorization  environment we must now operate in.

      First of all we, the charter for hire sector who is now being managed as a separate sector are asking only for what we have historically caught over the last ten years since we became a limited entry group due to the federal permit process. According to MRFSS data since 1996 -2006 we have caught 61% of the recreational TAC ( total allowable catch) and the private rec sector has caught 39%. This catch data is what the NMFS has used in all its management decisions concerning the red snapper fishery including start and stop days and length of seasons .Also it has been used to determine daily  fish and size limits. We are asking only for what we have been accredited as having caught  No more, no less. We do not want one single pound from what the private recreational sector has caught according to the MRFSS data the last ten years. 

We are not trying to steal a single pound of private recreationally caught fish. The catch limit for the private rec angler will stay at the same level that it has the last ten years percentage wise. Under this reduced TAC we fish under now it will affect the days to fish but the percentages remain the same.Our plan is only applying the historical catch history to our industry so we can manage the red snapper fishery in a manner that will help us to have a long term viable fishery. Our plan will not change one single aspect of what the private rec sector has done over the last  ten years . As a result it will not affect anyone who has a interest in sport fishing along the gulf coast in the private rec sector. The number one problem in most GOM fisheries including red snapper is the lack of accurate science and catch accountability. 

As you can see by the tenets of this plan, that all our industry is asking to do is provide the managers of this resource the tools it need to stop over fishing and give them the science they need to make better decisions about how to manage red snapper. This plan will give them the ability to make better stock assessments and hopefully this will be the fastest way to set us back to higher TAC limits which not only benefit us but also the entire red snapper user groups including the private recreational sector. 

 Your historical catch history is safe under our plan. We do not want to infringe on what you deserve. However if you were to have a concern it should be that as of now your sector has no plan to address the up coming ACL's that start in 2009 and with over fishing and how that may affect your days to fish for red snapper. Under this new directive any amount of over fishing will be applied to the next year. In 2006 the MRFSS data showed a 566,620 lb overage that would  be taken off the following year if the ACL was in place. We are presently fishing under a 1.49 million lb Tac, take 566,620 lbs from that and we would be fishing for only 823,380 the next years under ACL's. . In fact high overages have been recorded according to this data the last 4 or 5 years so most likely 2009-2010 we are going to lose a large amount though these overages and could face a total shut down of this fishery sooner rather than later. 

Our plan with total catch accountability and real time data through VMS,and log books will protect us from these overages. We still wont get any more fish under the present TAC or with the reduced days of fishing but we will start to give the NMFS real science in a timely manner and we  won't be penalized by ACL's. 

On the math of the small user groups controlling 75% of the red snapper fishery. It would be better stated that 75% of the red snapper fishery would be totally accounted for with true catch history , true fishing effort and true science to help scientist to come up with better stock assessments and TAC limits. We who fish daily now know that red snapper fishing in the gulf is the best it has been in over 30 years but the poor science of the MRFSS system won't reflect that for months if not years. With real time data provided by our plan and the current commercial IFQ program for the first time in recent history we have a chance to actually manage a fishery with reality instead of pie in the sky speculation. 

Last but not least please remember that although small in relative  numbers the Charter For Hire industry  per individual vessel brings million of dollars to their local economy. We pay high dock rent at marinas , burn ten of thousand of gallons of fuel each season,I spend in excess of $15,000 dollars a year in tackle, we pay mechanics , boat insurance by the thousands  and there are over 1300 of us,  The average out of state charter customer stays 2.5 days in our city and villages  and spends thousand of dollars per one day charter on accommodations, restaurant, bars, shopping , Charter fees and tips. Not only that do not forget the fact that we are the only true public access for the average American citizen or foreign visitor to experience sport fishing in America. Our industry provide over 2 million anglers who have not the resources to purchase a boat and the expense that prevents most American citizens  the ability to experience fishing in the Gulf.  The MRFSS data of our historical catch history would suggest that we provide far more access to catch red snapper to the average salt water angler than a private recreational fisherman does. 

So Ms Hansard I would like to hope you can see that we are not high jacking nothing from you or anyone else. we are not going to affect the recreational fisherman who wants to continue in the status quo fishing system in place now. In fact I suggest that he comes up with a accountability plan to get out of it ASAP. but if, in  fact,  our plan is implemented the future looks bright. That sooner rather than later that we can get higher TAC limits in a couple of years from now and when that happens, especially after the Recreational fisherman has been getting to fish for only a few days, that our efforts will be appreciated when with a higher TAC his fishing days will be increased as well. 

 You have taken the time to alert those who you know based on your understanding of our plan. I have taken the time to try and clear up some of your concerns and I hope I have done that in a forth rite manner. I will answer any and all questions that you may have and will look forward to a response from you with any concerns you have about our efforts or any ideas that you may have that would help you to maybe change your position. I would however in the interest of fairness ask that you send my response to you to all that you contacted so maybe they can join in this debate . I think it would be helpful to all who fish for red snapper. Thank you for your time  

                                                           Capt. Gary Jarvis

                                                           F/V Back Down 2

This was my response to Capt Jarvis:

Capt. Jarvis, 

Thank you for your thoughtful response. 

I’m sure if I was going to present a plan to the FFWCC that would descriminate against the Charter Operators that you would pass it around to alert the troops.  I am not your enemy, I have been fighting the same battle for better data and accountability in our fishery management.  I have also worked very hard to educate private recreational fishermen that the Charter Guys are our alies.  This plan threatens to shatter that alliance. 

You said you would answer questions so here are some that are on my mind right now: 

1.      How exactly is this plan going to help the small operator grow his business and compete with the fleet operators once the “Historical Data” is established?

2.      Why aren’t you going after the Commercial TAC if you are wanting to be viewed as a Commercial Sector?

3.      Have you requested the MRFSS Data from the NMFS?  (I’m not talking about their compilation report, I’m talking about the RAW data.) 

I would like to come up with a plan that would benefit all Recreational Fishermen including Charter Operators.  If you would like to be part of that dialog, you are very welcome to share ideas that would help to accomplish that goal.  You may not get 100% unity with the Charter industry with this plan but I can pretty much guarantee that the Private Recreational Fishermen will be united 100% against it.   

Candy Hansard

Candy Hansard
www.ecreef.org

How many recreational fishers have EVER been asked "How many red snapper did you catch today (or this week, this month, this year)". The only time I've ever been asked was when the FWC was doing random checks for licenses and size/bag limits, which I'm fairly certain they don't record or report. Even if they did, they're still only talking to a relative few anglers.

How in the HELL can anyone say that we've caught X percentage of the TAC when there is absolutely NO data on the private boat recreational catch?

It would seem to me, before implementing any large changes in TAC allocation, there should be Reliable data collected from ALL sectors. They should find a way to make this happen before making rules based on numbers they are just pulling from their asses!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Captain of the toy charter boat "Tuggy"

___________________________________________________________________

Dan’s Satellites “Legendary Service Since 1988”

20ft Bayliner Trophy Cuddy w/150 Yamaha 4-Stroke
MMSI# 338069659     Some of my Pic's
http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com/gallery.asp?gallery=1175

I could not have said it better. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Grand Daughter  #2

I'm alright your alright everything is alright" IS NOT ALRIGHT

Below is the response I received from Capt Jarvis to my 3 Questions.

You'll be glad to know that when we loose our rights to fish that you will "still have jobs and things to do on weekends in and out of the water." I'm sure you all feel better now!

I talked to the Co-President of the Destin Charter Boat Association, Scott Robson, yesterday and he said: "The Recreational Fisherman aren't going to do anything, they NEVER do!"

Their Plan will be presented December 3rd &4th in Key West.

Will you do anyting to save your rights to fish?

If you think for one minute that a paultry 24 1/2% or less of the Total Allowable Catch shared by over 2.7 million licensed Recreational Fisherman isn't going to affect you then you'd better think again.

This is NOT a FIRE Drill, it's a 4 Alarm FIRE.

Speak UP!

Write a heartfelt and respectful letter to the FFWCC and the NMFS, post it and I will be posting e-mail addresses soon so you can be heard!

It's time to rally the troops, the hour is upon us!

For you small Charter Operators out there.  If you want to GUANANTEE that you will be a small operator forever, then this is the plan for you.  If you understand how the Historical Catch Scheme works, you know I am telling you the truth!

Here is my draft letter.      

Dear XXXX

I am a recreational angler and I writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed “SOS” plan to divide the current Gulf of Mexico (GOM) recreational sector Red Snapper Total Allowable Catch (TAC) between the charter boat industry and private recreational anglers.  I like most recreational anglers, who regularly fish for Red Snapper, do not support the SOS plan.  Recreational fishing on a charter/head boat is done by recreational anglers, not by charter/head boat owners.  The SOS plan is being proposed by a few charter boat operators who believe it is their right to operate a for profit business at the expense of many GOM red snapper anglers.  

As you are fully aware commercial fisherman are already allotted 51% of the GOM Red Snapper TAC.   I urge you not to implement the SOS plan which would commit an additional percentge of the GOM Red Snapper TAC to for profit business operators.  Implementation of the SOS plan would equate to over 75% of the total GOM Red Snapper resource being controlled by commercial business owners.  Additional commercial for profit business interest and lobby influence regarding the GOM red snapper resource is not in the best interest of the fishery at a time when NMFS science indicates red snapper are overfished.  The SOS plan is a bold move to secure additional GOM fishery resources for commercial business profit at the expense of all other GOM recreational fisherman.

President George W. Bush's amendment to Executive Order (EO) 12962, which was signed and issued on Sept. 26, 2008 requires that recreational anglers who have the ability to engage in recreational fishing be able to enjoy the experience. Additionally, the EO 12962 amendment mandates the fishery managers take affirmative action to provide citizens the opportunity to fish recreationally.   I submit that the reduction of the recreational fisherman’s current percent share of the GOM red snapper TAC through implementation of  the SOS plan violates the intent of the EO 12962 amendment by further limiting GOM red snapper fishing opportunities for private citizens.   Please take all action to ensure that the SOS plan is rejected in total and that the ability for recreational anglers to engage in recreational fishing for GOM red snapper is maintained into the future.  

Sincerely,

Mark W

no need to post on this thread anymore.  Everyone here understands you are a commercial fisherman and want to make money off of the red snapper fishery. I imagine you are salivating about now thinking what more commercial red snapper TAC could mean for your personal gain.   I suspect you will get what you want in the end anyway as members of Congress/NMFS representaives always seem to respond to the free oyster dinners and open bar events put on by the commercial fishing lobby in the Wash D.C. environment. In the end money talks and recreational fisherman suck hind tit.  

Mark W  

According to the NMFS website their budget for FY2008 was $796 million and included an INCREASE of $17.5 million for Fisheries Research and Management Programs.  With those kind of resources we still have inaccurate data - that is mismanagement of the highest degree.  There are adequate resources (and have been for years) to devise a non intrusive, reliable, and statistically accurate means of determining recreational sector landings.  This smells like a terrible combination of inept management and  politics,  with NMFS favoring the commercial sector in the face of lots of evidence that the recreational sector is has a better impact on the country and local economies.

Does it make any sense at all with the drastically shortened season and limits that the recreational sector could have possibly overfished red snaper.  I think you'd have to be brain dead to not stop and question the validity of the data and methodologies used to collect it if you insist on making decisions on that type of data.

"I aint as good as I once was...but I was good once...as I ever was".... Toby Keith

Please do not support any of the captains or vessels on the list below. They support the SOS plan and intend to lie to you and steal from you so that they can stay fat and happy.

http://saveoursector.com/supporters/supporters_full.aspx

If you agree with the above, please copy and paste this as your signature as well.

Hot Spots Bait and Tackle
211 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze FL
www.hotspotstackle.com
850-916-7176

That's exaclty what I was getting at. They can't say, with any true degree of accuracy, that commercial has caught 51% percent of the TAC. Without accurate landing data across ALL sectors, anything they estimate is pretty useless.

How many pounds did the commercial sector land last year? Since it's regulated, it should be pretty easy to look up.

Now, how many pounds did the charter/rec sector land last year? There's no real count.

So add those two together, and you end up with some unknown value of X pounds landed. How can the known number from the commercial sector be 51% of X, when No one has a realistic clue as to what X is?

I think, before any drastic reallocation of the resource is implemented, the managing authority should at the very least implement some manner of accurate data collection across All sectors of the red snapper fishery. From there, reasonably accurate data can be gathered and processed to find a solution that makes sense for the fishery, AND for the fishermen. To make massive changes to the seasons and TAC without first ensuring that accurate fishery data has been collected is wreckless and negligent.

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Captain of the toy charter boat "Tuggy"

the problem is the charter boat SoS plan is moving now and by some accounts has NMFS favor because it allows NMFS to set a new data point to begin to account for more red snapper landings via charter boats under the SOS plan.  Agreed the charter boats have no current basis for their share of recreational TAC, but if you read between the lines in CAPT Jarvis account of the SOS plan cut and pasted below.     

" So under the SOS plan every charter for hire Captain who catches red snapper is going to start at the same starting point. Whether you have fished for 30 yrs or have only fished 3 months, whether you fish in a 25 ft out board or a 105 ft party boat every one starts at the same time with the same ability to establish catch history. Now remember we are now fishing in our designated TAC % shared only in our industry. After the SOS plan is implemented we can decide what will be the best formula to establish this history in the most fair manner . We most likely will fish under the present system of a 1 June start date and however many days we get to fish that first season.That first year of data will finally determine who actually fishes for red snapper out of the 1306 active permits. Some federal permit holders because of their location or fishing business decisions do not catch snapper now and some never have. All permit holders that caught a red snapper will get a red snapper endorsement . With that endorsement you now have 1 vote for 1 permit on all and any management decisions that will come up. It is only reasonable that if you do not fish for red snapper then you have no need to decide on red snapper issues . This will apply to other species at a later date and will work both ways.After the red snapper endorsements are active we can as a industry can through referendum decide how to best establish catch history for each stakeholder. "

what I get out of the part where CAPT Jarvis states:

 "After the SOS plan is implemented we can decide what will be the best formula to establish this history in the most fair manner . We most likely will fish under the present system of a 1 June start date and however many days we get to fish that first season.That first year of data will finally determine who actually fishes for red snapper out of the 1306 active permits. "

Is that CAPT Jarvis intends to fish like his life depended on it when snapper season opens every day so that the portion of the TAC under SoS alloted to his boat(s) is a goodly portion alllowing him to ensure the success of his business. Since CAPT Jarvis will be a voting member he and or his family will control an alloted portion of the red snapper TAC to the point he is able for the foreseeable future.  

Mark W

If the laws are not just, I say we should just do as we see fit.

Screw the commercial interests.

Your thoughtful and respectful letter is exactly what we need to stop this dead in it's tracks.

Great JOB!  Please contact me.

Candy Hansard
www.ecreef.org

Mr. Huntley,

I respectfully would like to share the following story since you seem to be a tad naive when it comes to the ability to over fish.  This is where the problem is, not in the private recreational sector.  I would challenge you to produce a private recreational fisherman story that could top this! 

With that said, it is my belief that, if 20 men, most of whom are senior citizens can catch 909 Red Snappers in one afternoon, this should be submitted into evidence to prove that there is no shortage of Red Snapper! (Best available Science? This catch was documented by law enforcement!)

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
www.wlf.louisiana.gov

Please do not support any of the captains or vessels on the list below. They support the SOS plan and intend destroy the recreational fishery for you and I.

http://saveoursector.com/supporters/supporters_full.aspx

If you agree with the above, please copy and paste this as your signature as well.

Business Owners that rely on Recreational Fishermen for your survival, you are a stakeholder in this game too!  If approximately 2.7 million - 5 million florida recreational fishermen wind up having to share 19% of the TAC, how long do you think you will remain in business?  If we're not on the water, we don't need to spend money on new boats, dry storage at the marinas, wet slips, insurance, fishing & tackle supplies, scuba gear etc... 

Remember, these people are in a position to help us.  Please write respectful letters.  In order for your letters to be considered, they must contain your name and address.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
commissioners@myfwc.com

Ed Sapp - Recreational Representative on the Gulf Council
ewsapp@hotmail.com

Roy Crabtree - National Marine Fisheries Service
Roy.crabtree@noaa.gov

Candy Hansard
www.ecreef.org

Because Capt. Jarvis has asked me to share his response with everyone that I sent the announcements to, I am sharing it with all of you.

Basically, Capt. Jarvis took an announcement I wrote and inserted his comments in red.  

BTW, If you haven't written a letter requesting the FFWCC, NMFS and Gulf Council REJECT the SOS proposal, please do so quickly.  The meeting is December 3rd & 4th.  Addresses are listed below.  

From: GJabd@
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 3:56 PM
To: candy@valp.net;
Subject: Re: 24½% TAC for Recreational Fishermen? Say NO!

Candy it really disappoints me that you have had to resort to deception and mis quotes and mis statements to get your propaganda out . Why can you not just report the facts and let each person make their own judgment on how this issue affects them. It surprises me that on the issue of the percentages of the TAC in the recreational sector which includes us at this time that you can not see that these percentages have been pretty much constant over the last 10 yrs. Not only that but whether we were catching 4 fish per person from 21 Apr. to 31 Oct or 2 fish no Captain no crew for only 60 some days the percentages between Charter for Hire and private Rec still stayed the same. Where in this data do you come up with the stealing fish Idea? Do you realize during this last ten years that the private recreational fisherman had the same access to red snapper that the charter for hire sector had yet his percentage has stayed the same, just like ours have? That is why we are only asking to bring our historical percentage of red snapper under our control to manage as a industry. We feel due to the new NMFS rules and mandates that we must have better control of our future. If it was not for the hindrances of people like you to get better accountability and science to manage these resources we would not be moving in this direction . We would operate like we always have.  We would be happy to stay right were we are. But the rules have changed and whether you like it or not the NMFS is going to win on these issues . They have congressional law and mandates that give them the power to regulate red snapper till the end of time. So until you can come up with a plan that won't put us out of business we will go forward with our efforts. Capt. Gary 

In a message dated 11/20/2008 8:47:31 P.M. Central Standard Time, candy@valp.net writes:

Capt Jarvis asked me to share his response to my original alert and I think that is fair.  Attached is his response.  I also re-attached the proposal so if you want to forward this message, you will have all the information in this one e-mail.

You can all rest easy now because after the Private Recreational Fisherman looses his right to fish, we will “still have jobs and things to do on weekends in and out of the water”.Too bad you didn't print the first part of this statement where you said to me You may not get 100% unity with the Charter industry with this plan but I can pretty much guarantee that the Private Recreational Fishermen will be united 100% against it. And I responded That's OK because they do not have to worry about the out come if we fail, they still have jobs and things to do on weekends in and out of the water. I unfortunately do not  I have no other recourse but to come up with solutions to our dilemma. Nothing  to date has made any substantial progress the last 4 or 5 years in this night mare we are in now.  

Well, if the Recreational Fisherman and the businesses that depend on their business don't speak up NOW, we had all better think of something else to do on the weekend. Again , the Charter for hire fisherman has no other recourse,  if the season is closed he will be out of WORK! the private boat angler will spray his boat off and store it and then go to his WORK to pay his bills we can not.

Business owners, you'd better find another customer base because when the 2.7 million Florida Recreational Fisherman have to share a paltry 24 ½% or LESS of the TOTAL TAC, that is going to KILL Recreational Fishing! This so called  paltry TAC percentage is, and has been all that recreational anglers have been catching under any and all seasons and catch limits the last ten years and it seems to have been OK then and still now. Even under the reduced limits it still did not change . In fact after the SOS plan goes into effect and with the improved science and accountability the NMFS will be more likely to increase the TAC's  to the pre 2000 levels of 9 million pounds due to better stock assessments  and the private recreational fisherman will catch  2 times more than he can catch now. Under status quo the entire res snapper fishery could be TOTALY SHUT DOWN for a season or 2 . How do you think your business owners will think about your efforts then MS .HANSFORD ?  

It is unconscionable to think that approximately 1,500 people could own 75.5 percent of the Total Allowable Catch.

If you own a business that services a Recreational Fishing customer base, make no mistake, this WILL permanently and negatively affect your bottom line. Again how will a total closing of the red snapper season under ACL's effect them. It is important that you and them must understand the complete possibility under the ACL's that this can and will happen if nothing changes.Do your small business owners that you are calling on want to entertain this fact?

If you're a recreational fisherman, this will severely limit your seasons and your rights to catch and keep fish.  Think how you will feel when the Charter guys and the Commercial guys are fishing every day and the recreational season is closed.  If this plan is adopted that IS what you are going to have to live with.  It’s easy to stop this, just write a nice letter and send it to the addresses below. First of all catching and keeping fish is a privilege and not a right. And all of us will lose it without better management of this species. We have a SOS plan that will benefit the fish and the fisherman. Even you will benefit even though you refuse to participate in the better management of this valuable resource. Our plan will give you more fish and longer fishing seasons through increased TAC's and better stock assessments in the next few years.

If you're a small Charter Operator and you sign on to this plan, it will GUARANTEE that you will be a SMALL operator FOREVER.  If you understand the “Historical Catch” allocation scheme, you know I am telling you the truth.

Ms Hansford the Charter for Hire industry is 3 to 1 small boat operators. The support and success of this plan revolves around them. No industry referendum concerning red snapper or any other fishery issue will be approved or initiated without their approval. If you were aware of this fact and the status of our industry you would have not made this statement. There are over 1100 permit holders on 6 Pak vessels compared with approximate 4oo over six including party boats. 855 of them operate on vessels 35 ft or smaller. Your GUARANTEE could not be farther from THE TRUTH.

Please be aware that not every Charter Operator supports this plan but it is quickly gaining support because they are desperate for anything that will give them relief from the restrictions all Recreational Fishermen are under.

I am interested in drafting an alternate “Win-Win” plan.  I am listening to all ideas.  If you have an idea or questions about this issue, please e-mail me at: candy@valp.net

The Charter Operator SOS (Save Our Selves) plan is being presented at the meeting in Key West December 3^rd & 4^th.  You must act quickly!

Please send your letters to voice your opinion on this plan to:

(The most effective way to do this is to write one letter then copy and paste to each address below.  These people are in a position to help us, please send respectful letters.)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

commissioners@myfwc.com

Ed Sapp - Recreational Representative on the Gulf Council

ewsapp@hotmail.com

Roy Crabtree - National Marine Fisheries Service

Roy.crabtree@noaa.gov

If we do not stop this plan in December, our next round of letters will be to legislators.  I will send you those addresses if that becomes necessary.

Thank you all for your support,

Candy Hansard

Candy Hansard
www.ecreef.org