Atlantic Deepwater Closure Reversed

I'm glad they're starting to understand how riduculous some of these closures actually are.Can you imagine they ban all those species for fear of the Warsaw and speckled hind grouper being bycatch,,,,,,,well hello!!!! theres always gonna be a certain amount of bycatch when bottom fishing!!By the way how rare are Warsaw even in deep water ?Very rare even on deep ledges they are seldom caught i have not caught one in thirty years of fishing the reefs of south Florida.I hope these people understand the negative effects of all these closures are having on our fishing rights .Take the tiger and hammer ban -no one can argue that those two species are not fairly abundant in Florida waters yet they propose to completely BAN them .There are far less marlin and bluefin tuna off Florida's coast compared to tiger and hammerhead sharks but they are not banned -they rightfully have limits but are NOT BANNED from harvest.We hope that this Reversal indicates that common sense and good science is are the key factors when considering CLOSURES or BANS instead of hype or hatred towards a segment of the Florida's fisherman.

yelloweye snapper while deep dropping

black snapper while deep dropping

HERE'S THE ARTICLE THAT APPEARED in the Florida Sportsman magazine

"A closure affecting deepwater groupers and snappers in the South Atlantic is likely to be lifted in 2012 after the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (SAFMC) reviewed new data showing the closure may not minimize bycatch. The Council approved the action as part of Regulatory Amendment 11 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan.

The reversal would once-again open deepwater groupers and snappers—other than speckled hind and Warsaw grouper —to recreational fishermen. Most deepwater snappers and groupers have been closed to Florida Atlantic fishermen since January.

The original rule prohibited taking snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, queen snapper and silk snapper beyond 240 feet in federal waters of the South Atlantic. The aim of the rule was to reduce incidental catch of speckled hind and Warsaw grouper, which are protected species.

But after considering public testimony on the economic impacts of the restriction, along with new data indicating the closure may not effectively minimize bycatch, the Council reversed the earlier closure. When the new amendment goes into law, snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, queen snapper and silk snapper will be open for take. The Council continues to explore options to help protect speckled hind and Warsaw grouper.

Each amendment approved by the Council must be reviewed by the Secretary of Commerce before measures are implemented. It is the Council’s intent to have this measure in place by the end of 2011.