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September 22, 2010
Updates in the Gulf - Reopening and Red
Snapper Announcements
Yesterday, NOAA Fisheries announced
two actions in the Gulf:
REOPENING - NOAA
reopened to commercial and recreational fishing 7,970 square miles
of Gulf waters along the southern boundary of the federal closed
area. About 60 nautical miles off of central Louisiana and about
140 nautical miles off the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama and the
western edge of the Florida panhandle, this area is important for
recreational and commercial fishing of deep sea (pelagic) species
such as tuna and billfish.
Between July 31 and August 10, NOAA sampled the area for pelagic
finfish, including tuna and billfish. Sensory analyses of 93
samples and chemical analyses of 92 samples in 18 composits
followed the methodology and procedures in the re-opening protocol,
with sensory analysis finding no detectable oil or dispersant odors
or flavors, and results of chemical analysis well below the levels
of concern. NOAA will continue to take samples for testing from the
newly re-opened area and continue dockside sampling of fish caught
throughout the Gulf by commercial fishermen.
RED SNAPPER - Recreational
red snapper fishing will reopen for an added season to allow
fishermen to catch the quota they did not reach because a portion
of the Gulf was closed due to the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill.
Recreational fishing will be allowed on Fridays through Sundays for
eight weeks, from Oct 1 through Nov 21, a strategy developed by the
Fishery Management Council after receiving extensive public
testimony. The Friday through Sunday schedule will allow fishing to
occur later into the year, increasing the opportunity for fishermen
to participate.
This red snapper opening does not apply to the commercial red
snapper fishery which operates under a catch share management
program where participants in the fishery are assigned individual
shares of the commercial quota that they can fish for whenever they
want throughout the year.
For complete copies of these two announcements, maps, and other
associated materials, please go to NOAA's Southeast Region website.
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CCA is
the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the
nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has
been active in state, national and international fisheries
management issues since 1977. Visit www.JoinCCA.org for more
information.
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