07/06/2012 - Special
MARINE ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 6, 2012
Present: Tim Trager Chair
F. David Hemerick Board Member
Tom Calhoun Board Member
Donald O. McFarland Board Member
Paul E. Lightfoot Board Member
Eric D. Spaulding Board Member
Paul J. Kelley Board Member
Also Present: William Morris Marine & Aviation Department Director
Nicole Sprague ORLS Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall.
2 - Consider request from Clearwater Marine Association for City to support the proposed
amendment implementing sector separation in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Management Fish Plan
and make a recommendation to City Council
The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council (GMFMC), through the federal
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (the Magnuson-Stevens Act), is responsible for
managing fishery resources from the edge of state waters to the Gulf’s 200-mile limit. Fisheries
Management plans, particularly the Reef Fish Management Plan, have separate catch quotas:
1) commercial sector - commercial fisheries that supply restaurants, sea food stores, and the
like and 2) recreational sector - charter fishing boats and head boats, such as those operating
out of the beach Marina, and individuals fishing for enjoyment. Charter fishing boat and head
boat operators are governed by recreational closure regulations for popular gulf fish species.
The GMFMC is considering Amendment 39 to the Reef Fish Management Plan to
develop a sector separation program that would allocate an annual catch quota to charter
fishing boats and head boats separate from the recreational sector. Charter and head boats
would not be allowed to “take” more fish, only manage the number caught during an entire year
and not lose customers during closed months, therefore better managing fish stocks, potentially
extending the fishing season, and improving charter and head boat business management.
Currently, the proposed amendment is at the “scoping” stage, defined by the GMFMC as
a period when the “Council gathers suggestions and ideas from stakeholders and others about
how to solve a fishery problem or address a need. The goal of scoping is to identify issues,
potential impacts, and reasonable alternatives associated with the issues at hand so that
reasonable management actions and alternatives can be developed.”
The Clearwater Marine Association, consisting of Clearwater Beach Marina fishing
charter captains and head boat operators, approached the Marine Department and requested
that the City support sector separation. The Mayor requested that the MAB (Marine Advisory
Board) review the amendment and make a recommendation.
Marine Advisory Special 2012-07-06 1
Member McFarland moved to recommend approval of Amendment 39 to the Reef Fish
Management Plan. There was no second.
Mike Colby, Clearwater Marine Association President, provided a PowerPoint
presentation regarding the history of fishing charter boat and head boat businesses at the
Clearwater Beach Marina, population trends, models, surveys, and the proposed amendment
that would provide a pilot sector separation program limited to gag grouper and red snapper for
specific Gulf fishing charter boat and head boat businesses starting in January 2013. Of 80
head boats in the Gulf, 4 are in Clearwater and a total of 17 would participate in the pilot
program. Data are based on surveys, dock intercepts, and commercial logs. A new system will
survey private recreational angler license holders; catches by this group increase annually. The
Gulf is over-harvested under the current fisheries management program.
Discussion ensued regarding the proposal. Concern was expressed that sector
separation will limit fishing opportunities for recreational anglers while not reducing over
harvesting. It was stated that head boats participating in the pilot program have agreed to be
accountable for their catches; recreational anglers are neither accountable nor mandated to
submit fishing data although a smart phone app is under consideration. Support was expressed
for allowing fishing on days when conditions are ideal rather than limiting it to specific dates.
The government will be able to reduce quotas under sector separation.
In response to a question, Marine &Aviation Department Director Bill Morris reviewed
his background boarding boats to check quotas while serving with the Coast Guard and said he
favored sector separation.
Member Hemerick moved to recommend that the City of Clearwater support sector
separation. The motion was duly seconded. Members Hemerick, Calhoun, McFarland,
Spaulding, and Kelly voted "Aye"; Member Lightfoot voted "Nay." Motion carried.
3-Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:32 a.m.
. ��—-,
Chair
Marine Advisory ::-rd
Attest:
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Board Reporter
Marine Advisory Special 2012-07-06 2