Highly Migratory Species Report

by John T. Koegler

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association October 2005 Newsletter)

Highly Migratory Species Action Alert

NMFS has scheduled hearings on major changes in future Highly Migratory Species (HMS) rules and regulations. Their proposed changes will affect all recreational, general category and charterboat HMS permit holders starting next year.

Two New Jersey Hearings will start at 7-10PM and be held at:

1-Thursday Sept. 29, 2005 at

Cape May Township Hall, 2600 Bayshore Road, Villas, NJ 08251

2-Thursday October 6, 2005 at

Barnegat Light First Aid Squad, West 10^th St., Barnegat Light, NJ 08006

Their 38 page proposal is available from the NOAA Fisheries internet site or the Federal Registry Vol. 70, No.160 August 19, 2005, pages 48804 to 48838 and at the JCAA webpage http://www.jcaa.org/Proposed Rule_Aug19_2005.pdf  .

There is much to object to in NMFS proposal. Six items deserve your clear and strong objection if you do not desire your offshore and canyon fishing crippled or eliminated.

1. NMFS proposes to consolidate the Atlantic Billfish FMP with the HMS FMP.

This is a major change and makes billfish part of a commercial Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Swordfish, Shark and tuna plans fully land all the fish allocated to them by ICCAT. The current Billfish Plan reserves Atlantic Billfish exclusively for recreational fishermen. NMFS proposal does not continue this exclusive provision.

This proposal would eliminate the current Billfish Management Advisory Board that has a major impact on proposed rule changes.

2. NMFS preferred Alternative would allow catch and release fishing only for Atlantic White Marlin effective 1-01-2007 to 12-31-2011.

The entire US recreational fleet reported only 227 white Marlin landed

for the last THREE years.

3. NMFS proposes to limit all Atlantic Billfish tournament participants to use only non-offset circle hooks when using natural baits or natural bait/artificial lure combinations. Recreational landings are less than ½ of 1% of reported Atlantic Ocean Landings. Such proposal is totally worthless internationally.

4. NMFS proposes new criteria to consider when implementing new time/area closures or making modifications to existing time/area closures. The proposal is difficult to understand. This proposed change must be rejected.

5- NMFS preferred Alternative limits recreationals to 250 Marlins per year. There is no indication that there is observance of Scat’s regulations of international release of marlin that come to the boat alive. Where is there any value in US uUnilateral conservation of Billfish?

6. NMFS proposes to authorize BOUY gear in the commercial swordfish handgear fishery. This change proposes to require that handlines used in the free floating buoy now be considered buoy gear. Allowing swordfish handgear fishery to continue utilizing this gear type. This rule would limit the buoys that can be deployed to 35 buoys per vessel.

THIS ALTERNATIVE ALLOWS COMMERCIAL SWORDFISH FISHING IN AREAS CLOSED TO HMS PELAGIC LONGLINE GEAR!!! Page 48816 of the Federal Registry.

These are six items I found most damaging to US Atlantic fishermen.

These are devastating proposals to US fishermen both economically and recreationally. NMFS states that there will be little affect on recreational fishing and their businesses. Common sense indicated a huge major impact and no measurable international impact on the recovery of either blue and white Marlins.

Anglers must attend these meetings plus send a letter both individually and from their fishing clubs and organizations.

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