This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Award No. NA17FC1052.

NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE: AS APPROPRIATE
CONTACT: WAYNE E. SWINGLE

CHARTER VESSEL/HEADBOAT PERMIT MORATORIUM AMENDMENT SCHEDULED TO GO TO PUBLIC HEARINGS

Tampa, Florida - January 12, 2001 - At its November 2000 meeting, the Gulf Council reviewed new alternatives added by members at the September meeting to the proposed Charter Vessel/Headboat Permit Moratorium Amending the: Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP. These principally included alternatives for a charter vessel quota for red snapper based on charter vessel landings for various periods in lieu of implementing the permit moratorium. The Gulf Council retained all of the alternatives proposed by the Ad Hoc Charter Vessel/Headboat Advisory Panel along with preferred alternatives selected by the Gulf Council in September.

Mr. Jim Fensom, Council member from Panama City, Florida, proposed (and the Gulf Council concurred with this motion by a vote of 10 to 6) a simplified management system with alternatives that the Gulf Council can select after public hearings. Mr. Fensom’s simplified management system is as follows (new alternatives indicated by asterisk and bold) :

• A.Duration of Moratorium
• *1.Establish a 5-year moratorium on the issuance of charter vessel permits with an effective date of January 1, 2002.
• *2.New permits will not be issued on or after the effective date of January 1, 2002.
• B.A New Gulf Permit for the Reef Fish and Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fisheries
• *1.Create a new charter vessel/head boat permit for the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) which will consist of only one class of vessels.
• 2.Vessels will have endorsements for the following fisheries:
• a.Reef fish; and
• b.Coastal migratory pelagics.
• 3.Vessel decals for permitted vessels will be required.
• C.Initial Eligibility Requirements for Permits and/or Endorsements
• *1.Provide a fully transferable endorsement to the vessel permit for reef fish and/or coastal migratory pelagic fisheries to vessel owners who held a charter vessel permit for either fishery on January 1, 2002.
• D.Annual Permit and Endorsement Transfers During the Moratorium
• 1.The transfer of permits/endorsements is allowed with or without transfer of the vessel.
• E.Vessel Passenger Restriction on Permit Transfer
• 1.Transfer of permits is allowed between vessels but without any increase in the number of passengers that can legally be carried under the U.S. Coast Guard Safety Certification, i.e., can be transferred to vessels certified to carry equal or fewer passengers.
• F.Annual Reissuance of Permits Not Renewed (or Permanently Revoked)
• 1.Permits not renewed (or permanently revoked) will not be reissued by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) during the moratorium.
• G.Appeals Process under the Moratorium
• *1.New permits will not be issued on or after January 1, 2002, and there is no appeals process.
• H.Requirements to Maintain the New Gulf Permit/Endorsement
• *1.The fishing history of the permit/endorsements is transferred upon sale or transfer.
• 2.All vessels holding a Gulf charter vessel permit and endorsement must register to participate in one of the following surveys:
• a.Charter boat telephone survey;
• b.Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recreation fishing survey; or
• c.NMFS Beaufort head boat survey.
• d.Trip log.
• 3.When selected, the owner or captain must report fishing statistics.
• 4.Failure to participate in the approved surveys will result in the permits and endorsements not being reissued by NMFS the following year.
• 5.Gross income of $20,000 - 25,000 per year from recreational for-hire fishing or an average of gross income $20,000 to 25,000 per year for the three years immediately prior to renewal.

Public hearings on the revised amendment will be scheduled for February 2001 as follows:

To obtain a copy of the amendment contact the Gulf Council Office at 813-228-2815. Written comments on the amendment must be received by March 16, 2001.

The meetings are open to the public and physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office by January 29, 2001.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is 1 of 8 regional fishery management councils that were established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council prepares fishery management plans that are designed to manage fishery resources in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

This news release, and other Council news releases, can be viewed at the Council’s web site at http://www.gulfcouncil.org. In addition, Council press releases may be received via e-mail by sending a blank e-mail message to pressreleases@gulfcouncil.org with SUBSCRIBE as the subject.

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