Fishery News from S.O.F.A.

IFQ and Classified Ad Site Online

blog admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:22:31 +0000

We have a new classified ad and IFQ Brokeragesite online. You can list commercial boats, equipment, tackle and anything else related to the fishery that you want to sell in the classifieds section for a very low and reasonable charge. You can also list IFQ Shares and Allotment that you want to sell [...]

IFQ Reminders from NMFS

blog admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:06:19 +0000

NMFS is sending out an email with a pdf attachment of reminders for the participants in the Gulf IFQ Program. We’ve converted it from the pdf to plain text and repost it here and on the IFQBrokers.com site. Southeast Fishery Bulletin National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505 [...]

Stone Crab Season Opening in One Week

blog admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:47:19 +0000

October 15, 2009. That’s the day that stone crabbers can pull their traps, cook and sell their first load of the season. We wish them all a great season, lots of crabs, no octopus, good prices…all that kind of stuff. Also, if anyone wants to drop a bag of claws off at my place, that’s okay [...]

NOAA distributing IFQ share figures.

blog admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:19:41 +0000

We got a package by registered mail today with a lot of information about the IFQ system as well as specific numbers on the shares that they are going to allot my own boat this year. Not surprisingly, the numbers they send are about 25% lower than what we came up with when we [...]

NOAA Announces an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for Groupers and Tilefishes in the Gulf of Mexico

blog admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:09:23 +0000

FB09-o48 has arrived. It lays out some dates leading up to the January 1, 2010 implementation of the Grouper IFQ program. No big surprises here. Nice to get some solid information, though. On July 2, 2009, NOAA Fisheries Service approved Amendment 29 addressing new commercial regulations for Gulf of Mexico reef fish. A [...]

NOAA Announces Four Month Closure Of “The Edges”…

blog admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:39:04 +0000

FB09-042 has arrived. It announces the finalizing of the new rule regarding the yearly four month closure (Jan 1 to April 30) of the area in the Northern Gulf NMFS is now calling “The Edges” NOAA ANNOUNCES THE FOUR MONTH CLOSURE OF “THE EDGES” TO PROTECT GAG AND OTHER GROUPERS DURING SPAWNING IN THE [...]

Food & Water Watch Speaks Out Against IFQs.

blog admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:06:04 +0000

Hmmm. This should make for some interesting discussions around the docks. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2009 1:18 PM CONTACT: Food & Water Watch Ben Bowman: (415) 293-9903 Erin Greenfield: (202) 683-2500 New Survey: Fishermen Oppose Controversial Management Plan Gulf of Mexico Fishermen Vote Against IFQ Plan, Food & Water Watch Finds WASHINGTON – June 22 – Today, Food & Water Watch released [...]

Deep Water Grouper To Close Very Soon

blog admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:41:22 +0000

The commercial fishery for deepwater grouper in theGulf of Mexico is closed, effective 12:01 a.m. (localtime) June 27, 2009, through December 31, 2009. Read the full bulletin (pdf format) here: FB09-037

FWC Adopts resolution calling for Disaster Relief for Longline Fishery

blog admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:42:50 +0000

During their meeting this week, FWC Commissioners … “approved a resolution to request that Gov. Charlie Crist ask the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to provide disaster relief to Florida’s Gulf commercial reef fish longline industry and related seafood dealers. This action is needed because a pending federal emergency rule to protect sea turtles will effectively close [...]

NOAA Seeking Public Comment on IFQ Rules

blog admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:25:11 +0000

FB09-028 has arrived. NOAA Seeking Public Comment on Proposed Rule Changes to the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery Including an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a proposed rule for the Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery. The proposed rule published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2009 (74 FR 20134). [...]