Federal fisheries regulators seem determined to make grouper into a commodity that only commercial fishermen have a right to catch. The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council (Gulf Council) is taking comments on its latest grouper and tilefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) plan. Recreational anglers should be present at any of the meetings beginning July 21, or write to gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org by August 7, to voice recreational anglers’ opposition to the draft.

“The IFQ handout of the public’s fish to private interests is not only philosophically corrupt it is conceptually illegal,” says Karl Wickstrom, Florida Sportsman founder. “A permanent right to shares that may be sold or passed down to others, without time limits or competitive proposals goes against all contemporary handling of public resources when allocating to private interests.

The socio-economic benefits often are determined to be far higher with non-commercial usages. ”

An Individual Fish Quota (IFQ) allows an “entity” to harvest a percentage of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of a fish species—but mostly the entity is a commercial fisherman. Commercial fishermen can then buy and sell their shares and fish year-round. Recently, Dedicated Access Privilege (DAP) programs have replaced the IFQ vernacular.

“Imagine giving away permanent rights to timberland on public property without time limits or competitive proposals,” said Wickstrom. “If any traditional layer of government were caught nowadays giving away such public assets, it would be a major scandal that would run participants out of office, and perhaps up the river.”

Groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund, and a host of commercial fishing organizations including the Gulf Fishermen’s Association, have already stated their support for the new plan.

“Thanks to IFQs, the average Joe finds himself without his own allotment and perhaps may take up bowling.”

Public hearings will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m. An informal open question and answer session on IFQs will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Florida Locations:
July 24, 2008, Clarion Hotel, 12635 S. Cleveland Ave, Ft. Myers, FL
July 30, 2008, Quorum, 700 N. Westshore, Tampa, FL 33609
July 31, 2008, NMFS Lab, 350 Dellwood Beach Dr., Panama City, FL 32408