Once again, it is time to tell the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service what you think of their proposal to close shallow-water grouper fishing for 4 months. The closure, along with other changes to the fishery (like a closed season on vermilion snapper), is included in Amendment 16 of the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Increased restrictions on the aggregate grouper bag limit and increased restrictions on specific grouper species such as gags and blacks are also part of the amendment.

The SAFMC voted in favor of Amendment 16. But the South Atlantic Council's vote is only a recommendation for NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service to act on. Only NOAA's Fisheries Service has the authority to approve and implement Amendment 16. Your comments, which can be sent via email, are required BEFORE February 23.

It only takes a few minutes to make your opinions known to NOAA Fisheries officials; your letters and emails do make a difference in the outcome of fisheries management. Comments like yours helped stop the proposed emergency closure to the red snapper fishery and to the grouper fishery this past fall, which would be in place right now were it not for the outspoken protests of anglers, business owners and elected officials in Florida and throughout the U.S.

You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• Electronic Submissions: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries Service will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

Mail:

Jack McGovern
NOAA Fisheries Service
Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Fax:

727-824-5308, Attention: Jack McGovern

For the link to the official SAFMC bulletin detailing the proposed changes, visit: http://www.safmc.net/Portals/6/News/Amend16NOAfisheryBulletin123008.pdf. To keep up with the latest developments, see the Conservation Section of the FS Forum on this Web site.