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LAP PROGRAM INFORMATION Limited Access Privileges Update The following paragraphs provide a brief summary of Council action and discussion with regard to limited access privilege programs (LAPs) for any of the species under the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. In March 2007, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council formed the Limited Access Privilege Program (LAP) Exploratory Workgroup. The Workgroup was composed of fishery stakeholders including fishermen from each gear group (longline, hook and line, dive) and state, fish house owners, an environmental representative, Sea Grant staff, and NMFS staff. The Workgroup met nine times and compiled a report on the appropriateness of LAPs for the South Atlantic commercial snapper grouper fishery and what characteristics the Workgroup thought a LAP should have. The Workgroup also expressed the possible positive and negative impacts they could foresee of a LAP, prerequisites for a LAP, and goals and objectives for a LAP. These were incorporated into the document. The document also contains background information on various aspects of a LAP. In early March 2008, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council received the LAP Exploratory Workgroup’s Final Report and discussed whether to move ahead with development of an amendment that would explore the potential impacts of an LAP for the commercial snapper grouper fishery. The Council decided not to move ahead with development of an amendment at this time. The Council requested that Sea Grant conduct an outreach program to gather information from the fishing industry about their ideas for LAPs and similar programs. The Council also directed Council staff to contact tilefish fishermen to ask about their interest in a possible LAP for the tilefish fishery. In June, the Council expects to hear back from Council staff on this issue. A revised update will be provided following the June 9-13 Council meeting in Orlando. Information about LAP Workgroup members, the Workgroup’s final report, meeting minutes, and background information on LAPs are all available on the Council website. |
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| CAPT GREGS COMMENTARY LETS TALK ABOUT LAPS What are the LAPS going to do to the recreational? Answer; It will put dollar values on poundage of recreationally caught fish. Instituting a LAP Program on the commercial sector will not stop the reductions of catch to the recreational sector. In fact as a person experienced with the LAPS the recreational sector was taken away from that fishery. I spent many years with the ITQ fishing for deepwater wreckfish. When the ITQ came about and dollar value was placed on poundage the recreational sector was not allowed to catch any of these fish. The fishermen in South Florida were manly affected but it maid it a federal crime for the recs to have one onboard their vessel. If you wanted to catch one, you would have to permit accordingly and by poundage from someone who has ITQ. As soon as the poundage was delegated out ,then started the feeding frenzy of buyers going after as much ITQ as possible to try and monopolise the industry. Well it did bite them you know where because of the high expense and danger in catching these. Look at the Gulf and ask anyone if the LAPS has helped them. They are still seeing reductions to both sectors and everybody is mad. Write your letters to the SAFMC and let them know that we aren't going to stand for this in the Atlantic. Yours Truly Greg D. SAFMC AP Snapper and Grouper committee. Commentary to the Fishermen As a person who loves the ocean an its many vast resources. I have seen the day of taking friends fishing or better yet my family being threatened by what seems to be a dictatorship. Our government basis its decisions on 1 assessment, by a government paid group. As a person in the business world when i am faced with a multi million dollar decision I will pull multiple assessments so I can aid myself in making the best assessment. If I were to do business with 1 view and I say view because the information is skewed with variables. I would probably be responsible for large losses to the company I am employed. I know that it would be next to impossible to achieve 100% accurate data I think but more assessments need to be added to the reviewed data. I basically keep an I on whats going on in Congress because as an American its is our right to know. This election coming up has sent me into a which way do I go mode. I do not trust them and I think this is a broad consensus across America. America is now held hostage by other countries and the economy will not get better until we realize as Americans we can do something about. Rebuild America Fire them all |