2010 red snapper season will be the shortest ever
By Press-Register staff
February 03, 2010, 8:30AM
Federal regulators Tuesday set the 2010 red snapper at the shortest length of time ever -- between 51 and 60 days -- due the 2009 quota being exceeded by 1.7 million pounds.MOBILE, Ala. -- In December, the National Marine Fisheries Service official in charge of red snapper regulations warned that, despite a seemingly robust population, the 2010 season may be shortened because recreational anglers exceeded their quota by 1.7 million pounds in 2009.
Roy Crabtree's warning proved prophetic Tuesday, during the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Mobile. The Reef Fish Management Committee voted to increase the total allowable catch to 6.945 million pounds, but cut the season to between 51 and 60 days -- making for the shortest snapper season ever.
Last year's season was 65 days, with a 5 million pound quota.
Commercial fishermen get 51 percent of the total catch. The full council will vote on the committee's recommendation today.
"Yes, we've increased the quota this year, but we had such an overrun last year that we've got to take steps to make sure that doesn't happen again," Crabtree said.
"The ability to raise the quota for next year (2011) is contingent on not exceeding it this year."
The bag limit will remain two fish per person per day. The 2010 season will likely open in early June.
The last several years have seen progressively shorter seasons and reduced bag limits as fisheries managers try to comply with new requirements under the federal Magnuson Stevens Fishery Management Act. The law requires that overfishing of red snapper end by 2011 and the population be fully rebuilt by 2032.
Crabtree said it remains unclear exactly how long the recreational season will be in 2010.
Preliminary data show an unexpected increase in the average size of fish caught in 2009. If that trend holds up during the final analysis -- with snapper averaging about 5 pounds -- the season would be 60 days. If the remaining data shows the average size of fish caught was even larger, the season would end up being 51 days, he said.
Federal scientists said recreational anglers exceeded their quota partly because of the increased size of the snapper being caught.
The 2010 recreational season closing date would not be determined until after the fisheries service analyzes all remaining data, Crabtree said, adding that this likely would not happen until May. Usually, such determinations are made by March.
Alabama marine resources director and Gulf Council member Vernon Minton said that because of the way the federal law is written, neither the council nor federal officials had any choice but to shorten the season.
"Based on the harvest rate in 2009, federal law requires (the fisheries service) to shorten the season like this in order to keep the recreational guys within their quota," Minton said, noting that short seasons and tight limits have already hurt charter captains and fishing-related businesses along the Alabama coast.
Orange Beach charter captain and fishery council member Johnny Greene said the delay in announcing the recreational season closing date would make it hard for captains to book trips with potential customers.
"It's tough on everybody because we have the law beating everybody over the head," he said. "Sometimes common sense doesn't fit in with it."
