| 16 November 2011
Brett Fitzgerald, Communications Director for SGF, read many of the comments received in the Trout Poll as part of his public comment.The FWC Commission voted today on a number of rule changes
for Florida’s spotted sea trout fishery. Most of the rules involved massive
increases in commercial take, from year round sales, to boat limits of 150 fish
(with 2 commercial anglers), to being allowed bycatch in seine nets.
We at the SGF felt that most recreational anglers were unaware of the latter three items on the table, so we created a poll that over 3,400 of you took the time to complete. The overwhelming results of that poll were clear: roughly 95% were against the extended season and increased boat limit, and over 98% were against the allowance of seine nets.
The results and comments were presented to the Commission
prior to the vote; along with the specific ask to follow the will of our
members.
Jeff Weakley, Florida Sportsman, Capt. Danny Barrow, SGF Board, and FWC Commissioner 'Alligator' Ron Bergeron.
When the time came for the commission to have their final discussion before putting this issue to vote, it was clear that the commissioners heard your voices. [click here to see final poll results]
Commissioner Charles Roberts III opened the discussion with the remark that maybe the proposals were “moving too fast,” and Commissioner Kenneth Wright was the first to say he had issues with the year-round sale and the use of seine nets, saying if passed, this rule will “go down as the seine net rule.”
Chairman Kathy Barco took this time to admonish the Snook & Gamefish Foundation and CCA for “generating this hysteria” in the public regarding the proposed rules.
At the end of the discussion, it was Commissioner Wright who made the motion to remove seine nets from the rule, and decrease the year-round sale to 30 additional days after the season. Commisserioner Bergeron seconded that motion.
Commissioner Roberts argued unsuccessfully against the increased commercial boat limit on trout.A fair amount of deliberation focused on the increased boat
limit proposal, and Commissioner Roberts stated he was against the increase.
Unfortunately he did not win that point.
The final verdict reflects a compromise that could prove costly to Florida’s fishing economy. Seine nets and year round sale were taken off the table, which were probably the most dangerous aspects of the proposal. But the increased boat limits, along with the longer commercial fishing season, have potential to create noticeable impacts on local trout populations.
The Commission should be commended for their willingness to give back to anglers in Florida. This attitude is essential, and welcomed. However, seeing how seemingly close we came to having seine nets used for catching trout, one has to wonder if “no sale gamefish” status is the only way we can ensure sea trout get the long term protection they need to keep them as the number one inshore recreational fish in Florida.
(above) Stakeholders waiting to speak about trout before the FWC Commissioners. Many traveled more than one hundred miles to attend the meeting. Henry from Snook Nook - Jensen Beach brought a 100 foot seine net to demonstrate his opinion that any measure that encourages inshore use of such nets is unwise.
Summary of Results of the FWC Vote on Spotted SeaTrout
- There will be no commercial seine netting by-catch allowance for trout.
- The commercial season will be extended for hook and line and cast net trout fishing.
- The commercial hook and line and cast net limit has been upped to allow 150 trout with two commercial fishermen together in one boat.
- No year round sales of trout, (30 days after seasons' end sales acceptable).
- Season extensions: no more closed season for recreational anglers; extended commercial seasons from 3 to 5 months in the SW, SW and SE and 3 to 6 months in the NE.
