Gulf of Mexico

Fishery Management Council

Wayne E. Swingle

Executive Director

During the past year, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has developed several fishery plans ready to be implemented by the Secretary of Commerce, after review. These plans affect almost every member of SFA because of their importance to Gulf coast and Florida Keys fisheries. The plans deal with shrimp, reef fish (snapper, grouper, and sea bass), mackerel (king and Spanish), spiny lobster, and shark.

The main purpose of the Council is to develop such management plans, as provided for by the US 200-mile limit law. The Council’s Advisory Panel, made up of industry consumer, recreational, and environmental interests, is influential and helpful by providing input towards development of these plans. Public hearings are also very useful in finalizing a plan. A good example of this process is the plan for reef fish. The public hearings during 1979 generated enough valid objections that several regulatory measures were deleted and others added. A second-round of hearings is scheduled for this newer version of the plan for June-July.

The past year also saw the successful one-year completion of the stone crab plan, in which the stone crab-shrimp separation line was a big factor in its implementation. The Gulf Council has identified two other fisheries which may require plans if management problems warrant plan development. These fisheries are tropical reef fish and squid. The Council also accepted a complete profile of the coastal herring fishery, but has suspended any plan development.

Congressional oversight hearings were a special activity the Council participated in during the past year. These hearings, conducted by the House of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Subcommittee (Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee), reviewed how well the Regional Councils were functioning after three years of existence. Council Chairman John Mehos of Texas, B.J. Putnam of Panama City, and Bob Jones of SFA, testified.

Another area of interest taken by the Council is environmental and habitat protection for important Gulf species. Using its plans as supporting evidence, the Council effectively comments to federal and state agencies regarding projects which would significantly and adversely affect fishery resources. Because of its limited charter, the Council has developed criteria which define significant projects deserving of comment. Comments made to date relate to diversion of freshwater; channelization, dredging, and spoils disposal; residential development; and private use of a wetland area.

An unresolved issue still facing the Council is the boundary between it and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The present dividing line is the Monroe-Dade County line extended due east. An interpretation strictly along geographical considerations was made late last year by the Justice Department. The dispute may be settled in 1980.

In October 1979 Bob Jones was elected Chairman of the Council, serving as Vice-Chairman is Edward Swindell of Houston. About one third of the Council membership have terms which expire in July. Seats on the Council will either be reappointments or new appointees selected by Gulf-state governors.