Capt_Dave
Site Admin
Joined: Mar 29, 2004
Posts: 8148
Location: Cape Fear, NC
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 Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:37 pm Post subject: Just Say NO! |
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE ANY FISHING AREA CLOSURES OFF THE COAST OF
SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENT 17A TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SNAPPER GROUPER
FISHERY OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION.
The Senate version was introduced by Senators Ray Cleary and Ronnie Cromer. The House version by Thad Viers.
As the resolution states, the fishing area closure is clearly not justifiable with SC’s red snapper landings amounting to only 11% of the total red snapper landings in the South Atlantic.
Jobs and the coastal economy are at stake and the resolution is about protecting both
S. 1095
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Senators Cleary and Cromer
Document Path: l:\s-res\rec\012red .ebd.rec.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4497
Introduced in the Senate on January 26, 2010
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry
Summary: Fishing area closures
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/26/2010 Senate Introduced SJ-4
1/26/2010 Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-4
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
1/26/2010
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO OPPOSE ANY FISHING AREA CLOSURES OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT 17A TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SNAPPER GROUPER FISHERY OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION.
Whereas, in an effort to address potential overfishing of red snapper, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is considering an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region; and
Whereas, the SAFMC is considering closing to fishing a nine thousand six hundred seventy-eight square mile area in the South Atlantic, of which about three thousand five hundred square miles are off the coast of South Carolina, stretching north from the border with Georgia to near McClellanville; and
Whereas, red snapper landings in South Carolina account for only eleven percent of the total red snapper landings in the South Atlantic region; and
Whereas, the National Marine Fisheries Service has already imposed a total closure of the red snapper fishery; and
Whereas, recreational and commercial saltwater fishing is vital to the coastal economy of South Carolina and employs thousands of state residents directly and indirectly; and
Whereas, according to a 2008 University of South Carolina study, coastal tourism in South Carolina had a total economic impact of over seven billion dollars, employed nearly eighty-one thousand South Carolinians, and generated over two billion dollars in salary and wages; and
Whereas, according to a 2006 American Sportfishing Association study, saltwater fishing in South Carolina had a total economic impact of over one billion dollars, employed nearly twelve thousand South Carolinians, and generated over three hundred thirty-three million dollars in salary and wages; and
Whereas, according to a 2008 University of South Carolina study, commercial fishing in South Carolina had a total economic impact of nearly thirty-four million dollars, employed nearly seven hundred South Carolinians, and generated nearly thirteen million dollars in salary and wages; and
Whereas, any area closed to fishing off the coast of South Carolina under consideration by the SAFMC is unjustifiable and would cause severe economic hardship to the State and its coastal counties, including significant job loss at a time when job creation is badly needed and is a priority for the State; and
Whereas, any area closed to fishing off the coast of South Carolina will result in excessive fishing pressure on the remaining open areas, causing localized depletion of fish species, further seriously impacting fishermen, employment, and the local economy; and
Whereas, the State of South Carolina, through the Department of Natural Resources, has a vote on the SAFMC; and
Whereas, South Carolina has two additional representatives that are voting members of the SAFMC. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina opposes any areas closed to fishing off the coast of South Carolina associated with the SAFMC's proposed amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
Be it further resolved that the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina urges the SAFMC to not adopt any amendment that includes any areas be closed to any type of fishing off the coast of South Carolina and directs that the Department of Natural Resources vote be cast accordingly.
Be it further resolved that the two other representatives of South Carolina on the SAFMC are strongly urged by the General Assembly to also cast votes in opposition to any amendment that will result in any area of the state's coast being closed to fishing of any kind.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, all South Carolina representatives on the SAFMC, the SAFMC, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
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Capt. Dave
Continental Shelf
Morehead City, NC
800-775-7450
Life is SHORT....Fish Hard!
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Capt_Dave
Site Admin
Joined: Mar 29, 2004
Posts: 8148
Location: Cape Fear, NC
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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SC GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAYS “NO†TO FISHING CLOSURES
In a concurrent resolution, the South Carolina General Assembly is working to oppose any
fishing area closures off the coast of South Carolina associated with the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council’s (SAFMC) proposed amendment 17A to the fishery management plan for
the grouper/snapper fishery. Two bills currently in the Assembly are H 4497 and S 1095 and
call upon the SAFMC to not adopt any version of Amendment 17A that includes the closure of
areas off the coast of South Carolina to be closed to fishing activities.
South Carolina members of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) lobbied the general
assembly extensively to garner support of this very important issue, and the response from the
General Assembly is applauded by RFA and its South Carolina Members. “We need these
passed immediately,†said RFA-SC member Cantey Smith of Charleston. “These bills advocate
protection of our economy, jobs, our ability to do what we love and the state of our offshore
fishery. Smith stressed that fellow South Carolina anglers should contact their local legislator
asking for support of the resolutions, adding “South Carolina values are at stake here.â€
In the resolution sponsored by Rep. Thad Viers of Myrtle Beach, Sen. Ray Cleary of
Georgetown, Horry and Charleston Counties and Sen. Ronnie Cromer of Lexington, Newberry
and Saluda Counties, South Carolina Assembly members made it very clear that the proposal
under consideration for closures by the SAFMC were “unjustifiable and would create severe
economic hardship to the state and its coastal counties, including significant job loss at a time
when job creation is badly needed and is a priority.â€
“Between NOAA restrictions on snapper and grouper, and the proposal to shut down the entire
coast to bottomfishing, I’m not sure how much our coastal sector can bend,†said Charleston
charter captain, Mark Brown. “Our local fishing industry is close to broke as it is now.â€
The concurrent resolution reads that “any closed area to fishing off the coast of South Carolina
will result in excessive fishing pressure on the remaining open areas, causing localized
depletion of fish species, further, seriously impacting fishermen, employment, and the local
economy.†Furthermore, the Assembly “strongly urged representatives of South Carolina on the
SAMFC to cast votes in opposition to any amendment that will result in any area of the state’s
coast being closed to fishing of any kind.â€
Ideally, RFA would like to see other coastal states within the SAFMC domain follow suit before
the council reconvenes in March to vote on the area closures. “RFA is thankful to Congressman
Henry Brown for contacting members of the General Assembly in South Carolina to get this
done,†said Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the RFA. “Mr. Brown is primary co-sponsor of
HR 1584, the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act, and a champion for sciencebased
and sustainable fisheries management. We would like to see more of our coastal
legislators step up on behalf of its constituents the way these South Carolina representatives
have,†Donofrio said.
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The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing
recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA mission
is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure
the long-term sustainability of our Nation’s saltwater fisheries. Visit www.joinrfa.org.
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Capt. Dave
Continental Shelf
Morehead City, NC
800-775-7450
Life is SHORT....Fish Hard!
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