Workgroup for Fisheries

Below is copy of the Workgroup recommendations from the King Mackerel Fishery.

It was widly accepted by the Council after a few questions for clarification.

In my opinion, all fisheries must push for and work toward this type of Workgroup.

Get all user groups in a room, work out the particulars amongst us, and move forward from there -

We Must Become Part of The Solution ... Instead of Part of The Problem

A Vision for the King Mackerel Fishery

FINAL REPORT OF THE KING MACKEREL FISHERY STAKEHOLDER WORKGROUP
Submitted to the ______ Council

Date:

A workgroup of stake holders developed a common vision of what an ideal fishery would look like, and then evaluated the efficacy of a series of options suggested by workgroup members to achieve their goals for the fishery. The efficacy of options was evaluated through a formal decision analysis in which expected options from each option was evaluated and compared to stakeholders’ goal for the fishery.

Based on this process, the workgroup developed 17 consensus recommendations that seek to improve long-term sustainability and quality of Atlantic King Mackerel Fisheries. IT should be emphasized that members of the workgroup voted as individuals: their votes should NOT be taken as construing endorsement by the agencies and organizations of which they are members. The workgroups made 3 specific recommendations for the recreational fishery that seek to avoid the Atlantic King Mackerel Fishery from becoming overfished, or experiencing overfishing, while maintaining year round recreational fishery: These recommendations are:

• 
  8 million lb annual catch and 2 fish per day per angler bag limit for the recreational fishery for all states.

• 8 million lb TAC, 2 fish per angler daily bag limit all states and a 28” size limit for the recreational fishery

• 8 million lb TAC, 2 fish per angler daily bag limit all states and a 32” size limit for the recreational fishery.
  To improve our ability to manage the species in the future, the workgroup also recommended 4 management principals be adopted:

1. The Atlantic and gulf councils should consider the effects of fishing stocks in Mexican waters in their future stock assessments.

2. The council should consider the Gulf of Mexico King Mackerel stock as well and the Atlantic stocks before any adjustments are made to the stock quota. Mixing zone allocation should be informed by a stakeholder process and based on a comprehensive analysis of the underlying biology of the 2 fisheries.

3. Decisions affecting the Atlantic fishery should be considered in conjunction with the Gulf fishery before any changes are made.

4. The council’s stakeholder process should be expanded to include a more direct and interactive stakeholder driven process that seeks to improve input in developing scientifically based management advice and exploring potential consequences of alternative management actions, such as the Fish Smart process, to guide the Councils management decisions.