Item K15BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date:
Feb 16, 2011
Division:
BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes
_ No x
Department:
George R. Neugent
Staff Contact Person/Phone #: T. Colonna 4512
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval of a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, in support
of the recommendations drafted by the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust as it relates to permit.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT /AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: INDIRECT COST: BUDGETED: Yes No
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty x OMB /Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included x Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 7/09
RESOLUTION NO. -2011
RESOLUTION NO. -2011
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, IN SUPPORT OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS DRAFTED BY THE
BONEFISH & TARPON TRUST AS IT RELATES TO
PERMIT.
WHEREAS, Permit are an economic and ecologically significant fish species in the
waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), and
WHEREAS, there are no regulations for Permit in Federal waters and the Magnuson -
Stevens Act allows State regulations to extend into Federal waters in the absence of Federal
rules, and
WHEREAS, the benefits of proposed regulations would aid enforcement of State fishery
rules and protect Permit spawning fishery stocks within Federal waters, and
WHEREAS, there is a need to have a by -catch limit in place for Permit due to the fact of
possible indirect by -catch by commercial fishery in pursuit of Pompano, and
WHEREAS, even though commercial harvest is small there is the potential for this
fishery to grow and to manage Permit separately in this action would keep a harvest growth
incentive low, and
WHEREAS, there is a lack of data on spawning aggregations and no current stock
assessment on Permit; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMIVIISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, THAT:
The Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida hereby resolves
to support the below recommendations, which were drafted by The Bonefish &
Tarpon Trust, as follows:
1. Extend State Permit regulations into Federal waters
2. Set a minimum length of twenty -six (26) inches for harvest
3. Establish a spawning season closure for Permit (with a catch and release
provision)
4. Establish gamefish designation for Permit
5. Do not allow spearfishing of Permit in State or Federal Waters
6. Teach anglers how to tell the difference between Permit and Pompano
7. Manage Permit as a separate fishery
8. Establish a commercial by -catch limit on Permit
9. Keep set Bag Limit of one (1) fish per angler and two (2) per vessel per day
Pagel of 2
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on this 16 day of February, 2011.
Mayor Heather Carruthers
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice
Commissioner Kim Wigington
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
(SEAL) BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Attest: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
B • B
Deputy Clerk Mayor /Chairperson
COUNTY ATTORN tY
APRAOVSD AS TO EOM :/__._
ANNE A. MUTTON
CCU 10RNCY
/t .
Page 2 of 2
SONEFISl-1 6TARPON TRUST
STEWARDSHIP THROUGH SCIENCE
December 30, 2010
Recommendations for revised regulations and a data acquisition strategy for permit,
Trachinotus falcatus
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust adheres to a proactive conservation strategy, and is concerned that the
lack of a stock assessment on permit (Trachinotus falcatus), significant shortcomings in fisheries
data, harvest pressure on both juveniles and spawning aggregations, and a general lack of
information on permit biology leaves permit extremely vulnerable to overfishing. Without
adequate data, the monitoring essential for effective conservation and management is not
possible, and management response to overfishing will, by default, come after stocks have been
depleted. That a notable portion of the harvest comes from aggregations on artificial reefs during
spring through summer (spawning locations and season) and from targeted harvest of juveniles,
heightens BTT's concern. One only has to look as far as Amberjack to find a case study of the
impacts of lack of information on fish stocks — the amberjack fishery was once in the exact same
position as the permit fishery today (no cause for concern), and stocks are now considered
overfished. In addition, since permit is a U.S. treasure unique to Florida, and a quintessential
economic and cultural part of Florida, BTT feels that permit deserves elevation to a level of
special care and attention.
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust applauds the Commission's move toward splitting permit and pompano
into separate management groups. Their biology is sufficiently different to warrant this change.
Treating each species as a separate fishery will allow regulations to be structured to meet the
requirements of each fishery. The creation of Zones to accommodate the differences in fishery
characteristics will be a challenge, but may do a lot to offset disagreernents among user groups,
and should be pursued.
Given the susceptibility of spawning aggregations to overfishing, in combination with the overall
lack of data on permit, BTT continues to advocate for a spawning season closure. Moreover,
indications are that a pattern of serial overfishing may be in progress — the loss of snapper and
grouper fisheries may have caused an increase in pressure and harvest of permit — thus increasing
the importance of spawning aggregation protection.
Permit provides an opportunity to create a management and regulation template for future
recreational fisheries. The trend for recreational fisheries points toward increasing occurrence of
catch and release — as an increasingly common practice by anglers and as a management tool.
This creates a data acquisition and management challenge that must be met, and the permit
fishery may offer a means to address this challenge.
Below you will find BTT's recommendations on new regulations and a strategy for obtaining the
data necessary for permit managment. BTT is now spending $27,000 per year on the state -wide
tagging project, which will lay an important foundation for additional work, and hopes to
continue collaborating with FWC on this and additional efforts.
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Recommendations for New Regulations for Permit (Trachinotus
falcatus):
• Fisher status tatus Permit should be designated as a gamefish. Sportfishing for permit is
economically important in the Florida Keys. The IGFA world records for permit are
almost exclusively from the Florida Keys. Gamefish designation for permit will reduce
user conflicts and maximize sustained benefits of the resource.
• Minimum size for harvest Minimum size for harvest should be based on age /size at
reproductive maturity and estimated escapement rate. Since escapement rate data are not
presently available, and FWC research suggested that permit may be especially
susceptible to overharvest of juveniles, a conservative approach is warranted. Minimum
size at harvest should be greater than size at maturity as an appropriate conservative
approach until additional data are available to indicate otherwise.
• Zone delineation A line from North Miami to Cape Sable, extending due east of Miami
and due west of Cape Sable, will mark the northern boundary to a Florida Keys Zone,
which will encompass the Florida Keys, Florida Bay, Dry Tortugas, Marquesas. North of
this line on both Atlantic and Gulf coasts will constitute a North Zone.
Bag limit
imit
• Option 1 : The bag (harvest) limit for permit should be 1 fish per boat per day in
the Keys Zone. Bag (harvest) limit should be 1 fish per person per day, maximum
2 per boat per day in the North Zone.
• Option 2 : Permit shall be catch and release only in the Keys Zone. Bag (harvest)
limit should be 1 fish per person per day, maximum 2 per boat per day in the
North Zone.
Gear Restrictions
• Option 1 : Spearfishing for permit should be illegal in state and federal waters.
Permit can be caught with hook and line only.
• Option 2 : Spearfishing for permit should be allowed only in Federal waters and
only in the North Zone.
Spawning season closure Given that other species that aggregate to spawn have suffered
population declines due to harvesting from spawning aggregations, a precautionary
approach should be taken with permit until sufficient data are available for management
revision. Therefore, a statewide spawning season closure should be enacted for permit to
protect spawning aggregations of mature adults during the peak spawning season:
• Option 1 May through July in all waters
• Option 2 May and June in all waters
• Option 3 May through July only in the Keys Zone
Expansion of regulations All state regulations for permit in Florida should be extended
into federal waters.
A ' %
%l
1
BONEFISH 6 TAR{)ON TRUST
STEWARDSHIP THROUGH SCIENCE
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Recommendations for a Data Acquisition Strategy for Permit,
Trachinotus falcatus
An expanded program of biological and fishery statistics is required to assist Florida
management decision - making for permit. The program should include:
• A statewide tagging program to obtain data on spatial and temporal aspects of
movements and migrations.
• Extensive analysis of available data on recreational and commercial catch, effort, and
landings.
• Study on the economic value of the recreational fishery.
• An integrated recreational angler and commercial fishery survey to determine the
temporal and spatial components of fishing effort and harvests and to determine fleet
fishing mortality rates, including catch - and - release mortality.
• Establish an intensive logbook program to track recreational fishing effort and harvest.
• Improve population- dynamic and life history estimates for age - growth, maximum size
and age, and natural mortality.
• Improve estimates of reproductive maturity, and timing and locations of spawning.
• Ensure regular permit stock assessments by FWC.
For more information contact infontarbone.org