Demand that Spotted Sea Trout Closure be revoked
- by: JL McNew
- recipient: DMR Director Jamie Miller Mississippi, United States
The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources decided on the 18th of October to implement a Spotted Sea Trout closure from Jan to Mar starting in 2017. A closure does not support the science of increasing the Spawning Ratio to achieve a 20% SPR. It is not implemented during a spawning season which would have provided maximum protection to spawning trout. The Commission did not consider raising the overall size and reducing the daily bag limit which most State Fisheries implement. There was no public comment or research on the economic impact. The state of Mississippi is also not able to account for actual recreational fishery of sea trout Total Allowable Catch in order to decide on the Recreational allocation. The average fishermen in Mississippi is asking for the immediate revocation of the closure and public comment on the correct way to improve the fishery. The closure does not affect the Commercial Fishery at all only the Recreational fishery. By not closing Commercial fishing it undermines the attempt to save the fishery.
October 21, 2016
To: Mississippi Governor The Honorable Phil Bryant Jackson, MS email: info@governor.ms.gov
Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources 1141 Bayview Avenue Biloxi MS 39530
Department of Marine Resources 1141 Bayview Avenue Biloxi MS 39530
Subject: Demand Revocation of Trout closure and Public Hearing
Reference: Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 25-43-3.104. (2) (a) An agency, in its discretion, may schedule an oral proceeding on any proposed rule. However, an agency shall schedule an oral proceeding on a proposed rule if, within twenty (20) days after the proper filing of the notice of proposed rule adoption, a written request for an oral proceeding is submitted by a political subdivision, an agency or ten (10) persons. At that proceeding, persons may present oral or written argument, data and views on the proposed rule.
Summary: We, the undersigned residents of the State of Mississippi and licensed recreational anglers, do demand that a public hearing (oral proceeding) be held on the recent action (proposed rules) by the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources closing the recreational fishery for speckled trout (Cynoscion nebulosus) during the months of January, February, and March 2017, and that such hearing be coordinated with the required hearing on changes to the Fishery Management Plan adopted on October 18, 2016 raising the minimum size to fifteen (15) inches and removing the charter captain/crew bag limit when on a chartered trip.
Recommendation: In order to prevent such closure recommend that size and bag limit reductions take affect with at least a 14in size limit and a bag reduction to 6 or 8 fish. In addition that research and scientific data be account actual recreational landing numbers and to also look at the following the affect the following has had on the population: BP Oil Spill, Loss of Habitat, Water Quality, Loss of Bait such as Pogey, and bycatch from Shrimp and Pogey industry.
Very Respectfully, Fishing Men and Women of Mississippi who have signed this Petition online and will continue to address this issue with local and state government. Thank you for your time and all that you do for the State of Mississippi.
Note: Please find over 300 signatures requesting Public Hearing on this issue
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