More than a dozen Gulf of Mexico commercial king mackerel fishermen, from as far away as Louisiana, attended South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s public hearing on management alternatives for king and Spanish mackerel. Photo: NOAA/Collier County Sea Grant Extension
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
More than a dozen Gulf of Mexico commercial king mackerel fishermen, from as far away as Louisiana, attended South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s public hearing on management alternatives for king and Spanish mackerel.
The Gulf fishermen voiced their support of the South Atlantic Council’s decision to remove an action to change the fishing year in the Gulf of Mexico western zone for king mackerel.
“The Gulf Council change the openings dates for Gulf king Mackerel from July to September,” explained Venice fisherman Matt Andrews, who attended the meeting. Photo: Matt Andrews
“The Gulf Council change the openings dates for Gulf king mackerel from July to September,” explained Venice, La fisherman Matt Andrews, who attended the meeting. “Their vote was not based on any biological or sustainability issues.”
King mackerel, Spanish mackerel and cobia stocks are managed jointly by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council through the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fishery Management Plan (FMP), often making joint management challenging.
Mackerel is especially enjoyed in the Asian and Latin markets. The Gulf fish ends up in California, Canada, as well as the Fulton Fish Market in the New York. In the last 10 years the market has grown substantially, and profits for fishermen have increased.
Amendment 20B to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic FMP also included measures to establish regional quotas in the Atlantic for both king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, with a Northern Zone from North Carolina north to New York, and a Southern Zone encompassing South Carolina, Georgia and Eastern Florida. The quotas would be transferrable between regions.
Grand Isle, LA fishermen initiated the season start date change a little over a year ago. They convinced the Gulf Council the later date would coincide with when king mackerel traditional migrate closer to the Louisiana coastline. The later opening would also cause conflict with east coast production that occurs in the later months.
“The problem with the later opening is that by September and October mackerel have grown to a size that is above the optimum marketable catch,” said Andrews. “Right now 8-14 lb. fish are what are in demand, by September they are 15 lbs. and over. Although there is a limited demand for that size fish, the market would easily become oversaturated and the price driven down, everyone would lose money.”
“Without the action of the South Atlantic Council, we would have had to suck it up and swallow the September opening,” said Andrews. Photo: NOAA/Collier County Sea Grant Extension
According to Andrews, a Florida native who came to Grand Isle in 1982 as the first King Mackerel fisherman, the South Atlantic Council eliminated the date change and passed it back to Gulf Council. Without both Councils approval the measue cannot move forward.
“Without the action of the South Atlantic Council, we would have had to suck it up and swallow the September opening,” said Andrews.
The South Atlantic Council approved Amendment 20B for secretarial review without the date change. The Gulf Council is scheduled to approve the amendment for final submission to the Secretary of the Department of Commerce during its April 2014 meeting. Both federal management councils must be in agreement before submitting the amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for final approval and implementation of the regulations.
Gulf king mackerel is currently a 1,300,000 lb. quota open access fishery, with 3000 pounds trip limits till quota has been filled. The Gulf season, which is considerably smaller than its east coast cousin, runs between 54-56 days, with a majority of the fish landed in Louisiana.
The South Atlantic Council also reviewed public scoping comments received in January for two other draft amendments to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic FMP. Amendment 24 includes options for changing the allocation between commercial and recreational sectors for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel and Gulf group king mackerel. Amendment 26 would allow separate mackerel commercial permits between the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
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