# Presentation: 534770

## An Overview of the Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper and Grouper/Tilefish IFQ Programs

- Andy Strelcheck
- Southeast Regional Office
- St. Petersburg, FL

## Red Snapper IFQ Program

- Overview of Red Snapper IFQ
- Fishery description
- Need for IFQ
- IFQ objectives and goals
- Successes/Challenges
- Lessons Learned

## Red Snapper Fishery

- Predominately hook-and-line/bandit rigs
- 2.55 mp quota

**TX**

**AL**

**LA**

**MS**

**wFL**

***39.2%***

***15.6%***

***40.8%***

***4.4%***

**Source: 2007 Red Snapper IFQ Report**

## Red Snapper Status

- First regulations
- implemented

- Rebuilding plan
- implemented

## Regulations Pre-IFQ

- Class 1 (2,000 lbs) and Class 2 permits (200 lbs)
- Spring and fall quotas
- 10-day commercial mini-seasons
- 15” size limit
- Trip limits

## Need for Red Snapper IFQ

-  Overcapitalized – derby fishing
-  Frequent quota overages
-  Short fishing seasons
-  Safety-at-sea
-  Market gluts
-  High bycatch and discard mortality

## Days Open Pre- and Post-IFQ

**avg. = 87.5 days**

- * First quota for red snapper established in 1990

## Quota Management

-  Quota exceeded 9 out of 17 years

## Red Snapper IFQ History

- 1995 	Council submits IFQ program
- IFQ moratorium until Oct. 2000
- 2001-2003 	Council develops IFQ profile
- 2004 	1st referendum to proceed with IFQ development passes
- 2004-2006 	AP and Council develop Amendment 26
- 2006 	2nd referendum approves IFQ program
- 2007 	IFQ program implemented

## Key Components of IFQ

- Only red snapper license holders initially eligible
- Initial shares
- Class 1 – 10 best consecutive years (1990-2004)
- Class 2 – 5 best years (1998-2004)
- 6.02% ownership cap
- Appeals process
- Program reviewed every 5 years

## Key Components of IFQ

- Transfer allowed:
- 1st five years only to reef fish permit holders
- After five years to all U.S. citizens & resident aliens
- 3% cost recovery fee based on ex-vessel value
- Quota adjustments allocated proportionally among IFQ shareholders
- Electronic transactions: https://ifq.sero.nmfs.noaa.gov

## Electronic Transactions

## Law Enforcement

- Vessel monitoring systems
- Electronic accounting system
- 3-hour landing notification requirement
- Restrictions on time of offloading (6 am – 6 pm)

## Successes: Price per Pound

**15% increase**
**in avg. price**

**Source: 2007 Red Snapper IFQ report**

## Successes: Reduction in    Directed Bycatch

_**13” size limit**_
**Landings to discard ratio = 4.03**

**Source: SEFSC Reef Fish Observer Program**

## Successes: Consolidation and 2007 Quota Underage

- 96% of 2007 quota            filled
- Year-round season
- Greater price stability
- Consolidation of shareholders: 546 to 489

## Ongoing Challenges

- 2.55 mp quota in place from 2008-2010
- Limits availability of shares/allocation
- Some reluctance to purchase shares or allocation
- Discards along west Florida shelf
- Data validation and accuracy

## Lessons Learned

- Establish an AP early; involve them throughout process
- Timing of implementation is important!
- Plan for a lengthy implementation process
- Develop implementation workgroups at each stage of IFQ program development
- Prior to implementation, develop educational materials for fishermen

## Grouper/Tilefish IFQ Program

- Overview of proposed Grouper/Tilefish IFQ
- Fishery description
- IFQ objectives and goals
- Key program elements
- Development schedule

## Grouper/Tilefish Fishery

- Multispecies fishery:
- 8 shallow-water grouper	8.80 mp quota
- 5 deep-water grouper	1.02 mp quota
- 5 tilefishes			_0.44 mp quota_
- 					          10.26 mp
- Stock status
- Red grouper (rebuilt)
- Gag (undergoing overfishing)
- Remaining species - unknown

## Grouper/Tilefish Landings

**TX**

**AL**

**LA**

**MS**

**wFL**

***98.2%***
***70.5%***
***70.6%***

***1.0%***
***11.9%***
***7.4%***

***0.5%***
***15.4%***
***21.4%***

***0.3%***
***2.1%***
***0.6%***

**Source: 2004-07 avg. ALS landings**

**% SWG**
**% DWG**
**% Tilefish**

** ****Longline, hook-and-line, and bandit rigs**

## Current Regulations

- Permits (moratorium since 1992)
- Quotas
- Trip Limit – 6,000 pounds all grouper
- Seasonal and area closures
- Gear restrictions
- Size limits
- Closed areas

## Quota Closures

- Beginning in 2009, SWG fishery will close when either
- SWG, red grouper, or gag quota is met

## Grouper/Tilefish IFQ Objectives

- Reduce overcapitalization – derby fishing
- Lengthen fishing season
- Lower operating costs
- Improve market conditions
- Reduce bycatch and discard mortality
- Protect participation of small-scale fishermen
- Promote safe fishing operations

## Key Elements of IFQ Program

- Referendum before approval (MSA 303A (c)(6)(D))
- All active commercial reef fish permit holders eligible
- Transfer allowed:
- 1st five years only to commercial reef fish permit holders
- After 1st five years to all U.S. citizens or resident aliens
- Initial shares based on best 5 of 6 years of landings (1999-2004)

## Key Elements of IFQ Program

- Caps on share ownership and allocation
- 3% cost recovery fee
- Appeals process
- Electronic transactions
- Law Enforcement provisions
- Multiuse allocation
- Adjustments to gag/black grouper landings due to misidentification

## Flexibility: Multiuse Allocation

**Red Grouper**

**Multiuse**
**Red**

**Gag Grouper**

**Multiuse**
**Gag**

**Other Shallow Water Grouper**

**Deep Water Grouper**

**Tilefishes**

## Misidentification of Landings

## Timeline

- Ongoing - proposed referendum rule
- Fall 2008 - final rule for referendum
- Winter 2008 - referendum
- Spring 2009 - Council final action if IFQ approved through referendum

**January 1, 2010 - Implementation**

**February 2006 – First AP meeting held**

## Questions? 

- E-mail: andy.strelcheck@noaa.gov
- Phone: 727-824-5374
- Red Snapper IFQ program:
- 	https://ifq.sero.nmfs.noaa.gov
- Proposed Grouper/Tilefish IFQ program:
- 	http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/Amendment29.htm