New G.O.M Reef Fish Permit Available for Issue to Disabled Veterans

Species Complex Season Sector Date Landing Available Througha Sector Total Total Reported 2012 ACL/Quota Units Percent of ACL Stock Closure Date
Cobia January 1 – December 31 Recreational October 31 896,653 946,385 1,460,000 ww 64.82
Commercial December 31 49,732
Cubera snapper Recreational October 31 0 1,118 5,065 ww 22.07 n/a
Commercial December 31 1,118
Deep water grouper (c) Recreational October 31 52,076 1,018,176 1,216,000 gw 83.73
Commercial-IFQ (b) December 31 966,100
Gray snapper Recreational October 31 1,112,359 1,234,689 2,420,000 ww 51.02 n/a
Commercial December 31 122,330
Hogfish Recreational October 31 218,598 265,004 208,000 ww 127.41 n/a
Commercial December 31 46,406
Jacks Complex (d) Recreational October 31 170,331 344,338 312,000 ww 110.36 n/a
Commercial December 31 174,007
Lane snapper Recreational October 31 98,388 124,736 301,000 ww 41.44 n/a
Commercial December 31 26,348
Mid-water snapper (e) Recreational October 31 11,051 97,147 166,000 ww 58.52 n/a
Commercial December 31 86,096
Mutton Snapper (f) Recreational October 31 0 82,859 203,000 ww 40.82 n/a
Commercial December 31 82,859
Shallow water grouper (g) Recreational October 31 111,889 409,991 688,000 gw 59.59
Commercial-IFQ (b) December 31 298,102
Tilefishes (h) Recreational October 31 7,776 458,897 608,000 gw 75.48
Commercial-IFQ (b) December 31 451,121
Vermilion snapper Recreational Oct 31 (MRFSS); Sept 30 (Headboat) 725,377 3,238,131 3,420,000 ww 94.68
Commercial December 31 2,512,754
Yellowtail snapper Recreational October 31 0 434,736 725,000 ww 59.96 n/a
Commercial December 31 434,736

CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 622
Docket ID: [Docket No. 050408096-5182-02; I.D. 033105A]
RIN ID: RIN 0648-AS69
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Final rule.

An estimated 1,161 vessels were permitted to fish commercially for Gulf reef fish in 2003, down from 1,718 in 1993, and 61 percent to 74 percent had logbookreported landings from 1993 through 2003. The median annual gross revenue from all logbookreported sales of finfish by these vessels ranged from approximately $12,000 to $23,000 during this period. The median percentage of gross revenues attributable to Gulf reef fish ranged from 95 percent to 98 percent.

Although participation in the fishery has declined since 1993, this decline has been voluntary and presumed attributable to economic conditions in the fishery and fishing in general and not due to regulatory requirements. Although access has been limited in this fishery since 1992, transfer of permits is not restricted, and those seeking to enter the fishery can purchase a permit from a permit holder. Such transfers do occur: 253 of the 1,175 valid permits as of February 6, 2004, were permits that had been transferred at some time since 1998. Thus, entry into the fishery occurs, as evidenced by the transfer of 253 existing permits to vessels new to the fishery.

Florida Wildlife Conservation
A person or firm (unless otherwise exempted below) must provide acceptable proof of $5,000 in income from the sale of saltwater products to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during any 12 consecutive months in the last 36 months, or 25 percent of income during 1 of the last 3 years.
A crew member on a commercial fishing vessel must submit a notarized Crew Share Statement signed by the vessel license holder verifying $5,000 in income earned from the sale of saltwater products to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during the 12-month period specified on the statement.

A charter boat operator must provide acceptable proof that 50 percent of his annual income is derived from charter fishing and that he had $2,500 in sales to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during the same calendar year.

A person age 62 or older must provide acceptable proof of $2,500 in sales of saltwater products to a licensed Wholesale Dealer during any 12 consecutive months in the last 36 months. *
A person age 70 or older will be granted permanent exemption to the income requirements listed herein if the applicant's license records show that the SPL was held 3 out of the last 5 years. *
A disabled resident must provide acceptable proof of disability from the Railroad Retirement Board, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Armed Forces, Social Security Administration or a licensed physician and must have held the SPL for 3 of the last 5 years prior to the date of disability. *

A military veteran must provide acceptable proof of the income as specified in the appropriate method listed herein. However, active duty may be excluded when calculating the previous 36 months and will not be counted for purposes of determining qualifying time.

The buyer of a commercial fishing vessel from a seller who holds or is eligible for the RS must submit a copy of the original vessel title showing the purchase price and a copy of vessel registration showing use as Commercial at the time of sale. The RS will expire one year from the date of purchase of the vessel. You will only have 12 months from the date of purchase to produce trip tickets and document the required income from the sale of saltwater products necessary to renew the endorsement.

An immediate family member of a fisherman who held the RS and has died or become disabled must provide a copy of the birth certificate and proof of death or disablement. The RS will expire one year from the date of death or disability. You will only have 12 months from the date of death or disability to produce trip tickets and document the required income from the sale of saltwater products necessary to renew the endorsement.