Hiking News - Sunday 21 March 2010

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TAC for Red Snapper

Friday, 19 March 2010

For the first time in years, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted at its February meeting in Mobile to raise the total allowable catch (TAC) for red snapper. Unfortunately, that will not translate into immediate relief for the beleaguered recreational sector and its charter boat fleet.

In fact, the 2010 red snapper season will be the shortest on record, according to Roy Crabtree, regional administrator of NOAA Fisheries Service's Southeast Region. To keep the recreational sector from going over its quota, which it did last year by more than a million-and-a-half pounds, Crabtree said the season will likely run from 51 to 60 days with a start date of June 1. A final season closing date will not determined until May, Crabtree said. The TAC was raised from 5 million pounds to 6.945 million pounds with a 51-percent split going to the commercial sector and the remainder to the recreational sector.

"We do not have all of our recreational catch estimates from last year, but from the preliminary estimates, that's about what it would mean," Crabtree said of the shortened season. "The only reason we’re able to allow the TAC to start going up is the projection that overfishing should have ended. I think that’s a big accomplishment. It's something the council has been trying to do for many, many years and this is the first time we seemed to have succeeded."

"In theory, the TAC should go up every year. Of course, that is contingent on us not exceeding the quota. We have had some very large overruns the last few years in the recreational sector. We need to correct that problem. If we can stay within the 6.945 million pounds then the council could come back in and increase the TAC next year and it could keep increasing each year. Ultimately, it will be somewhere in the 13- to 14-million pound range, which is higher than anything we've had in a long, long time."

Crabtree said the reason the TAC is going up is the size of the fish is getting bigger. As the stock recovers, the proportion of the stock made up of older fish, which are larger on average, will increase.

"The problem is that as the fishing gets better, more people are able to limit out and more people go fishing," he said. "There are all kinds of complicating factors involved."

Johnny Greene, captain of the charter boat Intimidator out of Orange Beach and a member of the Gulf Council, said he's encouraged to finally see the TAC go up after all many years of reductions. He also said it's hard for him to explain the regulatory process to his customers, who experience just how good the snapper fishing is off the Alabama coast.

"It's hard to relay that to people in a manner that people can understand," Greene said. "It seems to a lot of people that common sense is not involved. Obviously, the shorter season doesn't sit well at all. It's one of those things that everybody is seeing tremendous fish stocks out there. The fishery is coming back, but it's hard for people to understand that it's a rebuilding thing. The size of the fish is a concern, because the larger the fish the larger the poundage and the shorter the season. That's something we're really going to have to look at."

Gulf Council Chairman Bob Shipp, head of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama, echoed Greene’s concerns about using weight as a determining factor for the health of fish stocks.

"This issue of the size of individual fish has pretty much wiped out the (TAC) gains," Shipp said. "I think the direction we want to go is to change the way we evaluate the quota and put it in terms of numbers of fish rather than weight. Weight is simply a proxy anyway for fishing pressure. A much better way of measuring fishing pressure is the percentage of fish you catch. That would eliminate this problem of the fish getting larger. I'm beginning to see a push in that direction. Eventually, that would be a big plus.

"I think for the 2011 fishing season, there are several things on the horizon that could help. One of them is to lower the minimum size from 16 to 13 inches. First of all, that's what the commercial minimum size is. There's always been conflict about the difference in minimum sizes. Plus, you will reduce the number of discards (undersized fish returned to the water). Thirdly, you would reduce the size of the fish if we're still wedded to this weight parameter. If you go to a 13-inch size limit, you’re going to insert a few smaller fish. Now it's true there might be some high-grading. But if you reduce the average to 4.5-pounds, it would increase the season by two weeks."

A move away from the survey method of determining fish stocks would also increase the reliability of the data collected, according to Shipp.

"I see in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) a greater willingness to move toward the fishery independent data source," he said. "I think they're finally beginning to believe what the fishermen have been telling them – there are a lot more fish out there, especially off the west coast of Florida. Incorporating this additional data would make the (computer) models far more accurate and reduce the uncertainty."

Capt. Ben Fairey, president of the Orange Beach Fishing Association, said the charter industry desperately needs more time on the water.

"I've been fishing for 37 years and the red snapper fishing is better than I’ve ever seen it," Fairey said. "The average size keeps going up so our season is going to be shorter. We caught about the same number of fish, about 700,000 individuals, in 2008 as we did in 2009. But we went over by almost 2 million pounds. It's like a double-edged sword. It's great that the fishery has rebounded, but the fish are getting so big. That's something the council is going to have to address. One of the things I want is the option of a 13-inch minimum explored. One school of thought is that if we drop it to 13 inches, which is was at one time, your discard mortality will drop. Also, the dolphin interaction will slow up."

"Between the economy and the regulations, it's a tough, tough time for the charter industry. We need longer seasons."

Visit www.outdooralabama.com to learn more about the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or to read previous columns by David Rainer.

Taylor Appointed to Board of Trustees

Thursday, 18 March 2010

Montgomery, Ala. -- Gov. Bob Riley has appointed Dr. Robert W. Taylor of Alabama A&M University to the Forever Wild Land Trust Board of Trustees. As a member of the board he will take part in land acquisition decisions that will preserve and expand public recreational lands. Dr. Taylor was nominated to the board by the Alabama Audubon Council and The Nature Conservancy. He will represent the Nort hern District of the state replacing Dr. Jeff McCollum whose term expired on Dec. 31, 2009.

Dr. Taylor's distinguished teaching career is highlighted by multiple national and international awards for his work as a professor and as Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Studies at Alabama A&M University. Among his accomplishments, Dr. Taylor helped to establish the Alabama Environmental Educational Consortium and was inducted into the Bahamas Science and Technology Hall of Fame in 2005. Dr. Taylor received his Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry from Michigan State University in 1977.

"We are fortunate to have someone as credentialed as Dr. Taylor on the board," said Barnett Lawley, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner and Forever Wild ex-officio Chairman. "His knowledge and expertise will be invaluable in continuing Forever Wild's mission to conserve land for the benefit of all Alabamians."

The Forever Wild Program was established in 1992, by constitutional amendment, to provide for the purchase of public recreational lands. Since its inception, the program has purchased lands for general recreation, nature preserves, as additions to Wildlife Management Areas and State Parks. Since its inception Forever Wild has secured more than 200,000 acres for public recreational use.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

2010 Growing Smarter State Trust

Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Phoenix, AZ - The Arizona State Parks Growing Smarter State Trust Land Acquisition Grant workshop will take place at the Arizona State Parks Board Room, 1300 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 10am. The application deadline is June 30, 2010.

In November 1998, voters approved an annual appropriation of $20 million to the Land Conservation Fund from the Gen eral Fund until FY 2011. These funds are used to assist eligible applicants in purchasing or leasing State Trust land that has been reclassified for conservation. Political subdivisions of the state and non-profit organizations created with the purpose of preserving open space can all apply for these monies.

This instructional session is designed to provide attendees with a clear understanding of how to complete a Growing Smarter State Trust Land Acquisition Grant application. Program requirements and procedures are discussed at the workshop, along with rating criteria and the grant scoring and award process. Application packets for Fiscal Year 2010 Growing Smarter State Trust Land Acquisition grants are provided at the workshops.

For more information call (602) 542-4174 or visit AZStateParks.com/grants.

Please call ahead to find out the latest information about the State Parks by calling (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free [800] 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on twitter.com/AZStateParks.

Chip 'n Dale Come to Town

Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Most of us are familiar with those cute, cuddly, and furry animated creatures called Chip 'n Dale. Kids and grown-ups have enjoyed watching their mischievous antics on television or at Walt Disney World. Although fun to watch on television, what happens when their real life counterparts appear around our homes and gardens is another story!

In real life, Chip 'n Dale are Eastern chipmun ks (Tamias striatus) and are truly beautiful animals. When these animals invade our homes and gardens, they can become one of the most common wildlife nuisances in both rural and urban areas of our state. It is important to become familiar with the habitat needs and behavior of chipmunks and be able to recognize the type of damage they cause in order to effectively control chipmunks around our homes.

Eastern chipmunks are easily identified. They are small brownish ground squirrels weighing approximately 3 ounces and measuring 5-6 inches long. They have short pointy heads with two white stripes, one located above the eye and one below. Chipmunks have five black lines with white striping down their backs and usually sit upright and hold food with their front feet.

Chipmunks normally inhabit mature woodlands and woodlot edges where cover can easily be found. They are also found around suburban and rural houses and lots.

Chipmunks tend to favor rotting logs or areas with heavy ground cover for burrow sites. However, holes under sidewalks or porches are also readily used. While they may range up to 1/2 acre, the adult only defends an area of about 50 feet from the burrow entrance.

The diet of the Eastern chipmunk consists primarily of grains, berries, seeds, nuts, mushrooms, insects and salamanders. Chipmunks are extremely valuable as forest dwellers due to their ability to move seeds around for forest regeneration and they are a valuable food source for other animals.

The chipmunk's appetite for flower bulbs, seedling trees, fruits, and seeds in our gardens and their desire to burrow in yards and around our homes can cause them to become nuisances. In large numbers, chipmunks can actually cause structural damage to homes, patios, foundations and other important structures.

There are some simple ways to avoid chipmunk damage. Place bird feeders a minimum of 15 to 30 feet away from dwellings as spilled seed will often serve as an attractant. Use 1/4-inch hardware cloth to deter them from burrowing in gardens and around buildings. Avoid planting ground covers in a continuous method that connects woodlands to dwelling foundations. Once chipmunks are a problem, trapping is probably the only practical method of reducing population numbers and preventing damage.

Like Chip 'n Dale, their real life counterparts are enjoyable to watch in their natural habitat. However, when humans and wildlife interface it is difficult to find the perfect solution to problems that arise. Eastern chipmunks are no exception.

For more information, contact Bennett Moseley, Certified Wildlife Biologist, NRCS, 105 East Fifth Avenue Linden, AL 36748.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Unveiling of a New Honor Guard

Monday, 15 March 2010

In its first meeting of the year, the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board witnessed the unveiling of a new honor guard, unanimously passed a resolution of support for the Forever Wild program and entertained ideas on enhancing trout fishing in the Sipsey Fork below the Lewis Smith Dam.

Meeting at the Capitol Auditorium in Montgomery, Conservation Commissioner Barnett Lawley introduced the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Honor Guard, which presented the colors at the beginning of the meeting.

Lawley said the honor guard was formed in 2009 to provide distinguished and honorable representation of the Alabama DCNR in times of mourning and celebration.

"The honor guard strives to make us all proud of honoring fallen officers, showing respect to their families and preserving and celebrating the traditions of the great State of Alabama," Lawley said. "Dedicated officers donate their personal time and energy to assure that the honor guard represents DCNR in an appropriate manner. Its members are located throughout the state. Honor guard members practice and are available to serve through three teams – north, central and south teams."

"The honor guard is ready to represent the department at various events and meetings as directed by the commissioner. The teams are available at a family's request for conservation enforcement officers, retirees, advisory board members and other government or political personnel. The honor guard will be an excellent tool in expanding the outreach efforts of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources."

After the invocation and presentation of colors, the board began to hear public testimony and the first was a request from Tim Gothard of the Alabama Wildlife Federation for the advisory board to pass a resolution in support of the Forever Wild program, which will expire in 2012 unless reauthorized by the Alabama Legislature.

"The Forever Wild program has been extremely, extremely important to the things that this advisory board actually represents," Gothard said. "In the 17 years that the Forever Wild program has been around, Forever Wild has purchased about 200,000 acres for public access, wildlife management areas, recreation areas and the like. In 2007 and 2008 alone, we lost around 50,000 acres from our wildlife management areas for public hunting. Forever Wild has been the primary source to replenish public hunting lands and expand public hunting lands."

"If you look at the 200,000 Forever Wild has purchased in the last 17 years, I believe about 95-96 percent of those acres have actually provided public hunting opportunities for our citizens. That is vitally important. As our population continues to grow; as the value of private hunting lands continue to grow – which is something we're all for – public hunting lands are going to be extremely important in maintaining that balance of availability of lands for our citizens to hunt. It's going to be very important that we elevate in the eyes of the general public, in the eyes of our legislators the importance of the Forever Wild program so far and the Forever Wild program going forward."

Gothard said the Protect Forever Wild Coalition has been formed with more than 60 organizations involved in promoting the reauthorization of Forever Wild in its current form. Gothard asked the advisory board to go on record as being in favor of Forever Wild reauthorization. Board member Bill Hatley of Gulf Shores introduced the requested resolution, which passed unanimously.

Advisory board member Grady Hartzog of Eufaula served for 12 years on the Forever Wild board and said he knows of no other program that has been as successful as Forever Wild.

"I had the privilege to serve on the Forever Wild board for two terms," Hartzog said. "It's the best program Alabama has ever had. I challenge each one out there to contact your legislator and express your support for Forever Wild because it provides land for you and your kids and grandkids into perpetuity."

In other testimony, two chapters of Trout Unlimited asked the board to consider setting aside a portion of the Sipsey Fork below Lewis Smith Dam as an area for catch-and-and release only with a restriction of only artificial lures. The group also asked for an increase in stocking for rainbow trout with the addition of brown trout. The trout anglers also asked the board to consider a trout stamp to offset any costs related to their requests. A request was also made that a no-culling rule be implemented for trout – that any fish added to a stringer or container designed to hold fish could not be returned to the water and must count toward the daily creel limit. Also, one member of the trout fishing contingent asked that a portion of the Sipsey Fork below Lewis Smith Dam be closed to boat traffic.

The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) currently stocks rainbow trout in the Sipsey Fork that are procured through a swap of striped bass with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Fisheries Chief Stan Cook said USFWS has been approached about increasing the swap but indicated the federal agency did not indicate any interest to do so. Cook also said the introduction of brown trout, a non-native species, must be studied to ensure it would not negatively impact native species before any stocking will be considered. Corky Pugh, WFF Director, said the department would work on a no-culling regulation that could be considered at the next board meeting. Pugh also said that the impact of a catch-and-release area on people who use natural bait should be considered before they are excluded from any section of the Sipsey Fork.

Board member Ross Self of Gulf Shores asked the board to consider changing the recommended South Zone dove season dates to allow for hunting in September. Self suggested the dates of Sept. 11-19, Oct. 9-Nov. 14 and Dec. 18-Jan. 9.

"From personal observation – I've made trips all over Baldwin County – there are a lot of birds in the South Zone in the middle of September," Self said. "Then for some reason, I don't know why, they disappear. I've talked to a lot of people and legislators in my district and they all want a season in September. And biological science indicates there is no biological impact with these changes."

In updates on action pending in the Alabama Legislature, John Thomas Jenkins, Director of Marine Police, said the so-called “boat theft” bill is again on the agendas of both houses. The bill would essentially make it illegal to alter any vessel identification or motor identification numbers.

Chris Blankenship of the Marine Resources Division said two bills are pending – one that deals with a comprehensive oyster management plan that includes enhancing the state's oyster reefs, while the other would establish a non-resident pier saltwater fishing license. Blankenship also said several regulations would be proposed to bring state saltwater fishing regulations in line with federal guidelines, as well as simplify regulations dealing with the gill-net fishery.

Visit www.outdooralabama.com to learn more about the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or to read previous columns by David Rainer.

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