Reef Building and Saltwater Fishing in the State of Florida - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Reef Building and Saltwater Fishing in the State of Florida

Presented April 22,2008 By: Candy Hansard Candy@valp.net

Economic Impact

Three Issues

• Economic Impact and the need to Save

Artificial Reef Building in Florida

• Need to streamline the ACOE Permitting

Process to promote more Artificial Reef Building off our coast

• Economic Impact of Recreational Fishing

and the need for Responsible and Accountable Management of our Fishery

Artificial Reefs give taxpayers a good return on their investment!

• In 2003, over $400 Million Dollars were

spent on Goods and Services directly tied to the Recreational use of Artificial Reefs in the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Panama City*

• This Created over 8 Thousand Jobs*
• These jobs represented over $84 Million in

Salaries Paid to Florida Residents!*

*Source: “Creating Marine Habitat The Artificial Reef” DVD 2003 Produced by: Florida Fish & Wildlife and Reef Fish Restoration

Artificial REEFS are Good for our Economy and our Fishery!

According to a study done by the University

• f West Florida, The

sinking of the Oriskany brought 2 Million Dollars to Escambia Co. in the first year after deployment. 1.2 Million was spent

• n Dive Trips alone!

It is also credited with Millions of Dollars worth of Media Coverage!

Benefits of Private Reef Building

• Provides Habitat for Fish
• Helps to create a Sustainable Fishery
• Reduces Fishing Pressure on Public Reefs
• Reduces Conflicts between the Charter Boats

and Private Recreational Fishermen

• Private Reefs Experience less pressure;

therefore, the fish inhabiting these reefs have a better chance of survival.

• Helps improve our Economy!
• Improves Fishery at NO Cost to Taxpayers

Effectiveness of Chicken Transfer Cages as Artificial Reef Systems

This Photo was taken November 8, 2007 by Keith Mille FWC, 9 months and 2 days after this 1/8” Steel Chicken Coop Reef was deployed. This photo alone indicates the effectiveness of Chicken Coops to provide habitat for a diverse population of Recreationally targeted species. Notice the Abundance of Red Snappers on this very young reef system!

More Evidence of Effectiveness

This Reef is only 9 months old. Photo by Keith Mille FWC Again, Snappers as far as the eye can see!

Evidence of Diversity on Chicken Coop Reefs Deployed in Destin

Stability of Chicken Coop Reefs Historical Documentation

*They are in the tidal area and are in and out of water with the tide. They were deployed in October 1992 and are still in excellent condition. (*Cindy Halsey)

Importance of Artificial Reefs in Improving the Fishery

• The Majority of underwater landscape off the coast of Northwest

Florida is Barren Sandy Bottom. AKA “The Wet Desert”

• In Northwest Florida, less than 5% of the underwater surface is

Natural Hard Bottom.*

• Without Artificial Reefs, there would be very few fish in the Florida

Panhandle.

• Please keep in mind that prior to deploying

the reefs showcased in this presentation, there was no structure at this location to support these recreationally important fish & other sea life. (Sandy Bottom to Habitat in a Splash!)

*FWC “Creating Marine Habitat The Artificial Reef.” 2003

Artificial Reefs are the only proven method

• f improving the fishery and our economy.

A disproportionate amount of taxpayer money has been spent creating multiple “assumption based” reports that conclude the need for Government Regulations to improve the health of our fishery. Only a small fraction of taxpayers money spent on our fishery is allocated to Artificial Reef Building.

More Reefs = More Fish = Healthier Economy Please Support & Fund Artificial Reef Building!

Jacksonville District ARMY Corps of Engineers Proposal

Increase Steel thickness requirement for Artificial Reefs from 1/8th” to ½” If implemented, this requirement, will effectively Kill Private Artificial Reef Building Efforts by the Charter Boats, Private Rec. Fishermen & Non-Profit Organizations. It will drive up the cost of Publicly funded reefs if

• ur government can even find any vessels that meet

the requirement!

Barges - 3/8th” thick when they’re brand new! Many Sections of the Oriskany would not have passed the ½” Req.

We need More Permitted Areas!

• In Order for Florida to be able to continue to

attract fishermen to our coastline, we need more permitted areas to build Artificial Reefs.

• Our current permitted areas are not big enough to

meet the needs of NW Florida’s Recreational Fishing industry.

• Alabama is quickly gaining a Reputation for

having the best fishing on the Gulf Coast. This is hurting Florida’s Economy as we lose tourists to Alabama.

Okaloosa County LAARS Permitted Sites

3 LAARS Permitted sites that include 221.7 Sq Miles of Permitted Areas

• pen to Private

Artificial Reef Building.

Escambia County LAARS Permitted Area Sites

These 2 areas combined total 120 Square Miles

• f Permitted Drop

Zones open to Private Artificial Reef Building.

Bay County LAARS Permitted Sites

LAARS Permit sites encompass a total sea floor area of 123.13 square miles open to Private Artificial Reef Building.

Alabama’s Permitted Sites

Alabama’s extremely small coastline enjoys 1,260 square Miles of Permitted area open to private Reef Building!

Compare Coastlines

The Mobile District of the Army Corps of Engineers has Granted Alabama approximately 1260 sq. miles of Permitted area

• pen to Private Reef

Building. In comparison, The Jacksonville District of the ACOE which controls permitting in the Florida Panhandle has only granted 464.83 square miles of permitted areas

• pen to Private Artificial

Reef Building for the entire Florida Panhandle.

Alabama = 1,260 Square Miles Entire Florida Panhandle = 464.83 Sq. Miles

Same Federal Agency Different Districts Why is Florida so far Behind?

We know reefs help our fishery and our economy so why aren’t we permitting more Area and encouraging more Private Reef Building and funding more Public Reefs?

Saltwater Fishing in the State of Florida Economic Effects

Statistics are from the “2006 National survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation” Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Page 27 “In Thousands of Dollars…” In 2006, Saltwater Fishing pumped

$2,443,801,000.00

Dollars into Florida’s Economy! Yes, that’s almost $2.5 Billion in 2006! We must protect our Fishery & Economy. Building Artificial Reefs helps our Fishery & Economy!

Economic Impact of Saltwater Fishing in the State of Florida

Saltwater Fishing has a Tremendous Impact

• n the Health of Florida’s Economy.

We should be sure that Decisions that have the potential to impact our Fishery and Economy are Based on Verifiable Data!

This Data affects our Economy & Fishery!

“The National Research Council Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods (NRC Review) noted that the designs, sampling strategies and collection methods do not provide adequate data for management decisions.” “Data do not provide the level

• f resolution required by

managers and stock assessment scientists and catch and effort estimates may be biased because sampling designs are based on unverified assumptions.”

• Aug. 2007 - Proceedings of the Marine Recreational

Information Initiative Operations Team Workshop. Gulf States Marine Fishery Commission & Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

Data our Fishery Management used to justify our Red Snapper Rules!

“The benchmarks are dependent on the assumed effort allocation…” “Note benchmarks have been calculated and projections have been done, assuming that recruitment is equal to the average base case estimates from 1984- 2003.” “The RW noted that although there were periods of time when there was good sampling coverage from a range of sources and fisheries, this was generally not the rule for Red Snapper (e.g., patchy age data with missing years.)” SEDAR 7 GULF OF MEXICO RED SNAPPER

Florida’s Red Snapper Regulation Background Information

• In February 2008, The FFWCC, at a public meeting, listened to

testimonies of hundreds of Florida Residents.

• The bulk of the Testimonies stated that the Red Snapper Fishery

was healthy in our area and the potential devastating effect a shortened season would have on our economy. (Video evidence of the health of our Red Snapper Fishery was provided to the Commission.)

• The FFWCC voted to keep the Current State Water Red Snapper

Season and to cut the Recreational bag limit by 50%.

• The FFWCC acted in the best interest of Florida and our Fishery by

considering the Best available Fishery Information to make their well received decision.

Florida Fishermen Support Responsible Fishery Management

Federal Red Snapper Regulation Background Information

• Jan 2008 – Reduced Federal Red Snapper Season to

June 1st – Sep. 30th with no change to bag limits

• Feb 2008 - Florida Kept our Season Status Quo.
• Mar 2008 - announced another Federal Season

reduction: June 1st – Aug 5th

• Reduced Federal Season - amounts to only 19 weekend

days per year for the average working recreational

• fisherman. With sea conditions and storm events, this

has the potential to deny access to Florida Residents/taxpayers to the Federal Red Snapper Fishery.

• This decision has the appearance of a punitive measure

that fishermen know is based on Unverified, Outdated, Assumption Based Data

Taxpayers deserve Accountable and Responsible Fishery Management funded with their money!

Regulations affect our Fishery, Economy and

• ur ability to enjoy our Heritage…Recreational Fishing

In Conclusion

• Please Save Artificial Reef Building by keeping the steel

thickness requirement at 1/8th inch.

• Please Help to the Ease the Permitting Process in Florida &

encourage Permitting to help us “Build a Better Bottom.”

• Please Demand Responsible Fishery Mgt. to ensure Fair

Treatment of Recreational Fishermen and the health of our Local, State and National Economy.

Thank you for your time!