South Atlantic Fish Conservation Campaign

Federal Fish Law is On the Hook for Black Sea Bass Recovery

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:30:00 GMT

(Hilton Head Island Packet) In the South Atlantic, it's time to go fish for black sea bass. Fishery managers just raised the amount that can be caught this year after news that the species has recovered from decades of overfishing.

Fishermen Want Looser Limits as Red Snapper Makes Comeback

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:05:00 GMT

(Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel) Over 18 years of running Old Dixie Seafood in Boca Raton, Larry Siemsen has seen supplies of locally caught red snapper dwindle and prices double, thanks to decades of over-fishing and recent federal restrictions to help the popular fish recover.

The Law That's Saving American Fisheries: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:20:00 GMT

A generation of determined, farsighted commercial and recreational fishermen, marine scientists, and legislators have shaped the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the law that governs American fisheries.

Ocean Conservation: Move Beyond Species Protection

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Here in the Gulf, ongoing work to rebuild red snapper to healthy levels is vitally important.

Testimony of Leda Dunmire Before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Pew expert Leda Dunmire testified before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council regarding management for depleted speckled hind and warsaw grouper.

Testimony to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: Data Collection Measures, Red Snapper and Proposed MPAs

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:20:00 GMT

On Dec. 6, 2012, Holly Binns, director of the Pew Environment Group's Southeast and U.S. Caribbean Fish Conservation Campaigns, delivered the following testimony to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council regarding data collection measures in CE-BA 3, red snapper and proposed MPAs to protect speckled hind and warsaw grouper.

Re: Comments on Final Approval of CE-BA 3, Amendment 28 and Regulatory Amendment 19

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:15:00 GMT

The Pew Environment Group issued the following comments to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council regarding final approval of the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 (CE-BA 3) to improve fisheries data collection and monitoring; Snapper Grouper Amendment 28 which deals with red snapper management; Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 17 to revise the existing network of deepwater protected areas (MPAs) to protect depleted speckled hind and warsaw grouper; and the visioning and planning process for South Atlantic snapper and grouper fisheries.

Testimony of Holly Binns Before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Sept. 2012

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:45:00 GMT

Holly Binns, director of Pew's Southeast and U.S. Caribbean Fishery Conservation Campaigns, recently provided testimony to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council regarding accountability measures for the red snapper fishery, monitoring of annual catch limits, and habitat and spawning protections for the speckled hind and warsaw grouper.

Economic Costs of Historic Overfishing on Recreational Fisheries: South Atlantic & Gulf of Mexico Regions

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:30:00 GMT

This study examines an important component of the costs of overfishing in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions — recreational catch losses from historic overfishing and their associated economic impacts.

Southeast Suffered Millions in Economic Losses from Overfishing

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:30:00 GMT

The Southeast sustained tens of millions of dollars in economic losses during a five-year period because years of overfishing depleted species led to fewer recreational fishing trips, according to an analysis commissioned by the Pew Environment Group.

Overfishing Strips Tens of Millions from Southeast Economy

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:30:00 GMT

An analysis commissioned by the Pew Environment Group reveals that historic overfishing resulted in the loss of tens of millions of dollars in recreational fishing expenditures annually from 2005 to 2009.

The Bottom Line: New Study - Overfishing Costs Southeast and Gulf Regions Millions Per Year

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:30:00 GMT

There’s an old saying that a penny saved is a penny earned. This sound financial advice is equally true for management of U.S. ocean fish resources. As I’ve said before, conserving our ocean fish populations is a prudent economic investment. The converse is also true: Overfishing is bad economic policy.

Course Correction: Saving Black Sea Bass After Decades of Failure

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:25:00 GMT

Thirty years ago, scientists discovered fishermen were catching black sea bass faster than the fish could reproduce. Continued overfishing drove the species to dangerously low levels in U.S. South Atlantic waters. The problem persisted because of lax rules that delayed protections. But the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act’s recent requirements for prompt action finally helped this species recover.

The Bottom Line: Fatter Snapper Put Fishermen on a Diet

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:10:00 GMT

Recreational fishermen heading to the Gulf of Mexico face a conundrum if they want to hook a red snapper.

NGO Supports Snapper Policy

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:45:00 GMT

(fishnewseu.com) Friday's decision by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, to allow limited red snapper fishing in the South Atlantic after a two-and-a-half year moratorium, has garnered the support of an environmental NGO.

Red Snapper Moratorium to be Lifted in Georgia

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:20:00 GMT

(WABE) For more than two years now, there’s been a moratorium on Red Snapper Fishing off the Southeast coast. But it appears anglers will soon be able to fish the species once again.

Mini Snapper Seasons Proposed

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 16:35:00 GMT

(News-Journal) A brief red snapper fishing season is expected to begin in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast later this year, ending a two-year federal ban and giving fishermen hope for catching more snapper in years to come.

Red Snapper Back on the Menu - Soon

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 14:55:00 GMT

(TC Palm) During a weekend in the not too distant future, the red snapper derby will begin.

Red Snapper Fishing Set to Reopen after 2.5-year Moratorium

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:10:00 GMT

Holly Binns, a project director for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s vote to allow limited red snapper fishing in the South Atlantic from North Carolina to Florida.

Federal Panel OKs Plan to Allow Limited Red-Snapper Fishing

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:05:00 GMT

(Orlando Sentinel) For the first time in more than two years, anglers would be able to legally catch red snapper later this year under a plan approved Friday to allow a couple of three-day fishing weekends.

Fishery Council Votes to Lift Harvest Ban on Red Snapper

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:45:00 GMT

(TC Palm) Freshly caught red snapper is returning to the dinner table later this year.

RE: Comments on the Development of Comprehensive Ecosystem-based Amendment 3 and the Potential Opening of the Red Snapper Fishery

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:50:00 GMT

The Pew Environment Group offered comments for consideration by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council regarding the development of alternatives in the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 to end overfishing for speckled hind and Warsaw grouper.

The Fish You Need to Know

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:35:00 GMT

(Trust Magazine) Save the whales? Check. Save the sharks? Check. Save the menhaden? Save the what?

Deep-Water Ban on Grouper, Snapper Comes to an End

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:35:00 GMT

A 16-month ban on fishing for several types of deep-water fish off the Florida Keys disappeared Thursday.

Critically Depleted Fish Lose Protection

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:15:00 GMT

Holly Binns, a project director for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Commerce Department’s final approval of a plan to reopen fishing for six species in water deeper than 240 feet along the southeast coast, from North Carolina to Florida.

2 Year-Old Ban on Fishing Red Snapper Could Be Eased

Tue, 08 May 2012 19:00:00 GMT

A 2-year-old ban on catching the prized red snapper in the Atlantic Ocean could be eased later this year if a federal panel agrees that the latest counts allow a return to a limited amount of fishing.

Beaufort Charter Guides Buoyed by Potential Lift of Snapper Ban

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:15:00 GMT

Times have changed, Wally Phinney says, since he first opened his charter fishing business in Beaufort in 1983.

Offshore Fishermen Find Hope in Snapper Ban Debate

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:50:00 GMT

One little phrase tucked into a straightforward agenda for a federal agency's June meeting in Orlando gives Florida's offshore fishermen a glimmer of hope that a two-year ban on catching red snapper could soon be lifted.

Comments on the Proposed Rule for Amendment 24 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan in the South Atlantic

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:20:00 GMT

On behalf of the Pew Environment Group, we are writing to support the immediate approval and timely implementation of Amendment 24 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan in the South Atlantic.

The Fisheries Investment Act: Investing in the South Atlantic's Fisheries and Fishermen

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:25:00 GMT

The sheer diversity of fish in the South Atlantic region has attracted commercial fishermen and anglers alike for decades. Funding through the Fisheries Investment Act could help restore the South Atlantic’s fish and fisheries by addressing critical needs.

Pew Environment Group’s Advice to the Scientific and Statistical Committee Concerning Warsaw Grouper and Speckled Hind Protections

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:00:00 GMT

The Council has asked for the input of its SSC as it develops protections for Warsaw grouper and speckled hind.

Protections Approved for Dozens of South Atlantic Fish Species

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:45:00 GMT

Holly Binns, a project director for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Commerce Department’s approval of catch limits for more than three dozen species in the South Atlantic from Florida to North Carolina.

Comments on Science-Based Spawning Protections and Implementation of Accountability Measures

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:25:00 GMT

On March 3, 2012, Sera Drevenak and Holly Bins of the Pew Environment Group’s South Atlantic Fish Conservation Campaign wrote to offer comments on the development of measures to protect Warsaw grouper and speckled hind in the South Atlantic region, and on the implementation of accountability measures for vermilion snapper.

Changing the Game: A New Approach to Prevent Overfishing in the South Atlantic

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:55:00 GMT

Fishery managers are considering sweeping new rules to prevent overfishing and protect dozens of species in the South Atlantic from North Carolina to Florida.

Comments RE: 2012 Public Scoping of the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:55:00 GMT

The Pew Environment Group recently submitted comments to the executive director of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council regarding an ecosystem-based management system in the South Atlantic.

The Bottom Line: New Year's Resolution 2012: Let's Gain Weight in the Ocean

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:05:00 GMT

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions for Americans is to lose weight. Around this time of year, gyms fill up, the health food sections of supermarkets become crowded, and people whose daily exercise consisted of picking up their mail start jogging. But for the fish in America’s oceans, we need to resolve to help them gain weight.

The Bottom Line

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:40:00 GMT

“The Bottom Line,” explores fisheries management issues, while taking on other related subjects to provide a more in-depth look at the issues facing our ocean fish. With this blog, we hope to continue these informative discussions, cut through the rhetoric, and encourage more people to take an interest in ocean fish conservation.

Comments on the Final Rule Implementing the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment in the South Atlantic Region

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:50:00 GMT

On December 19, 2011, Sera Drevenak and Holly Binns of the Pew Environment Group's Gulf of Mexico Fish Conservation Campaign wrote to support the immediate implementation of the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment.

Editorial: Inaction Not an Option for Fishery Regulators

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 GMT

(South Carolina Island Packet) No one likes to see his ability to earn a living curtailed by regulators, but the federal mandate to come up with plans by the end of this year to manage overfished species and to rebuild their stocks by 2016 means something's got to give.

Comments on the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 18

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:15:00 GMT

Amendment 18 is intended to establish a system of annual catch limits and accountability measures for species managed in the Coastal Migration Pelagic fishery management plan in compliance with the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and National Standard 1 guidelines.

Comments on Amendment 24 to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:25:00 GMT

On November 10, 2011, Sera Drevenak and Holly Binns of the Pew Environment Group's Gulf of Mexico Fish Conservation Campaign offered comments on the public hearing draft of Amendment 24 to the snapper grouper FMP. This amendment will implement annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for red grouper as well as rebuild the population. Red grouper has been overfished and undergoing overfishing since at least 19761 (see figures 1 and 2 below).

Re: Public Hearing Comments on Amendment 18A to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:05:00 GMT

On behalf of the Pew Environment Group, Sera Harold Drevenak and Holly Binns, offered comments on the development of measures to rebuild and improve the black sea bass fishery.

Comments on Proposed Lobster Amendment 10

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:35:00 GMT

On October 31, 2011, Holly Binns, Sera Drevenak, and Chad Hanson of the Pew Environment Group expressed concern that Spiny Lobster Amendment 10 currently under review by the National Marine Fisheries Service may not be sufficient to prevent overfishing and hold the fishery within its annual catch limit.

September 2011 Testimony Before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:00:00 GMT

On Sept. 15, 2011, Sera Drevenak of the Pew Environment Group's South Atlantic Fish Conservation Campaign, appeared before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to discuss protections for Warsaw grouper and speckled hind; black sea bass rebuilding; and approval of the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limits Amendment.

Overfishing 101: It Ain't Over Till It's Over

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:25:00 GMT

Everyone loves a good comeback story, but sometimes a storyline emerges prematurely. Mark Twain famously responded to a press inquiry regarding his supposed demise by saying, “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” Similarly, declarations earlier this year that overfishing had ended in America provide a case in point.

Overfishing 101: Why Rebuilding Fish Populations Benefits Everyone

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:25:00 GMT

All too often, leaders in Washington focus on the short-term impacts of potential policies to the detriment of long-term benefits to our environment and economy. Ongoing efforts in Congress to weaken the federal laws that govern marine resources are a great case in point.

Federal Fishery Panel Approves Annual Catch Limits

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:00:00 GMT

(The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News) Federal regulators on Tuesday approved catch limits for numerous species of fish caught off the Southeast coast from North Carolina to Florida.

Protections Approved for Dozens of Additional Fish Species

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:30:00 GMT

Holly Binns, director of the Pew Environment Group’s Southeast Fish Conservation Campaign, issued the following statement today in response to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s 8 to 5 vote to approve plans to prevent overfishing that protect dozens of species by setting science-based catch limits.

Changing the Game: New Plans to Prevent Overfishing

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:50:00 GMT

Southeast waters are a mecca for residents and tourists who love fishing, boating, diving and delicious seafood meals. While overfishing may put all of this at risk, new plans could help reduce the threat.

Managing Fish and Fishing in America's Oceans

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:55:00 GMT

Ocean fish have served as a valuable source of nourishment, employment and recreation in the United States for centuries.

Catch Limits for Southeast Coast to be Considered

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:45:00 GMT

(Miami Herald) Annual catch limits for species of fish caught off the Southeast coast will be considered this week as the federal government works to prevent overfishing of the nation's seafood stocks.

Advocacy Group: Overfishing Cost Fishermen

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:15:00 GMT

(Miami Herald) A new study from an advocacy group shows that overfishing two years ago cost millions of dollars for fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.

Chart: The Cost of Chronic Overfishing vs. the BP Oil Disaster

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:15:00 GMT

(The Atlantic) Overfishing occurs without much drama. But as the numbers show, its impact on fish is Deepwater Horizon-sized—and then some.

The Hidden Cost of Overfishing to Commercial Fishermen

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:25:00 GMT

A new report commissioned by the Pew Environment Group examines the impact of chronic overfishing in terms of lost revenue to commercial fishermen in three U.S. regions with the highest levels of overfishing. In 2009 alone, commercial fishermen in New England, the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions that targeted depleted ocean fish populations lost $164.2 million and realized just 25 percent of potential revenue.

New Study: Overfishing Cost Southeast Commercial Fishermen $15.2 M in Just One Year

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:20:00 GMT

An analysis commissioned by the Pew Environment Group shows commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic lost $12.3 million and $2.9 million respectively in 2009 due to population declines in important species, such as red snapper and gag grouper. Revenues could have been between 16 and 32 percent higher if several fish populations were at healthier levels.

H.R. 2304: A Bill that Would Weaken Fisheries Science and Undermine Efforts to Prevent Overfishing in the South Atlantic

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:40:00 GMT

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the federal law that governs management of our nation's ocean fish, requires managers to set science-based annual catch limits to ensure sustainable fishing for all federally-managed ocean fish populations by the end of 2011. The misnamed "Fishery Science Improvement Act" would jeopardize this goal and put economically and environmentally important species such as red porgy and gray triggerfish at risk.

Biographies: Florida Fishermen

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:30:00 GMT

These Florida fishermen are featured in Pew's video, U.S. Southeast Fishermen Speak Out: Protect Our Fish. Learn more about them and why they want to protect the valuable fish of the Southeast.

U.S. Southeast Fishermen Speak Out: Protect our Fish

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:15:00 GMT

Many conservation-minded anglers favor scientifically sound fishing limits to help depleted species recover and prevent overfishing.

Testimony Before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Holly Binns, manager of the South Atlantic Fish Conservation Campaign, provided testimony at the June 2011 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting, addressing concerns of the Pew Environment Group regarding work to ensure healthy, productive fisheries in the region.

Comments re: The Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment

Tue, 24 May 2011 15:10:00 GMT

On behalf of the Pew Environment Group's South Atlantic Fish Conservation Campaign, we are writing to express our support for approval of the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment currently under review by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Comments re: Amendment to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

Mon, 23 May 2011 19:35:00 GMT

On behalf of the Pew Environment Group's Southeast Fish Conservation Campaign, we are writing to express our concern that Spiny Lobster Amendment 10 currently under review by both the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils may not be sufficient to prevent overfishing and hold the fishery within its annual catch limit.

Letter to the NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office Regarding Temporary Regulations for Gag Grouper

Fri, 06 May 2011 13:30:00 GMT

Gag is one of the most important fisheries in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but it is heavily overfished with fishing rates far higher than those the Council's science advisors have deemed to be sustainable.

Overfishing 101: How Ocean Fish Populations are Managed in the U.S. (Part 2)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:45:00 GMT

To effectively manage these populations, the U.S. needs to base its policy on science. Few topics arouse passions about ocean conservation more quickly than overfishing—taking more fish from our ocean than nature can replace—and what to do about it. In my experience, this debate too often sinks into the details and jargon of fisheries management, making it difficult for the lay person to understand the subject. In this post, I’d like to break it down in a way that is easier to understand.

Overfishing 101

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:40:04 GMT

Fishermen, conservationists and scientists have actively debated how best to manage our ocean fish populations for decades. But with so much at stake, it's critical that as many Americans as possible be actively engaged in this discussion. Lee Crockett's “Overfishing 101” blog series aims to do just that by providing a new outlet, in which we hope to open up the discussion to the larger public, cut through the rhetoric and encourage more people to participate in marine fish conservation.

Conserving Fish in the U.S. South Atlantic

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:00:00 GMT

Fish filled the seas 500 million years ago in a burst of new life on Earth. Ever since, they have kept the ocean ecosystem delicately balanced, fed people, supported a critical industry and brought recreation to millions who enjoy fishing, diving and boating. Yet today, fish are disappearing at an alarming rate.

The Plan to Save Red Snapper

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:00:00 GMT

Red snapper are in critical condition. After almost half a century of severe overfishing, their population has plummeted to dangerously low levels. New rules halt red snapper fishing in the Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Florida to give the fish a needed break. If red snapper have a chance to grow older and reach their best breeding years, this popular catch and restaurant favorite could rebound. The moratorium could be lifted gradually as the fish show signs of recovery

Red Snapper: New Study, Same Plight

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:00:00 GMT

The new South Atlantic red snapper assessment documents some changes in red snapper’s condition but the story remains the same: The fish are still at critically low population levels and in urgent need of protection.

Snowy Grouper: Signs of Decline

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Fishery managers limited fishing of snowy grouper in 1993, but the species didn’t recover.

A Plan to Save 9 Species - Amendment 17-B

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:55:00 GMT

Federal fishery managers are working to end overfishing of nine imperiled species in the U.S. South Atlantic from North Carolina to Florida. These slow-growing and late-to-mature species are being caught faster than they can reproduce. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which sets fishing policies in southeast federal waters, approved new rules to restore these valuable fish populations.

Overfishing 101: How Ocean Fish Populations are Managed in the U.S.

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:47:25 GMT

All too often the discussion around the issue of overfishing has been limited to a small group of stakeholders such as fishermen, conservationists and scientists. To help open up this debate to the broader public, I've developed a short series nicknamed "Overfishing 101." In this post, I'll take a look at some of the basics of why all Americans should care about how our ocean fish are managed.

America's Fishing Law on the Line

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:05:00 GMT

Enjoyed some tasty New England scallops lately? Reeled in a Gulf of Mexico red snapper? Feasted on some mid-Atlantic summer flounder? Aside from your fishing talents or culinary prowess, you have federal fishery law to thank.

Success Story: Rebuilding America's Fisheries with One Single Act

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:10:00 GMT

In honor of the 35th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, a law that is helping to rebuild America’s depleted fish populations, Pew reviews some remarkable successes.

Editorial: Fishery research needed

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:40:00 GMT

Florida's U.S. senators — Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Marco Rubio — are right that fishing regulations not backed by sufficient research are not just unhelpful, they are damaging to the economy.

Testimony of Sera Drevenak before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Mar. 2011

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:25:00 GMT

The proactive approach outlined in this amendment is intended to prevent overfishing by setting cautious limits that will keep fish populations from plummeting to critically low levels, and set the course for a healthy, balanced ocean ecosystem.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:35:00 GMT

We are concerned that the Council may be moving quickly to make significant changes to the area closure for eight deepwater species contained in Amendment 17B via Regulatory Amendment 11, with little opportunity for scientific review or public input.

Lives on the Sea: Where are the big fish?

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:00:00 GMT

The anglers were just offshore Charleston, following birds circling above baitfish, when they stumbled onto something unheard of -- trophy red drum, hundreds of them, thrashing the surface in a feeding frenzy

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Red Grouper, Feb. 2011

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:20:00 GMT

The Pew Environment Group is concerned that red grouper has been undergoing overfishing and overfished for 20 years and that the rebuilding plan implanted in 1991 failed to rebuild the stock by the target date of 2006.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Red Snapper

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 19:55:00 GMT

Too often fishery management is simply reactive to a never-ending series of crises, and we applaud the Council for taking a proactive look at the management of this fishery.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:20:00 GMT

The proactive approach outlined in the Amendment is intended to prevent overfishing by setting cautious limits to keep fish populations from plummeting to critically low levels, and set the course for a healthy, balanced ocean ecosystem.

Meet the Experts: Holly Binns, Manager, End Overfishing in the Southeast

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:54:40 GMT

Holly Binns joined the Pew Environment Group in 2008 as manager of efforts to protect ocean life and end overfishing in the Gulf of Mexico, the South Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Atlantic Fish Closures Aimed at Boosting Threatened Species

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:05:00 GMT

A comeback is now underway off the Atlantic coast of Florida.

New Fishing Limits Proposed for Dozens of Southeast Species

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:50:00 GMT

2011 01 19 Holly Binns, a project manager for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in advance of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s public hearings during the next two weeks on a new plan to

New Rules Restrict Harvest of Some Snapper, Grouper Species

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 GMT

NOAA Fisheries has announced a final rule, effective Jan. 31, imposing new harvest restrictions on some snapper and grouper species in South Atlantic federal waters from North Carolina through Florida.

Nine Species Saved

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:45:00 GMT

We worked with fishery managers on a plan to save nine dwindling species, including the critically imperiled Warsaw grouper, which can weigh up to 400 pounds and grow to eight feet but whose population has plummeted to just six percent of healthy levels.

Pew Hails New Protections for Fish Species

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:25:00 GMT

Holly Binns, a project manager with the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to the Department of Commerce’s final approval of Amendment 17B—a plan to save nine dwindling fish species in the U.S. South Atlantic.

Red Snapper Repopulation Efforts Working

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:05:00 GMT

Decades of overfishing and accidental catching of red snapper have brought populations off the Georgia coast to dangerously low levels.

Testimony of Holly Binns before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Red Snapper, Dec. 2010

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:15:00 GMT

We are cautiously optimistic that based on the new assessment and early indications that the moratorium is reducing encounters and effort, that the Council will end red snapper overfishing.

Red Snapper Protections Changed

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:20:00 GMT

Holly Binns, a project manager at the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s vote to eliminate the closed ocean area to bottom fishing as part of the red snapper recovery plan.

SAFMC Votes Thursday to Eliminate Area Closure

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:10:00 GMT

A move to prohibit snapper and grouper fishing over more than 4,500 square miles of the ocean floor off the coast of Florida and Georgia was taken away Thursday during the quarterly meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in New Bern, N.C.

Testimony of Holly Binns before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Annual Catch Limits, Dec. 2010

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT

As this Council finishes the hard work of ending overfishing, it is important to put measures in place to ensure that we don’t shift the problem to other species.

Pew Urges Fishery Council to Remain Committed to Recovery Plan

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:49:42 GMT

2010-12-03 Holly Binns, of the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to the Department of Commerce’s decision to suspend part of the South Atlantic red snapper recovery plan until fishery managers consider results of a new study. Red snapper fishing is still prohibited from Nort

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Amendment 17A and Regulatory Amendment 10

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:10:00 GMT

According to SouthEast Data, Assessment, and Review, although red snapper have shown some improvement, the bottom line remains the same – they are still undergoing overfishing and overfished, and in need of strong protections to rebuild the population.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment, Dec. 2010

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:00:00 GMT

There have been several substantive improvements to the document since the last public version and we thank Council staff for putting a great deal of thought into this blueprint for fisheries management.

Feds Scale Back Snapper, Grouper Ban

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:25:00 GMT

A more permanent ban on fishing red snapper will take effect today, but a controversial plan to bar fishing other snapper and grouper species off the Florida coast is being delayed until spring.

Letter to NOAA Fisheries Service Regarding Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:55:00 GMT

The South Atlantic region currently has ten species undergoing overfishing, more than any other region in the country.

Red Snapper Population Set for Rebound

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:25:00 GMT

Holly Binns, manager of the Pew Environment Group's Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast, issued the following statement today in response to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke’s final approval of the South Atlantic red snapper recovery plan, Amendment 17A.

Letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regarding Amendment 17A to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:40:00 GMT

On behalf of the Pew Environment Group’s Ending Overfishing in the Southeast campaign, we are writing to urge the approval of Amendment 17A to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measures Amendment

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT

The revised Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires annual catch limits and accountability measures such that overfishing does not occur for all stocks in the fishery by 2011.

Comments on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment, Aug. 2010

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:25:00 GMT

Statement on the Fishery Conservation Transition Act

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:40:00 GMT

Lee Crockett, director of federal fisheries policy for the Pew Environment Group, and Holly Binns, manager of Pew’s Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast, issued this joint statement today on Senator Bill Nelson’s (D-Fla.) legislation to weaken a key federal fishery law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and delay plans to end overfishing and rebuild the severely depleted South Atlantic red snapper.

Pew Applauds Senator Snowe, Nine of Her Colleagues for Introducing Coastal Jobs Creation Act

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:55:00 GMT

Lee Crockett, director of Federal Fisheries Policy at the Pew Environment Group, today commented on legislation introduced by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), John Kerry (D-MA), Mark Begich (D-AK) and Jack Reed (D-RI) that economically supports fishermen and coastal communities while efforts to end overfishing and rebuild depleted U.S. fish populations are implemented.

Testimony of Holly Binns before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Jun. 2010

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:15:00 GMT

Forty years of overfishing drove the red snapper population to dangerously low levels.

Pew Statement Regarding Vote on the Long-Term Red Snapper Recovery Plan

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:50:00 GMT

Holly Binns, manager of the Pew Environment Group’s Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast, issued the following statement today in response to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s vote on the long-term red snapper recovery plan.

Red Snapper Fishing Limited

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:35:00 GMT

The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council voted Wednesday to close an almost 5,000 square mile portion of the South Atlantic Coast to red snapper fishing.

Project Manager for Pew Environment Group: Plan Would Save Fish, Give Fishermen Jobs

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:05:00 GMT

The end of the line is approaching to finalize a proposal that could save the imperiled red snapper.

The Future of Oil and Water

Wed, 19 May 2010 19:40:00 GMT

The explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig brings into sharp focus not only a tragic loss of life but also the fragmented and inadequate way in which we manage and protect the nation's critical marine resources and the fragile ocean environment. Scientifically sound and precautionary polices to reconcile the needs of safety, energy security, sustainable fisheries and environmental protection have become urgent.

Oil Spill in Louisiana

Thu, 06 May 2010 19:15:00 GMT

All depends on the wind. Just as Ireland’s travellers anxiously await news of the shifting winds, so too with the coastal communities of the Gulf of Mexico.

Letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regarding Amendment 17A to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan, Apr. 2010

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Red snapper have been overfished for the last 40 years, and have been reduced to 3% of ssustainable levels.

Testimony of Holly Binns before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Mar. 2010

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:15:00 GMT

It is important for the interim rule to be renewed and for the Council to stay on track for final action at your meeting in June to ensure that the directed fishery does not re-open before Amendment 17A is finalized.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Amendment 17A to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan, Feb. 2010

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:05:00 GMT

As you and the Council consider long-term measures to protect and rebuild red snapper, we appreciate the serious challenges you face as you wrestle with how best to manage this difficult situation.

Fisheries Managers Pick Area for Bottom-Fishing Closure

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:05:00 GMT

A huge swath of offshore waters from Georgetown to the middle of Florida would be closed to bottom-fishing under a plan tentatively approved last month by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Editorial: Long Term Should Guide Red Snapper Regulations

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:05:00 GMT

Short-term pain for long-term gain is the best way to describe a plan to ban bottom fishing along the Continental Shelf from Charleston to south Florida.

Fishery Managers Approve Plan to Save Nine Species, Move Closer to Final Plan for Red Snapper

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Holly Binns, manager for the Pew Environment Group's Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast, issued this statement today.

Testimony of Holly Binns before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Dec. 2009

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:30:00 GMT

Expanding the accountability measures for some species in Amendment 17-B is a necessary step toward restoring healthy fish populations in the South Atlantic region.

Pew Applauds NOAA for its Conservation-Minded Catch Shares Policy

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:25:00 GMT

Lee Crockett, director of Federal Fisheries Policy at the Pew Environment Group, today issued the following statement in response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) release of its draft policy on the use of catch shares in federal fisheries.

Statement on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Approval of the South Atlantic Short-Term Red Snapper Fishing Moratorium

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:05:00 GMT

Holly Binns, manager of the Pew Environment Group’s Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast, issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary’s approval of a six-month moratorium on red snapper fishing in federal South Atlantic waters from North Carolina to Florida.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Amendment 17B to the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan, Nov. 2009

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:40:00 GMT

The South Atlantic region currently has ten species undergoing overfishing, more than any other region in the country.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Amendment 17A to the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan, Nov. 2009

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:45:00 GMT

Red snapper have been overfished for the last 40 years, and have been reduced to 3% of 1945 levels.

Design Matters: Making Catch Shares Work

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:20:00 GMT

Catch shares are fishery management programs that allocate fishing privileges in the form of a specific portion of the total annual catch quota.

Feds Weighing Unprecedented Fishing Closure

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:10:00 GMT

Fishing for dozens of kinds of fish could become illegal from Central Florida to Charleston, S.C., because of a federal agency’s work to protect one species, the red snapper.

Testimony of Holly Binns before the South Atlantic Fishery Management Counci, Sept. 2009

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:30:00 GMT

We urge the Council to request a formal presentation of the SSC’s ABC control rule at the December meeting, and that you adopt the ABC control rule at that time.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding the Application of the Best Scientific Information to Fishery Management Plans

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:50:00 GMT

The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that annual catch limits and accountability measures be in place by the 2010 fishing season for all species experiencing overfishing, and by 2011 for all other species.

Sound Science Should Guide Gulf Fishing Limits

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:05:00 GMT

The question facing federal fishery managers is how many fish can be taken from the Gulf of Mexico without harming species and unbalancing the ecosystem.

Given Enough Time, Overfished Red Snapper Can Rebound

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:10:00 GMT

Would you pick fruit from an orchard before it’s ripe? Probably not. We all know the best reward comes from patiently waiting for nature to finish its work.

Letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Regarding Amendment 16 to the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:55:00 GMT

The shallow water grouper spawning season closure seeks to end more than 30 years of chronic overfishing of gag grouper by setting the catch level at gag’s scientifically determined optimum yield.

Letter to Commerce Secretary Locke Regarding the Red Snapper Interim Rule

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Amendment 17-A to the SnapperGrouper Fishery Management Plan should be enacted without delay, and must include longterm, science based catch limits that include all sources of mortality to ensure the long-term health of the red snapper population.

Statement on the Hilborn-Worm Study on Rebuilding Global Fisheries Published in 'Science'

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:35:00 GMT

Rebecca Goldburg, director of Marine Science at the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to a paper published in the journal Science.

Statement on Representative Mica’s Red Snapper Legislation

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:05:00 GMT

Holly Binns, Project Manager for the Pew Environment Group’s Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast, issued the following statement today in response to Rep. John Mica’s (R-Fla.) new legislation that would block a moratorium federal fisheries managers initially approved in March temporarily halting red snapper fishing from North Carolina to Florida.

Letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Regarding Amendment 17 to the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:05:00 GMT

Overfishing is damaging to both the natural resources of the South Atlantic region, and to the long-term viability of our fishing industry and fishing communities.

South Atlantic: A Primer on the SEDAR Stock Assessment Process

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:30:00 GMT

SEDAR (Southeast Data, Assessment and Review) is the cooperative program through which stock assessments of Council managed fisheries resources in the Southeastern United States are developed and reviewed.

Understanding Federal Fishery Management

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:20:00 GMT

Many members of the fishing community, frustrated by unwanted regulation, wonder why government officials have the right (or the nerve) to tell them how much fish they can catch, where and when they can catch it, and how they can catch it.

A Guide to Fisheries Stock Assessment

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:15:00 GMT

Fishery managers have a range of goals. They strive to maintain healthy fish populations and a healthy fishing industry while still preserving vital recreational communities.

Feds, Florida Anglers Battle Over Red-Snapper Ban

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:15:00 GMT

On the docks at Ponce Inlet, the chance to hook a red snapper lures tourists to the Sea Spirit, a deep-sea party boat.

Ban on Fishing Snapper Off Southeast is Likely

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:25:00 GMT

After three decades as a charter fishing guide, Steve Amick says he's never seen red snapper as large or plentiful as he did last year off Georgia's Atlantic coast. Soon, catching them could be illegal.

Fishery Council Approves Six-Month Ban on Red Snapper Fishing

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:20:00 GMT

Fishermen might only have a few months to reel in red snapper off the coasts of the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida following a decision Thursday to halt such fishing for six months. That ban might stretch into a full year.

Snapper Ban Could Start in June

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:20:00 GMT

Catching red snapper in local waters could become illegal as early as June under a temporary ban passed Thursday by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Red Snapper Fishing Ban Considered

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:25:00 GMT

When tourists return to the area this spring and begin booking fishing charters, they might not be able to go after one of their favorite catches.

Editorial: Save the Snapper

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:25:00 GMT

A federal agency that manages fisheries off the Georgia and South Carolina coasts is expected to decide today whether to ban all types of red snapper fishing.

Six-Month Snapper Fishing Ban Approved for South Atlantic

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:10:00 GMT

Federal fisheries managers voted 7 to 6 today to suspend all red snapper fishing in the south Atlantic from Florida to North Carolina – a significant move that would help the overfished snapper but could mean changes for tourist fishing trips and commercial fisheries.

Pew Environment Group Statement on Red Snapper Fishing Moratorium in the South Atlantic

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:10:00 GMT

Holly Binns, Project Manager for the Pew Environment Group’s Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast, issued the following statement today about the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s 7 to 6 vote to halt red snapper fishing for six months, with an optional six-month extension, in the South Atlantic from North Carolina to Florida.

Ban Could Stop Red Snapper Fishing off Southeastern Coast

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:30:00 GMT

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council regulates fishing off the coasts of North and South Carolina, Georgia and East Florida.

Red Snapper Off the Menu? Atlantic Numbers Plunge

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:10:00 GMT

Remember the old photographs of fishermen proudly posed next to red snapper just as tall as they were? Those days are long gone.

Statement on New Red Snapper Fishing Season In Gulf Of Mexico

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:15:00 GMT

Holly Binns, Project Manager for the Pew Environment Group’s Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast, issued the following statement today about the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s vote to change state fishing rules so the current mid-April through October red snapper fishing season in state waters is consistent with federal rules and the June through September season in federal waters.

Control Fishing of Grouper, Snapper

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:10:00 GMT

Floridians love grouper and snapper. We ought to. Our commercial fishermen rely on these fish to pay the bills, and recreational fishermen bring tourism dollars from near and far to catch them.

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