CAB Approves Fish Discard, Sheeps Head Limits & Turtle Regulations

http://www.outdooralabama.com/oaonline/

CAB Approves Fish Discard, Turtle Regulations

By DAVID RAINER
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

With spring breakers heading to the Alabama Gulf Coast in droves, a quandary for the anglers in that group, as well as for the locals, has been what to do with fish carcasses after they are cleaned.
The Alabama Conservation Advisory Board dealt with that issue at its most recent meeting in Montgomery, approving a motion by Bill Hatley of Gulf Shores to allow the discard of bycatch (which also includes carcasses) in the Gulf of Mexico waters as long as it is farther than 500 feet from the shoreline.

“On inside water, fishermen can discard bycatch as long as they are not within 500 feet of the shoreline,” said Marine Resources Director Chris Blankenship. “The proposed regulation would allow fishermen to discard bycatch no closer than 500 feet from the shoreline in the Gulf waters, except for shrimp boats. This will make Gulf waters consistent with what we have on inside water. Shrimp boats, because their discards are so large, still must abide by the three-mile limit that is currently in effect.”

Anglers on Gulf State Park Pier now have the option of discarding carcasses from the cleaning station on the pier, which is past the 500-foot mark, or placing the carcasses in containers made available by the park for those who do not wish to throw bycatch into the water.

“We would love to find somebody to recycle the carcasses into fertilizer or other uses,” said Acting Parks Co-Director Tim Wishum. “The marinas already do that, so to find somebody to do that for the pier would be great.”

In other Marine Resources action, the bag and size limit for sheepshead was set at 10 fish per person per day with a minimum fork length of 12 inches. The minimum size for the commercial harvest of grouper was lowered to 22 inches to match federal regulations. The board also approved a motion that would increase the minimum size for tripletail (blackfish) to 18 inches total length.

In light of testimony at the first board meeting in February, Dr. Warren Strickland, board member from Huntsville, made the motion that would ban the commercial harvest of wild turtles in Alabama waters and limit the recreational harvest of turtles to two per person per day. The motion does not affect turtle farming, other than it would prohibit the importation of nonindigenous turtles into the state. The motion passed unanimously.

:headbang:

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Well, I must admit I didn’t think they would approve the over the side request, but I sho am glad they did.
I bet Dawg has got the signs down and the cans moved away from the tables already!
:bow: :yippee: :bow: :banana:
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Can I get a w00t w00t?
:headbang:

Blaine even though you don't have to chunk cans of fish carcasses anymore, my offer of helping still stands.

Sweet...Bring on the Fishies!!!

Wow, I can't believe it. :yay: :yay: :yay:

Also a big thank you to all of you who pushed the issue and those who went to Montgomery. I can't thank all of you enough. I only get to come down and fish 2 or 3 times a year but y'all just made those fishing trips a little less stressful so again THANKYOU!!!!

I am only down for vacation but thanks for everyones efforts on cleaning.

[quote author=DUCK link=topic=803.msg7556#msg7556 date=1332446601]
Also a big thank you to all of you who pushed the issue and those who went to Montgomery.
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+1