A rock shrimp limited access program was established in Shrimp Amendment 5, which required a vessel operator’s permit, established a minimum mesh size for the tail bag of a rock shrimp trawl, and required the use of an approved vessel monitoring system. The amendment established a vessel is considered eligible for an initial limited access endorsement if the owner owned a vessel with a Federal permit for South Atlantic rock shrimp on or before December 31, 2000, and landed at least 15,000 lbs of South Atlantic rock shrimp in any one of the calendar years 1996 through 2000 from a vessel he/she owned. Numerous rock shrimp fishermen were unsuccessful in meeting the landing requirement and have requested a reconsideration of the eligibility requirements.
Issues Stemming From Amendment 5
Currently 113 rock shrimp vessels have active rock shrimp endorsements, and 25 vessels have expired endorsements but they are still within the time period to renew them. Of these 138 vessels, it appears that only 80vessels would meet the15,000 pound landings (assumed to be heads-on or whole weight) requirement in any given year between 2003 and 2006.
Approximately 50% of the endorsement holders would lose their endorsements.
A number of individuals did not renew their endorsements when they renewed their rock shrimp permits because they did not understand renewal was necessary for a separate limited access permit to be issued.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has received input from the Rock Shrimp Advisory Panel and members of the public indicating a 50% percent reduction in the fishery would result in a lack of support for the rock shrimp infrastructure and fishery.
Proposed Amendment 7 Actions
Address the 15,000 lbs rock shrimp landing requirement.
Address endorsements lost due to not meeting the 15,000 lbs rock shrimp landing requirement.
Address endorsements lost through failure to renew the rock shrimp limited entry endorsement.
Require all shrimp permit holders to provide economic data if selected.
