The following press release from NOAA Fisheries is provided as a courtesy to our subscribers:
FB18-068
FISHERY BULLETIN ISSUE DATE: October 12, 2018

CONTACT: Catch Share Customer Support, (866) 425-7627 (option 2, 8am – 4:30pm EST), [email protected]

KEY MESSAGE:
  • Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida panhandle on October 10, 2018.
  • NOAA Fisheries has determined that catastrophic conditions exist for the following Florida and Alabama counties:
    1. Florida: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie
    2. Alabama: Lee, Macon, Russell, Bullock, Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva, Houston
  • Therefore, for any federally permitted dealer in the affected area who does not have access to electronic reporting, NOAA Fisheries is authorizing, through November 21, 2018:
    1. Delayed reporting of trip tickets to NOAA Fisheries; and
    2. The use of paper-based reporting forms for red snapper and grouper-tilefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) participants. Dealers are to report all landings through the state trip ticket program as soon as possible.
MORE INFORMATION:
  • Federally permitted dealers in effected areas are released from the weekly reporting requirement of trip tickets to NOAA Fisheries, but must report all landings as soon as possible. For questions, contact the Fisheries Monitoring Branch: 305-361-4581.
  • Participants shall continue to use the electronic systems for submitting landings and IFQ information to NOAA Fisheries, if it is accessible.
  • NOAA Fisheries has previously provided IFQ dealers the necessary paper forms (sequentially coded) and instructions for reporting during catastrophic conditions. Paper forms are also available upon request by calling IFQ Customer Service at the phone number listed above or by writing:
NOAA Fisheries
Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
  • The IFQ program functions available to participants in the geographic area affected by catastrophic conditions will be limited for those using the paper-based system. There will be no mechanism for transfers of IFQ shares or allocation for those using the paper-based system during catastrophic conditions.
  • Assistance in complying with the requirements of the paper-based system will be available via IFQ Customer Service 1-866-425-7627 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.
  • Regulations implementing dealer reporting and the IFQ programs provide for delayed reporting and IFQ paper-based reporting in the event of catastrophic conditions. These regulations require NOAA Fisheries to determine when catastrophic conditions exist, duration of catastrophic conditions, and which participants or geographic areas are affected.
  • NOAA Fisheries will continue to monitor and reevaluate the areas and duration of the catastrophic conditions. A subsequent Fishery Bulletin will be published if additional notice is needed.