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St. Lucie Inlet Shoaling Prompts "state of emergency" declaration

July 20, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dredging resumes in main channel of Manatee Pocket - Dredging of Manatee Creek will continue concurrently

Stuart, Fla. - June 17, 2011 - Dredging in the main channel of the Manatee Pocket will resume after a brief pause that was needed to remove sediment collected at the material handling area on Southeast Federal Highway in Stuart.

Dredging will resume near Pirate’s Cove on the morning of June 19 and will continue seven days a week between the hours of 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. The dredge will continue moving south in the main channel until the southern portion of the channel is complete.

Residents will see two different types of dredges being utilized to remove sediment from the Pocket. While a hydraulic dredge will remove sediment from the main channel, a mechanical dredge will continue making progress in Manatee Creek. Unlike the hydraulic dredging process where material is transported to the handling area through a pipeline, the mechanical dredge lifts material out of the waterway onto a barge and it is then offloaded at the staging area in Sandsprit Park.

“By dredging in the tributaries and main channel simultaneously using two dredging methods, we will remain on schedule to complete dredging by the end of the year,” Martin County Coastal Engineer Kathy FitzPatrick explained.

For construction updates, visit www.manateepocketproject.com.

Suggested photo caption: The dredge status image identifies the completed and active dredging areas in the Manatee Pocket.

About the Manatee Pocket Project
The Manatee Pocket Project is a dredging project that entails the removal of approximately 280,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno. Once completed, the project will result in a 100-foot-wide channel that will provide navigational and environmental enhancements to the Manatee Pocket and its adjacent waterways and provide important economic benefits for the surrounding communities.

The goals of the project are to:
• Increase the draft and size of vessels that will be able to access the Pocket
• Define a channel to minimize impacts to adjacent shallow water areas and benefit manatee protection
• Remove detrimental sediments
• Improve the ability of marine life to re-establish in the Pocket
• Improve the water quality in the Pocket by greatly reducing the resuspension of sediment

Click Here to download pdf

For more information visit www.manateepocketproject.com

Contact:
Kathy Fitzpatrick
Martin County Coastal Engineer
772-288-5429
kfitzpat@martin.fl.us

This information relates to recreational fishing only. As a person fishing from a chartered boat, you Do NOT need a Florida fishing license. According to Florida statues:

You do not need a saltwater fishing license if...

• You fish from a for-hire fishing vessel (guide, charter, party boat) that has a valid vessel license.
• You fish from a vessel, the operator of which has a valid vessel license issued in the name of the operator of the vessel.
• You have been accepted as a client for developmental services by the Florida Department of Children and Family Services.  The department must furnish proof to such clients.
• You fish for recreational purposes from a pier with a valid pier saltwater fishing license.
• You have a valid Florida saltwater products license.
• You fish for mullet in fresh water and you have a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.
• Effective Aug. 1, 2009 - You are a resident who is saltwater fishing from land or a structure fixed to land who has been determined eligible for the Florida food stamp, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid Program by the Florida Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Proof of identification and a benefit issuance or program identification card issued by DCFS or the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration must be on your person when fishing.

You do not need a freshwater fishing license if...

• You have been accepted as a client for developmental services by the Florida Department of Children and Family Services.  The department must furnish proof to such clients.
• You are a Florida resident who is fishing with live or natural bait, using poles or lines that are not equipped with a fishing-line-retrieval mechanism, and you are fishing for noncommercial purposes in your home county.  However, you must have a valid fishing license to fish by any method in a fish management area. 
• You are fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or less which is located entirely within the private property of its owner.  A fish pond is a man-made pond constructed for the primary purpose of fishing, entirely within the property lines of the owner and with no surface water connection to public waters.
• You are fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or more, whose owner has purchased a Florida fish pond license at a fee of $3 per surface acre.
• You possess a Florida Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing License.
• You are fishing in the St. Mary's River or Lake Seminole (but not including tributary creeks in Florida) and have a valid Georgia fishing license.
• You are freshwater fishing during Free Fishing Weekend (the first weekend of April).

Florida residency

For the purposes of hunting or fishing in Florida, a Resident is defined as:

• Any person who has resided in Florida for 6 continuous months prior to the issuance of a license and who claims Florida as his/her primary residence; or
• Any member of the United States Armed Forces who is stationed in Florida (includes spouse and dependent children residing in the household stationed in Florida).

Lifetime licenses

The Florida Wildlife Commission issues lifetime licenses to Florida residents for hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing.  Funds generated from the sale of these licenses are invested, creating an endowment to support the long-term conservation of Florida's wildlife and fisheries resources.

The Florida lifetime license is for conservationists who want to contribute to the long-term management of Florida's natural resources.  Only the interest from the trust fund is appropriated. The principal is held in perpetuity to ensure future funding for fish and wildlife programs.  This endowment will ensure that Florida's natural resources are conserved today for the future and that your children can pass on your family's hunting and fishing tradition to their children.

Follow this link for categories and prices of lifetime licenses.

During 1974-1976, eight acoustical tracking experiments were conducted along southeast Florida to assess immediate mortality of tagged and released Atlantic sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus. All sailfish were caught by rod and reel, tagged externally with ultrasonic transmitters, and tracked for periods of 2 hours 56 minutes to 28 hours 21 minutes. . Condition of each specimen at release was determined by observations of injury, extent of exercise period, and handling. No relationship was noted between size (age) and condition state. Seven sailfish survived.

PHYSICAL INJURIES DUE TO HOOKING

· Hooks found in the jaw hinge or mouth, or fish bleeding from these locations, were not considered life threatening. Conversely, hooks found in the upper palate, throat, pharynx, esophagus, or in the stomach are considered potentially lethal.
· The results of this study clearly indicated that the use of circle hooks can minimize deep hooking and foul hooking in the recreational trolling/pitch bait fisheries for sailfish.
· One instance was documented where a "J" hook was foul hooked in the eye. If eye injuries result in blindness, then this injury could potentially affect survival because billfish are highly dependent on daytime sight feeding in the upper portions of the water column. That specimen sustained severe eye injury, bled profusely, and was attacked and killed by a shark 6 hours 25 minutes after release. Twenty minutes appeared sufficient to at least slightly exhaust most sailfish. It is recommended that anglers strive to catch specimens within this time period.

CONCLUSION
The current high rate of fishing mortality and depressed stock status of most Atlantic billfish justify development of alternative approaches for reducing hook induced mortality for these species. One such approach would be the modification of terminal gear in order to reduce hook related injuries and trauma experienced during catch and release fishing. The survival of seven sailfish supports the continuance of releasing programs. Effect of tagging mortality on return rates now appears less significant.

Effects of Circle Hook Models on Postrelease Survival of Sailfish

The Atlantic sailfish, a major target species for offshore recreational anglers, in the vast majority of cases are taken in the U.S. fishery on natural baits and subsequently released.

A recent study by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, Florida, reported that hook choice does matter in the postrelease survival of Sailfish. The study demonstrates that the use of circle hooks with natural baits resulted in a highly significant increase in Sailfish postrelease survival relative to the use of straight-shank (J-type) hooks with natural baits. he main problem with a "J" hook is, it usually allows the fish to swallow the bait and become gut hooked, causing a lot of trauma to the fish. With the circle hook, the hook setting routine is vastly different and the results far better for the sailfish.

With the circle hook, the angler drops the bait back to the fish for a short count while keeping the rod pointed at the fish. The fish is allowed to start swallowing the bait. When the drag is set no motion is made to hard set the hook. The ONLY way the circle hook can work is if it travels SLOWLY. Once the drag is set, the forward motion of the boat produces a steady tension which will begin to pull the bait out of the fish. If the bait is moving slowly, the circle hook will pivot at the corner of the mouth and hook the fish. Unlike in the past when a few quick jerks of the rod set the hook, with a circle hook, any over movement of the rod tip or reel will pull the bait out too fast for the hook to pivot and place.

Terminal gear performances were assessed in terms of fishing success, hook location and bleeding associated with physical hook damage and trauma.

· 360 Pacific sails were caught in Guatemala to assess terminal gear performance: 235 sail were on circle hooks and 125 were on "J" hooks. Circle hooks used on sailfish had hooking percentages that were 1.83 times higher compared to "J" hooks.
· Significantly more sailfish were hooked in the corner of the mount using circle hooks (85%vs27%) whereas significantly more sailfish were deep hooked in the throat and stomach using "J" hooks (46%vs 2'%).
· Only one sailfish was foul hooked using circle hooks while 11 sailfish caught on "J" hooks were foul hooked. A foul hooked fish is anywhere in the body of the fish that is not the mouth or gums. For example, if you hook a fish in the gill plate it is a foul hooked fish... so is the tail dorsal, side, top of the head , fins or anywhere else that is not in the mouth of the fish.
· Sailfish caught on "J" hooks are about 21 times more likely to suffer hook related bleeding than those caught on circle hooks.

Current U.S. domestic management measures requiring the use of non-offset circle hooks with natural baits during registered tournaments for Atlantic billfishes (Istiophoridae) will provide some relief for white marlin; however, the use of circle hooks in recreational fisheries targeting this species throughout the Atlantic Ocean could substantially reduce fishing mortality on this overfished resource. Many Florida anglers independently choose circle hooks for a perceived benefit that circle hooks generally lodge in the corner of the jaw, avoiding internal injuries sometimes associated with deeply embedded J hooks.

more (Hook Choice Does Matter - Sailfish) ...

Effects of Circle Hook Models on Postrelease Survival of White Marlin

The Atlantic white marlin, a major target species for offshore recreational anglers, in the vast majority of cases are taken in the U.S. fishery on natural baits and subsequently released.

A recent study (2008) in the north American Journal of Fisheries Management, reported that hook choice does matter in the postrelease survival of White Marlin Kajika albida. A previous study demonstrated that the use of circle hooks with natural baits resulted in a highly significant increase in white marlin postrelease survival relative to the use of straight-shank (J-type) hooks with natural baits. However, several models of circle hooks, which vary in shape and the degree to which the point is offset from the shaft, are available to anglers. Survival estimates determined from experiments conducted using one model may not be transferable to other models.

The study used high-resolution pop-up satellite archival tags that were programmed to release from the fish after 10 days were deployed to follow the fates of 20 white marlin caught on each type of circle hook. Only one mortality was inferred from the 59 tags that provided useful data. No significant differences in the incidence of deep (internal) hooking, hook-induced trauma, or postrelease survival were found among fish caught on the different circle hook models. Incidences of white marlin deep hooking, hook-induced trauma, and postrelease mortality were significantly lower for the three circle hook models than for J hooks evaluated in a previous study.

MORTALITY

· Stocks of Atlantic Sailfish, blue marlin and white marlin have been identified by ICCAT as either over-exploited or fully exploited for more than two decades.
· The most current summaries of stock status for Atlantic sailfish and marlin note the historically high rates of fishing mortality observed in recent years.
· Recent reports indicate that circle hooks used in rod & reel recreational fisheries for striped bass, Chinook salmon and Atlantic bluefin tuna have been shown to significantly reduce deep hooking and thus promote the live release of these species.

Current U.S. domestic management measures requiring the use of non-offset circle hooks with natural baits during registered tournaments for Atlantic billfishes (Istiophoridae) will provide some relief for white marlin; however, the use of circle hooks in recreational fisheries targeting this species throughout the Atlantic Ocean could substantially reduce fishing mortality on this overfished resource. Many Florida anglers independently choose circle hooks for a perceived benefit that circle hooks generally lodge in the corner of the jaw, avoiding internal injuries sometimes associated with deeply embedded J hooks.

In order to strengthening the future for sportfishing along Florida's vast costal waterways, the state is developing the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative. It is a multi-year, multi-partner program to sustaining our saltwater sportfish populations and the natural habitats of our marine life. Under the supervision of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, it is a public-private partnership created to ensure that the exceptional recreational fishing opportunities that have earned Florida its place as the fishing capital of the world remain available. The focus will be on viable production of recreational fish, in the most cost-effective manner possible.

The Initiative will be a multi-year, multi-million dollar project, with stepped implementation phases implemented over the next 10 years. The Wildlife Foundation of Florida will take the lead in generating public awareness and fund-raising under the umbrella "Support Florida Sportfish." We will need the help of all concerned stakeholders-citizens, businesses, communities, clubs and associations, schools-to succeed.

A a series of strategically networked hatcheries and grow-out facilities will be built on both the east and west coasts of Florida. Combined with parallel habitat restoration, this network will be the most efficient model for sustaining healthy sportfish populations.

Florida is the most popular sportfishing destination in the country and that popularity contributes about $5 billion to Florida's economy annually. Maintaining healthy fish populations and habitats is critical to the continuation of that success. Everyone who lives, works or plays in our beautiful state is urged to help make this initiative a reality.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Interim Report (September 17,2009)

WASHINGTON, DC – Obama Administration officials today released the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Interim Report for a 30-day public review and comment period. The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, consists of 24 senior-level officials from Administration agencies, departments, and offices. The report provides proposals for a comprehensive national approach to uphold our stewardship responsibilities and ensure accountability for our actions.

“This Interim Report represents a wide spectrum of views and considerations, not just from within the federal government, but from members of the public, local officials, stakeholders and experts from coast to coast,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “It delivers on President Obama’s request for recommendations that will move this country towards a more robust national policy for our oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes and recognizes that we have a responsibility to protect the oceans and coasts for the benefit of current and future generations.”

“America's oceans are vital to our prosperity, health, security and quality of life,” said Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “This is a historic day -- for the first time, we as a nation say loudly and clearly that healthy oceans matter.”

“America's enduring maritime interests -- our reliance on the oceans and Great Lakes for commerce, sustenance, and security -- have not changed since our nation's founding. What has changed is the complexity of the pressures on these critical ecosystems and the demand for an effective and integrated national strategy to manage their use, protection, and sustainability," said Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen. “The recommendations of this Interim Report chart a clear course to address the needs for an integrated national policy and governance structure that will better provide for the safety, security, and stewardship of the maritime environment, now and into the future."

“President Obama's vision for a sustainable and comprehensive strategy for our oceans is vital to the wise management of these critical resources,” said Associate Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Davis. “With 1.7 billion acres in the Outer Continental Shelf -- including management responsibilities for offshore renewable and conventional energy resources, 35,000 miles of coastline, and millions of acres of marine-based parks, refuges and national monuments – the Department of Interior and its agencies are front and center in the effort to build the coordinated national ocean policy that our country needs.”

“The Interim Report provides a clear road map for America’s stewardship of the oceans, coasts and Great Lakes,” said EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Peter Silva. “EPA is proud to have played a key role in the development of this crucial report, which is inextricably linked with EPA's mission to protect and safeguard human health and the environment.”

The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force was created by Presidential Memorandum on June 12, 2009, to develop a national policy for the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. The Memorandum charged the Task Force with developing recommendations that include a national policy for our oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes, a framework for improved Federal policy coordination, and an implementation strategy to meet the objectives of a national ocean policy within 90 days. Within 180 days, the Task Force is charged with developing a recommended framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning.

The Interim Report provides proposals for a comprehensive national approach to uphold our stewardship responsibilities and ensure accountability for our actions. Additionally, the Interim Report outlines a more balanced, productive and sustainable approach to our ocean resources. Specifically, it highlights three key areas:

A National Policy: The Interim Report proposes a new National Policy that recognizes that America’s stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes is intrinsically and intimately linked to environmental sustainability, human health and well-being, national prosperity, adaptation to climate and other environmental change, social justice, foreign policy, and national and homeland security.

A Robust Governance Structure: The Interim Report proposes modifications to the existing governance structure, including a stronger mandate and direction, and renewed and sustained high-level engagement. Under the proposal, the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy would lead an interagency National Ocean Council to coordinate ocean-related issues across the Federal Government and the implementation of the National Ocean Policy. Such a governance structure, combined with sustained high-level staff involvement, would ensure that these areas are a priority throughout the Federal Government.

Categories for Action: The Interim Report prioritizes nine categories for action, including ecosystem-based management, regional ecosystem protection and restoration, and strengthened and integrated observing systems, that seek to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. These strategies and objectives provide a bridge between the National Policy and action on the ground.

The Task Force is now focusing its efforts on developing a recommended framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning as charged within 180 days. In addition, the Task Force continues its public engagement activities, including holding at least five more regional public meetings scheduled to take place in the following cities: San Francisco, California; Providence, Rhode Island; Cleveland, Ohio; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Honolulu, Hawaii. The initial meeting was held in Anchorage, Alaska on August 21, 2009. Expert briefings will continue while the Interim Report is available for review and public comment. The Interim Report may be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans. The Task Force will provide a final report with all of its recommendations later this year.