Bottom Trawling On One Of The Best Grouper Spawning Reefs Of All Time???
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
Are you aware of the situation surrounding bottom trawling grouper spawning reefs off the east coast of Florida?
For the past 50 years or so, there have been laws and policies in place to protect a vital coral reef off of Florida’s east coast that is one of the largest spawning grounds for gag grouper.
Recently, there has been a push against these laws from local commercial fisheries that want to trawl the area for rock shrimp.
Trawling has catastrophic consequences not only on the gag grouper that spawn on that reef but the entire marine ecosystem as a whole.
In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Edith Widder and Dr. Grant Gilmore about their years of research and what we need to do now in order to prevent further destruction of this important reef.
Learn how you can make a difference here!!
You can watch the video version of this podcast below (which I highly recommend), listen to the audio version by clicking the play button underneath it, or listen to it on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.
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Bottom Trawling Grouper Spawning Reefs [PODCAST]
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Related Podcasts:
- MAKING SENSE OF NEW REDFISH REGULATIONS IN FLORIDA (PLUS COBIA CARCASS PAYDAY)
- HAVE WE SET UP THE MANATEES TO STARVE & DIE???
Related Information & Links:
- Petition To Save The Oculina Coral Reef
- What is Bottom Trawling?
- Fishing Background on the Oculina Coral Habitat
- Sample Petition For Fishermen
Here is a timestamped version of this important episode:
- 1:55 – Bottom Trawling Consequences
- 3:51 – Coral Reefs
- 4:41 – Deep Sea Trawlers
- 6:27 – Oculina Coral Reef in Florida
- 7:14 – Oculina Coral Reef & Grouper Spawning
- 9:57 – Trawling & Protection Law Change
- 12:46 – Why is this happening?
- 15:16 – Affected Fisheries
- 18:04 – Coral Destruction & Disturbance
- 22:11 – Where do we go from here?
- 25:02 – How can we help?
- 28:34 – Gag Grouper Spawning Behaviors
- 33:45 – You don’t know what is below the surface just by looking
[optin-monster slug=”wcrcrc7d6ih5k29wooi4″ followrules=”true”]
Bottom Trawling Grouper Spawning Reefs [VIDEO]
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Conclusion
As anglers, we have a deep understanding and appreciation for the saltwater ecosystems we interact with each time we’re out on the water.
Coral reefs are an intricate part of the marine ecosystem and they will not regenerate after they are disturbed or destroyed.
Spread awareness and educate those around you to raise attention to this critically important issue.
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First, this should be mandatory viewing for all members.
Second, why aren’t all the other commercial fishers getting involved? If this will negatively impact commercial grouper, amberjack, etc. fishers then they should put their money and voices behind this issue.
Because Commercial snapper and grouper fisherman are not affected by this reopening of the oculina bank, they agree with the shrimp Trawlers. I Rockshrimp around the oculina bank throughout the year and the reef is not getting destroyed by trawling. If the reef is dying like the scientist claim the likely culprit is the okechobee freshwater discharge from the south Florida inlets. The scientist in the podcast are completely and unequivocally wrong when they state that trawlers make “goat trails” and intentionally destroy the reef. First off no shrimper is going to intentionally destroy their trawl doors that cost 20k dollars. Secondly it’s down right dangerous to try to catch the reef, a shrimp boat can capsize if the trawls snag the bottom. And thirdly the oculina bank is a nursery for rock shrimp, shrimpers would be totally shooting their selves in the foot if they trawled in the oculina bank. The rock shrimp located in reefs/rocks are smaller and have no commercial value.
I am a 5th generation commercial shrimper, and have been fighting to have our trawling grounds Around, not in the oculina bank restored to us! I’m one of only 15 commercial rock shrimp boats on the east coast and we do not catch snapper, grouper or any other reef fish. There is so much misinformation on trawling I’m reluctant to even listen to this podcast. Shrimp trawlers do not destroy bottom habitat! Trawling does not take place over hard bottom (rock,reef, or any other reef fish habitat), it literally can’t because the trawl nets will be destroyed. Trawling is only done over mud or sand. Sport fisherman need to advocate for trawling, not against it. Trawling is one of the best things that can be done to mud and sand bottom, it turns the bottom over similar to a plow. I could go on for days, As I’ve spent many hours refuting NOAA’s claims in council meeting the last several years. The original oculina bank has been closed to trawling since the mid 90s. Around 2015 NOAA took trawling grounds away from us, that had no reef fish habitat in them, those are the trawling grounds we want back.
The podcast convinced me to sign the petition. Completely turned off after entering my email address to find it next continues to a request for a money donation. Passing over that, it next wants name and email address of someone else to allow continuing forward. At that juncture, decided this was not what I was expecting and decided not to complete it. They already captured my email address, however. Now getting spammed for other totally unrelated social causes from the organization who is doing the petition, and leaves me wondering where donations are going. Keep it simple like Captains for Clean Water where you sign a petition without being required to donate or give up someone’s personal info. Later, CCW may request a donation but that doesn’t get in the way of processing that person’s petition.
Thanks for waving the conservation flag, we all need to follow these issues and at least write to our elected officials express our concerns. Captains for Clean Waters sends members emails about issues to weigh in on. No cost to join. Also, don’t buy rock shrimp if you want to influence policy with your wallet!
Which politicians can we email to express our concerns about this type of trawling?
Fight it anyway you can. Speaking from someone who lived in Alaska and sees and listen to all the bycatch damage from Alaska Trawling. Once they get started they are hard to stop. Nets are non selective and damaging to sea floor and habitat.
What politicians give us names so we can vote appropriately thx
Joe,
By any chance is Captains for Clear Water involved?
This is a big red flag in the commercial fishing industry. From what I heard in the podcast, if we want to have reliable fisheries in the future, bottom trawling is very dangerous. This podcast was very eye opening because it shows that the commercial fishing industry not only overfishes our reefs, but they can also destroy them. Bottom trawling is detonating our fisheries and should not continue if we want to maintain them.