Dear Members:

This has been another year of difficulty in dealing with NMFS, although, a very successful year politically.

On the national level there will be a new Secretary of Commerce beginning in 2005 who is very understanding of the BFT issues for the winter bluefin fishery. The NMFS service answers directly to the Department of Commerce. Richard Burr, who will be replacing John Edwards from Greensboro in Congress, has committed to help get Amendment 2 in place in 2005 which is Part 2 of the FMP which will put allocation into the time period sub-quota December/January.

Concerning the angling category, there is another angling overage in 2004 according to NMFS. This is based on the 800 call in numbers and the Maryland Tail Tag Program. These numbers were not properly posted and were not brought to the table until the October 2004 ICCAT AP meeting. At this time they have not received the LPS survey counts for 2004.

One “rumor” suggest possible angling number for 2004 may reach 600 plus tons which is very inaccurate in most peoples opinion.

Another very important angling category issue is the accuracy of the current NMFS length chart, which is used to determine angling weights, is being disputed by the WBA and other user groups. We have taken actual weighed fish in the 73" range (100 fish) and their chart is 19.4% high. On top of this number to the LPS survey they have added an additional 17% to each fish due to the fact that they say these samples are using a caliper which would be straight length and the 17% covers curved fork length. If the joint efforts of user groups disputing these opposed figures prevail- then the NMFS has over stated the angling catches for 2002 and 2003 in excess of 300 mt. and 247 mt. in 2004. It is very likely it will take a number of months to resolve this issue and may require an independent investigation by marine biologists to resolve the issue. A final point concerning the angling category, Bill Hogarth has been very receptive to reviewing the fish weight to length comparison chart I have done and is meeting with user groups on November 29, 2004 in Silver Springs

There has been a lot of confusion and misconception about the WBA requesting the closure. The purpose of this was that HMS had stated if the NC Fishery took off in November that they would shut it down due to the high angling numbers and very likely would not re-open.

For our commercial group, the general category will re-open on or about December 1, 2004 and Bill has assured me that we will fish in December and January with at least the same tonnage we caught in 2003 and 2004 which was 108 mt. and possibly a little more.

I can not get the agency to confirm the RFD that we requested at the February 2004 AP meeting; or that they will try and split the available quota between December and January. What I do know is that with the Secretary of Commerce change in 2005, NFMS will be under a supporter of a winter general category and angling fishery.

The BFT specifications, as of the writing of this, have never been issued and I can only get from the head of the HMS that they are working on them. I feel very confident that this will change in 2005 or the user groups will ask Congress for a congressional investigation if this does not change soon.

Our web site, www.winterbluefin.org, is now working and will be updated monthly or sooner as issues develop that affect the winter fishery.

I have enclosed membership renewal forms, if you have an e-mail address, please put this on your form and return it with your dues. Some 2004 dues have been collected and if you have paid, please return it with an updated mailing address and e-mail address.

We will have an annual meeting at the Crystal Coast Civic Center on December 11, 2004 with a BBQ dinner served from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. and the meeting starting at 7:30 P.M.

Ken Kramer from the WBA board has stepped down and Sonny Davis has agreed to take his place. The by-law that state the board members are selected by the president has been amended to allow the membership to nominate and elect a board for a two-year term. The board, at this time, is made up of Woo Harker, Tom Fletcher, Buzz Pope, Steve Draughon, Ron Whitaker and Sonny Davis. I have enclosed a board nomination sheet and ask that you return these by January 1, 2005, the board is also considering setting up a voting page on the WBA website to elect positions if the membership deems it necessary.

I again thank everyone for their support and ask that you pay your dues and make your fish sales contributions of 5%.

Sincerely,

Pete Manuel
President