According to Biscayne National Park officials there are five plans introduced to manage fisheries in park waters. In this connection the officials want public comments Since 202 development the Fishery Management Plan is the result of collaboration between park biologists and staffers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — the agency that would have to sign off on any changes to fishing rules.
It is informed that the plan is designed to be implemented in conjunction with the general management plan — still in the works — which will guide the 270,000-acre park. Biscayne National Park fisheries biologist Vanessa McDonough said that they hope to get good attendance at the public meetings. Although federal mandates require that park fisheries be managed to be sustainable, resources in Biscayne — by most accounts — are in poor shape.
It is told that the five proposed alternatives range from doing nothing to restoring fisheries resources to the levels they held before fishing occurred in the park.
• Alternative 1: Would maintain the status quo for fisheries resources.
• Alternative 2: Would impose minor restrictions on recreational and commercial fishing.
• Alternative 3: Seeks to increase abundance and size of fisheries by at least 10 percent.
• Alternative 4: The park staff’s preferred option is even more restrictive, seeking to increase fish size and abundance by at least 20 percent.
• Alternative 5: Considered the best management strategy for the marine environment (if not for park users), it would attempt to restore fish size and abundance to levels of decades ago.
The Fishery Management Plan does not propose any specific areas for designation as marine reserves or no-fishing zones. The controversial issue of marine reserves is being considered as part of the park’s general management plan and is open for public comment through Aug. 17.
