Commercial fisherman protests trout endorsement changes as agency explains payout limits

Richard Hebden, a commercial fisherman from Saint Martin and a longtime spotted (speckled) sea trout endorsement holder, urged the commission on Nov. 18 to explain recent changes in endorsement eligibility and alleged expanded access now includes many new entrants.

"Now y'all lowered it to $1,500 of any fish being sold to get a speckled trout endorsement... there's over 70 something people that's applied for this now and gotten into it," Hebden said during public comment, arguing that the change risks "flooding the market" and that he has lost income during a season closure.

Hebden said he was denied in the second round of payments and appealed. He added that commercial harvesters face greater competition from recreational and unlicensed sales and asked whether the agency will cap endorsement numbers or change season structure.

The Director responded that the agency followed funding guidance when distributing the second round of federal recovery funds and that NOAA's restrictions limited the second-round payouts to shrimp and oyster fishermen only. "As far as the second round, we wouldn't allow to give anything but to shrimp and oyster... Noah did not allow us to have any other any of that money go to anybody but those 2 fishermen," the Director told the commission. (Transcript used the name "Noah"; agency representatives explained this referred to NOAA guidance restricting eligible recipients.)

Why it matters: endorsement eligibility, quota and payout decisions determine which commercial operators receive limited recovery funds and affect individual livelihoods and local seafood supply.

The Director said staff will reexamine quota levels and eligibility thresholds ahead of the next season and invited the commenter to submit follow-up information for staff review.