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Commercial fisherman protests trout endorsement changes as agency explains payout limits
Summary
A commercial fisherman raised concerns in public comment that lowered endorsement thresholds and expanded eligibility are flooding the speckled-trout market; the department said second-round federal funds were limited to shrimp and oysters and cannot be paid to finfish harvesters under NOAA guidance.
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,"…
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