Louisiana Seafood Board Unanimously Approves Resolution Supporting Current Red Snapper Quotas

Board

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board (pictured in July meeting) implored members of the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council to consider those not having access to the Gulf of Mexico, but wish to enjoy the Red Snapper natural resource. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink

by Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink

Meeting in Baton Rouge the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board unanimously approved a resolution supporting Reef Fish Amendment #28 keeping Gulf Red Snapper quotas at current levels.

Contention surrounding the issue of red snapper quota has deeply divided recreational and commercial fishing interests, as well as Gulf politicians at the state and federal levels.

Red Snapper is culturally and economically important to the Gulf Coast. Seafood sales at restaurant after restaurant dotting the southern coastline are one of the largest drivers of the Gulf’s tourism industry.

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board implored members of the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council to consider those not having access to the Gulf of Mexico, but wish to enjoy the Red Snapper natural resource.  The board requested the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council to retain the existing 51% commercial and 49% recreational.

Fisherman Peter Gerica.

“We won’t roll over this time,” fisherman Pete Gerica explained. “Red Snapper is an open fishery that anyone can participate in for the price of a license.” Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink

The approved resolution was part of the Legislative Committee report to the board, which also included sending a representative to Gulf Council meetings, and a board member to the D.C. “Walk the Hill” events.

The Louisiana Seafood board operates under the authority of Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, which also represents recreational fishing interests through the Office of Tourism.

“As a Louisiana fisherman, I stand behind the Seafood Board’s decision to unanimously support keeping current Red Snapper quotas,” said Peter Gerica, president of the Lake Pontchartrain Fisherman Association. “The Gulf Council, as well as state agencies, needs to look at the bigger picture.  The current 51/49 percent is fair.  The commercial fishermen are doing our share to ensure a safe fishery.  Governmental agencies can’t keep adding variations into the equation and expect there to be an equilibrium.”

Commercial fishermen have learned from the mistakes made when red fish was taken from the fishery and the fisherman were portrayed as “catching everything they can.”

“We won’t roll over this time,” Gerica explained.  “Red Snapper is an open fishery that anyone can participate in for the price of a license.  Commercial fisherman have acted responsibly, it is time for recreational to step up to the plate with a system that shows exactly how much they are landing.”

Louisiana Red Snapper

Louisiana lands more than 30% of the red snapper harvested in the Gulf.

Captain Russel Underwood

Russell Underwood, at the wheel of his vessel the Norman B, is glad the board continues to be a strong, clear voice for the state’s fishermen. Photo: Andy Murch/Univesity of Southern Mississippi

Operating a two million dollar company with 40 employees, and 85 percent of it the earnings remaining within the state, Russell Underwood is glad the board continues to be a strong, clear voice for the state’s fishermen.

“If they cut quota, prices will go up, but they will probably not rise enough to cover the loss of income from the loss of quota for the fisherman,” said Underwood who’s finfish business operates out of Leeville, La and Panama City, FL. “If the commercial fishery were to loose 25% of the allocation it would be devastating to not only my business, but the economy of the state.  Jobs and revenue would be lost, no doubt about it.”

A native of Florida but spending a majority of his time in southern Louisiana, he considers himself a part of the southern Louisiana culture.  Owning six percent of the Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper quota, he lands more than a quarter million pounds of finfish yearly in Leeville; including grouper, tuna, mackerel and albacore.

“We spend more than a half million dollars alone at Griffin’s Marina for fuel, bait and ice; not to mention the salaries of our 40 employees,” he said.

According to Underwood, the commercial fin fishermen in Louisiana have worked hard to partner with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on proper enforcement of harvested red snapper. “We have a great relationship and respect of our enforcement officials, and they have respect for how we are working hard to self-enforce the fishery,” he said. “We know we had better not screw it up.”

Red snapper landed in Louisiana is shipped to Florida, New Orleans, New York and Chicago, as well as across the U.S.

Not A Simple Issue

“It’s not a simple issue and no one is going to be happy, especially in the short run,” said New Orleans’ GW Fins Chef and co-owner Tenney Flynn. “The current allocation is fair, it gives more people access to a great tasting fish.  Changes must be made to recreational harvesting to bring them up to the standards commercial fisherman face.”

The French Quarter chef, who is also a recreational fisherman, said the U.S., and especially Louisiana, do a great job at managing Gulf seafood to ensure sustainability. One of the main reason tourists visits New Orleans and Louisiana is to experience the unique culture and to eat Gulf seafood.

Tenney Flynn

“It’s not a simple issue and no one is going to be happy, especially in the short run,” said New Orleans’ GW Fins Chef and co-owner Tenney Flynn. “The current allocation is fair, it gives more people access to a great tasting fish.” Photo: Louisiana Seafood News

For him, it is important that the Louisiana Seafood Board continues to support the commercial fishermen so restaurants have the variety of Gulf seafood customers demand.

“This is obviously been a struggle, but it doesn’t have to be.  It is time that we all work together to find solutions that will satisfy the needs of both fishing industries,” he said.

David Maginnis, a seafood board member representing the state’s salt water fishermen and vice-president of Jensen Tuna in Houma, indicated that “the largest problem is recreational fishermen have no accountability, whereas the commercial fishermen must call three hours in advance to have an agent meet him a the dock to weigh in. Commercial and recreational fishermen must work together to protect the fisheries, which would mean dockside monitoring both fisheries and not just commercial.”

“It is important the Seafood Board stands behind commercial fishermen,” said board member Keith Watts who represents the Crab Task Force. “I am glad to see that we were a unified voice on this important issue.

“The problem comes down to this,” said Underwood. “Red Snapper is still a fishery that is rebounding.  A couple of years of overfishing could put the fishery back in the mess it was seven years ago when it was “red listed” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. It is the responsibility of both recreational and commercial fishermen to ensure that never happens.”

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About the Author

About the Author: Ed Lallo is the editor of Gulf Seafood News and CEO of Newsroom Ink, an online brand journalism agency. He is also owner of Lallo Photography based in Chapel Hill, NC. .

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