Gulf Council Holds Hearings on Red Snapper Allocation

Red Snap

The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council has scheduled a series of public hearings in all five Gulf States on the contenuous topic of Gulf Red Snapper Allocation.  Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink

The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council has scheduled a series of public hearings in all five Gulf States on the contenuous topic of Gulf Red Snapper Allocation. Amendment 28 examines allocating red snapper resources for the recreational fishing sector.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Council is currently considering Reef Fish Amendment No. 28, Chapter 2 – Management Alternatives. The amendment would alter the traditional 51/49 percent allocation of red snapper between the commercial fishing industry and recreational fishermen.

Two Alternatives are currently before the Council. Alternative 1 is based on an aggregate red snapper quota of 11 million pounds; commercial fishermen would retain 51 percent of the catch with an allocation of 5.610 million pound; recreational fishermen would receive 49 percent, or 5.390 million pounds.

ROASTED SNAPPER

Amendment 5 will effectively reduce the commercial share harvested for restaurants and stores frequented by the more than 300 million non-saltwater fishermen. Photo: Jim Gossen/GSI

The Gulf Council has voted to support Alternative 5, which gives the 11 million saltwater fishermen – roughly the combined population of New York and Los Angeles, an increase of 8 percent of the Gulf Red Snapper quota. The Alternative shifts allocation percentages to 75% recreational and 25% commercial for aggregate red snapper quota greater than 9.12 million pounds.

Based on an aggregate red snapper quota of 11 million pounds, commercial fishermen would be allocated 5.126 million and recreational 5.874 million, effective reducing the commercial share harvested for restaurants and stores frequented by the more than 300 million non-saltwater fishermen.

Meetings begin March 10th and conclude on the 24th.  A call-in session/webinar will be conducted on March 24th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Comments on Reef Fish Amendment 28 will also be accepted online at http://bit.ly/MS14U0, and copies of the public hearing documents can be obtained by calling 813-348-1630, or by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org. 

Public Hearing Schedule  

All hearings will begin at 6 pm local time and will conclude after public input has ended, but no later than 9 pm.

March 10, 2014

Fairfield Inn & Suites

3111 Loop Road

Orange Beach, AL 36561

March 17, 2014

Hilton Garden Inn

6717 South Padre Island Drive

Corpus Christi, TX  78412

March 11, 2014

Renaissance Riverview

64 South Water Street

Mobile, AL  36602

March 18, 2014

Embassy Suites

San Antonio10110

US Highway 281 N

San Antonio, TX  78216

March 12, 2014

Holiday Inn Select

2001 N. Cove Boulevard

Panama City, FL  32405

      and

Courtyard Marriott 

1600 East Beach Boulevard

Gulfport, MS  39501 

March 19, 2014

Hilton Garden Inn

750 W. Texas Avenue

Webster, TX  77598

  

 

 

 

March 13, 2014

La Quinta Inn & Suites

2610 Williams Boulevard

Kenner, LA  70062

March 24, 2014

Hilton Carillon

St. Petersburg

950 Lake Carillon Drive

St. Petersburg, FL  33716

CALL IN SESSION:

March 20, 2014

Call-in Session/Webinar: Begins at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.

https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/670076495 

 

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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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