Senator Marco Rubio of Florida (left) and Representative Bradley Byrne of Alabama have taken the lead on a Congressional letter addressed to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and signed by 10 Members of Congress and Senators urging the Secretary to ensure that NOAA acts swiftly on these funds. Photos: U.S. Congress
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
Two respected Gulf Congressmen have taken the lead on a letter addressed to the Secretary of Commerce ensuring NOAA acts swiftly on the distribution of Gulf recreational electronic data collection funding passed last year.
The U.S. Congress, the Gulf of Mexico Regional Fisheries Management Council, Gulf commercial fishermen and federally permitted Gulf recreational charter-for-hire captains know the importance of accurate and real time data collection based on electronic monitoring of Gulf fisheries, especially in the highly controversial and often explosive Gulf Red Snapper fishery.
More than 300 captains from the Gulf charter community have expressed willingness to immediately install Electronic Logbooks and Vessel Monitoring Systems on their vessels as soon as Sec. of Commerce Penny Pritzker authorizes the release of funding. Photo: Dept. of Commerce.
With passage last year of the FY 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Congress took a major step forward as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) was provided with $2 million in funding for electronic data collection. Specifically, Congress directed NMFS to utilize the funding to support a voluntary electronic data collection program for the charter-for-hire fishing community in the Gulf and other regions.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council recently approved a measure dividing the recreational red snapper fishery into two distinct components: the charter-for-hire community and the private angling community. This action allows the for-hire community to operate under a separate management plan designed specifically to meet their distinct business needs for the next three seasons.
Red Snapper Economic Driver
Recreational red snapper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is an extremely important economic driver for the region. According to NOAA, the charter-for-hire and private angler components of the recreational sector support more than 460,000 angler trips targeting and catching red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico annually. The fishery directly supports approximately 800 jobs and generates $113 million in business sales that contribute more than $64 million to the national economy.
Sitting on his vintage six-passenger charter boat, Captain Troy Frady of Orange Beach’s Distraction Charters, explained that the National Fisheries and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has agreed to a collaborative partnership that includes non-federal matching funds of $2 million. Photo: Distraction Charters
Current management of the recreational red snapper sector in the Gulf has been in turmoil. Based on the ‘best available science’ and data from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), fishery managers have shortened the recreational Gulf Red Snapper season drastically in recent years, culminating in a nine-day season in 2014.
The shortened season lengths have driven the fishing community into an uproar and diminished the public’s trust in NOAA’s ability to fairly manage this important resource. Additional real-time data is critical to better understand the status of the fishery and provide fishery managers with adequate tools to make the best decisions for the resource and fishermen.
According to NOAA, the charter-for-hire and private angler components of the recreational sector support more than 460,000 angler trips and directly supports approximately 800 jobs and generates $113 million in business sales that contribute more than $64 million to the national economy. Photo: NOAA
Sitting on his vintage six-passenger charter boat, Captain Troy Frady of Orange Beach’s Distraction Charters, explained that the National Fisheries and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has agreed to a collaborative partnership that includes non-federal matching funds of $2 million. “We are pleased so many of our Congressional Representatives have signed this letter directing the Department of Commerce to utilize funds to roll out a robust electronic data collection program in the Gulf of Mexico in time for the 2015 Gulf Red Snapper season this June.”
More than 300 captains from the Gulf charter community have expressed willingness to immediately install Electronic Logbooks (ELB) and Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) on their vessels in order to collect real-time, verifiable data that can supplement NMFS’ current data collection program. This new, real time data stream will more accurately reflect the impact of the recreational sector on the red snapper resource and may potentially lead to more realistic season lengths for all recreational anglers in the Gulf.
Rubio and Byrne Take Letter Lead
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Representative Bradley Byrne of Alabama have taken the lead on a Congressional letter addressed to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and signed by 10 Members of Congress and Senators urging the Secretary to ensure that NOAA acts swiftly on these funds.
According to Margaret Henderson, executive director of the Gulf Seafood Institute, the Gulf region is ready to move on an electronic data collection program immediately once funds are obligated. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
Rubio and Bryne were joined by other prominent Congressmen representing every Gulf State, including; Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL), Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-LA) and Rep. David Jolly (R-FL). The broad, Gulf-wide background of the Delegation’s support for this program helps to highlight the benefits to the entire Gulf fishery.
“Establishing real-time, verifiable data for the red snapper fishery in the Gulf is of the utmost importance to the recreational fishing community,” said Florida Senator Marco Rubio in the letter. His leadership illustrates the importance of electronic data collection to Florida’s fishermen, his constituents, and the broader economy of the region.
According to Margaret Henderson, executive director of the Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI), the Gulf region is ready to move on an electronic data collection program immediately once funds are obligated. “Given the challenges NOAA has had in obtaining timely, verifiable fisheries data, particularly for red snapper, this program is perfectly suited to benefit the entire Gulf recreational fishing community,” she said.
While the FY 2015 report language specifically mentions the Gulf of Mexico charter-for-hire community, the language leaves an opening for these funds to also be spent elsewhere. Henderson feels that it is imperative that the Gulf Congressional delegations work together to communicate with the Obama Administration on the importance of this program to the Gulf of Mexico recreational fishing industry.
“Establishing real-time, verifiable data for the red snapper fishery in the Gulf is of the utmost importance to the recreational fishing community,” said Florida Senator Marco Rubio in the letter. Photo: Distraction Charters
“With this letter, we strongly encourage Sec. Pritzker to utilize these funds to rollout a robust electronic data collection program in Gulf of Mexico charter community that can be implemented in time for the 2015 red snapper season this June,” said Rep. Bradley Byrne who represents Alabama’s First Congressional District. “One of the major challenges facing Red Snapper management in the Gulf of Mexico is the lack of adequate data to support the current management structure. Supporting a Gulf electronic data collection program represents a very important investment towards improving the tools we have to adequately manage our fishery.”
“GSI is pleased so many federal legislators have sign this critical letter to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker reiterating the importance of timely, verifiable and accurate data on the recreational red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Henderson. “As the Department of Commerce develops its spend plan for FY 2015, it is important the agency obligates adequate resources to support a voluntary electronic data collection program for the charter-for-hire fishing community in the Gulf.”
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