The first effort to have the five individual Gulf States take over management of Gulf red snapper was defeated by a vote of 22-16. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
The first effort to have the five individual Gulf States take over management of Gulf red snapper was defeated by a vote of 22-16 when Amendment H.R. 1335, sponsored by Louisiana Representative Garrett Graves, came to a committee vote.
The ill-fated amendment offered by first term Congressman Garret Graves of Louisiana would have created the Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
The ill-fated amendment offered by the first term Congressman would have created the Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority (GRSMA) within 60 days of enactment. The duties of the GSRSMA would have been:
- To review and approve red snapper fishery management plans, as set out in the Act.
- To provide standards for each Gulf coastal State to use in developing fishery management measures to sustainably manage Gulf of Mexico red snapper in the coastal waters adjacent to such State.
- To the maximum extent practicable, make scientific data, stock assessments and other scientific information upon which fishery management plans are based available to the public for inspection prior to meetings described in paragraph.
“This legislation would have led to a radical change in an extremely well managed commercial harvesting component that has led the way in the recovery of Gulf red snapper,” said Harlon Pearce, President of the Gulf Seafood Institute and owner of Harlon’s LA Fish in New Orleans. “In addition it would have been harmful to newly created federal charter-for-hire sector that both the Gulf Council and Department of Commerce has approved.”
According to Pearce, the vote to defeat the Amendment to move forward was due in a large part because a majority of the Representatives understood the detrimental impact it would have on their constituency to have access to the fish removed from restaurants and markets. Photo: Newsroom Ink
According to Pearce, the vote to defeat the Amendment to move forward was due in a large part because a majority of the Representatives understood the detrimental impact it would have on their constituency to have access to the fish removed from restaurants and markets. “I am glad to see that our hard work at educating Congress to keep the Gulf Red Snapper fishery under the transparent, stakeholder-driven Magnuson-Stevens Act process is working.”
Rep. Graves drafted the Amendment after the fisheries directors of the Gulf States convened a private meeting in New Orleans and drafted a proposal to have the States take the entire red snapper fishery, both commercial and recreational, out of federal management as prescribed by the Magnuson Stevens Act.
The state proposal, which creates the GRSMA, makes no commitment to keep the commercial fishery open beyond the next three years and redirects all federal money for research and stock assessments to the states. Photo: Gulf Wild
The private meeting included no stakeholders from the commercial or charter-for-hire sectors. All five state agency employees hold seats on the Gulf Council and have been strong proponents of Amendment 28, voting regularly against the interests of the commercial and charter-for-hire sectors.
The state proposal, which creates the GRSMA, makes no commitment to keep the commercial fishery open beyond the next three years and redirects all federal money for research and stock assessments to the states.
In the Senate, David Vitter of Louisiana is also trying to push a similar bill through committee.
Fishermen Nationwide Join Fight
Gulf commercial fishermen have said they believe this proposal a direct threat to their industry and their ability to provide fresh, local seafood to all Americans. More than 40 commercial fishing/seafood supply associations nationwide have added their voices to formally denounced the state management plan.
In their letter executive directors of some of the most prestigious fishing organizations from Alaska to Maine, denounced the plan and expressed concerned with what they were seeing unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico.
“This isn’t just a Gulf issue, it has national implications,” said John Pappalardo, CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance based in Chatham, MA. Photo: Hamilton Project
“We strongly oppose the push by the five Gulf states to take possession of the red snapper fishery through a legislative exemption to the Magnuson Stevens Act. This action sets a dangerous precedent for fishermen like us throughout the United States and the conservation measures we need to protect our fisheries,” they said in the letter.
“This isn’t just a Gulf issue, it has national implications,” said John Pappalardo, CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance based in Chatham, MA. “We stand with the Gulf fishermen and oppose this dangerous plan that will destroy small American ‘mom and pop’ businesses.”
According to the most recent report of fisheries economics of the United States, commercial fishermen in the U.S. harvested 9.6 billion pounds of finfish and shellfish in 2012, earning $5.1 billion for their catch. Additionally, commercial fishing contributes 1.3 million jobs and $141 billion in total sales to the economy of the U.S.
“The 44 days for the charter-for-hire sector is a terrific news for Americans anglers that have no access to the Gulf than by fishing from the more than 1000 charter boats located in the five Gulf States,” said GSI Alabama board member Johnny Greene, captain of the Intimidator. Photo: Intimidator Sports Fishing
The vote took place as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the 2015 red snapper season length for recreational fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico; 44 days for the federally permitted charter-for-hire sector and 10 days for the private angler sector, up from seven days for both sectors the preceding year.
“The 44 days for the charter-for-hire sector is a terrific news for Americans anglers that have no access to the Gulf than by fishing from the more than 1000 charter boats located in the five Gulf States,” said GSI Alabama board member Johnny Greene, captain of the Intimidator. “It is a tragedy that due to a number of states going non-compliant, that the recreational sector has to be limited to 10 days.”
“The nation’s supply of Gulf of Mexico red snapper will be threatened if the Gulf States take over the commercial red snapper fishery, exempt themselves from the Magnuson Stevens Act, and turn over this fishery to the recreational sector,” wrote members of Americas commercial fishing organizations in their letter to Congress. “More than 300 million Americans get their access to fish and shellfish by purchasing it in restaurants, grocery stores, and fish markets that we supply. We cannot support this plan in the Gulf because we would not support it at home.“
Visitor Comments