Tag: Gulf Red Snapper
As the eve of 40th anniversary of the signing of the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act approached, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Austin to discuss numerous fishery issues.
Even before members of the Gulf Seafood Institute took their first steps toward Capitol Hill, they realized this year’s “Walk on the Hill” would be extremely important for the survival of commercial fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act heading to the White House for a Presidential signature includes $10 million for Gulf of Mexico fisheries data collection, stock assessments and research due to the tireless efforts led by Alabama’s Senator Richard Shelby and Florida’s Representative David Jolly.
The House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans met to a packed room filled with Gulf commercial and charter-for-hire fishermen to hear public testimony on H.R. 3094, the “Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act” which gives Gulf States control of the red snapper fishery.
Regional management of the Gulf red snapper fishery continued to be a hot topic during the last Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council of 2015 held at the Hilton Galveston Island hotel.
In a highly contested vote, the Gulf Council voted to remove snapper quota from the commercial fishery while allocating additional quota to the recreational sector.
Members of the Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI) have joined representatives from across the national seafood supply chain to continue educating key Members of Congress on the importance of preserving federal management of the commercial and charter-for-hire red snapper fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has announced their selection for Electronic Monitoring and Reporting grants that included $2.25 million for Gulf Seafood Institute Founding Member CLS America to administer a program for approximately 350 federally-permitted charter boat vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.
Quartro Wieboldt’s “six pack” has sat high and dry for more than five years waiting for an opportunity to return to Gulf waters, its federal fishing permit still active and proudly attached to the side.
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.
Share the Gulf has reawakened to respond to efforts by Gulf State fishery managers to grab control of the Gulf of Mexico’s Red Snapper fishery, giving a larger percentage to the recreational sector and leaving the future of the commercial fishery in doubt.
The implementation of electronic data capture by Gulf of Mexico charter-for-hire fisherman later this year will mean fisheries like Gulf Red Snapper will have a more accurate data source for use in future stock assessments.
Just when the Gulf waters looked like they were starting to calm, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has stirred them once again by announcing a series of public hearings to address Amendment 40, better known as Gulf Red Snapper recreational sector separation.
The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board took a strong stand against the current preferred alternative recommended by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council on Amendment 28; red snapper allocation.
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.
Visitor Comments