Snapper allocation

[jchief]

Since 1990, the allocation of Gulf red snapper has stood at 51% commercial to 49% recreational.

That allocation was set using catch data from the mid-1980s, at a time when red snapper stocks were critically depressed and created an inaccurate picture of the fishery. That allocation has been allowed to stand ever since, but now anglers have the chance to help set things right. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is now accepting comments on a range of allocation alternatives for red snapper in Amendment 28.

The alternatives include:
- Shifting the allocation to the recreational sector from the commercial sector by the amount of 3 percent, 5 percent, or 10 percent.

- Shift either 100 percent or 75 percent of any total combined commercial and recreational quota in excess of 9.12 million pounds to the recreational sector.
Proper allocation is one of the pillars of proper fisheries management. Tremendous changes have occurred on the Gulf Coast over the past 30 years and to allow red snapper allocation to remain static for so long is completely unacceptable. Any number of studies show that the greatest economic benefits to the nation are achieved by shifting allocation to the recreational sector, but our access to the best red snapper fishing ever is still shackled by 30-year-old data.


Unfortunately, a great deal of misleading information has been distributed recently by an organization called Share the Gulf, which is a coalition of environmental activists, commercial fishing businesses, seafood dealers and restaurants. Far from actually wanting to share the Gulf, this coalition wants to freeze this unfair allocation in place forever. One of their spokesmen even said recently that recreational angling groups need to stop taking away America's fish!

Unbelievable!

It is indeed time to share the bounty of the Gulf with everyone, not just a few entities committed to making a profit on a public resource.

To make your voice heard click HERE, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Written comments may be sent by mail to:
Peter Hood
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505.


Online at:
http://www.gulfcouncil.org/council_m...Allocation.php