Alyssa Denny, a GRN intern, is urging the Gulf Council, NMFS, and the Department of Commerce to go forward with the necessary steps it will take to rebuild the Gulf's red snapper stock. We couldn't agree with her more!
Today, her opinion is being voiced to thousands of Americans- check out her LTE in the Times-Picayune!
Action on snapper is overdue
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Re: "Plan to cut red snapper quotas draws intense opposition," Page 1, Oct. 24.
I'm disappointed to see opposition to a management plan that is necessary in order to restore red snapper populations in the Gulf to sustainable levels.
Action on this issue is long overdue. Evidence of decline in adult populations was recorded as early as 1980. The year 1988 marked the first scientific assessment indicating that red snapper was severely overfished.
The assessment suggested that reductions in fish mortality rates as high as 70 percent would be necessary to rebuild red snapper stocks. It has been nearly 20 years since that report and the problem has not yet been properly managed.
I understand that the new regulations will affect the commercial and recreational fishing industries now, but it is in their best interest in the long term.
Complaints from recreational fishing industries are unwarranted. This restriction is limited to red snapper.
Fisherman can diversify their catch in order to come home with several different species in moderation instead of a full bag of red snapper.
Alyssa Denny
Dan Favre is the GRN Campaign Organizer.
Labels: Fish
posted by Dan at 9:40 AM
1 Comments:
The problem that recreational fisherman have with the new restrictions is that recreational fisherman only contribute a small percentage of the pressure on the red snapper population, whereas; the shrimping industry kills most of the juvenile red snapper and fish by catch has not been addressed.
Recreational fisherman feel we are being singled out when the total ban on recreational fishing would still not bring the red snapper stocks to acceptable recrutement levels.
Its like trying to save money on the grocery bill by only taking food away from the 2 month old baby (recreational fisherman) while the two 16 year old growing teenagers (shrimping industry) eat everything in site.
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