CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR FISH?
Last week was an active time for fish in the Gulf and all the marine waters of the U.S. While the fish probably didn't notice, fishing communities and conservation groups certainly did.
First, at 2am on Saturday morning, Congress approved a reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act, our nation's preeminent law to rebuild depleted fish populations. The law was strengthened in a few areas: increasing the role of science in setting catch limits, and using stronger language to end the overexploitation of depleted stocks. On the whole it's an improvement over current law and if implemented effectively could help our nation's fisheries rebound.
Next, on Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-Fisheries) released a proposed interim rule for Gulf red snapper, ratcheting down the catch limit from 9 million pounds to 6.5 million pounds and utilizing some other management tools to put the population on a rebuilding track. As our ED says in our press release, "These are long awaited, important first steps to take for rebuilding red snapper." Looooooooooong awaited - Gulf fisheries managers have known about these problems for some 20 years!
Of course, not everyone is happy about these changes. Charter boat operators in Alabama have been leading the charge to delay any changes in red snapper management, as they have apparently built their businesses around a 'meat trip' mentality that won't be satisfied with a 2 fish limit. No one wants to see businesses that are already struggling to come back from last year's devestating hurricane season further pinched, but if we don't take the necessary steps to rebuild this population, we'll end up with even more draconian measures being enforced. In the long run, we will see more fish in the Gulf, and more generous catch limits that will be worth more to recreational and commerical fishing economies.
Aaron Viles is the GRN's Campaign Director
Last week was an active time for fish in the Gulf and all the marine waters of the U.S. While the fish probably didn't notice, fishing communities and conservation groups certainly did.
First, at 2am on Saturday morning, Congress approved a reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act, our nation's preeminent law to rebuild depleted fish populations. The law was strengthened in a few areas: increasing the role of science in setting catch limits, and using stronger language to end the overexploitation of depleted stocks. On the whole it's an improvement over current law and if implemented effectively could help our nation's fisheries rebound.
Next, on Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-Fisheries) released a proposed interim rule for Gulf red snapper, ratcheting down the catch limit from 9 million pounds to 6.5 million pounds and utilizing some other management tools to put the population on a rebuilding track. As our ED says in our press release, "These are long awaited, important first steps to take for rebuilding red snapper." Looooooooooong awaited - Gulf fisheries managers have known about these problems for some 20 years!
Of course, not everyone is happy about these changes. Charter boat operators in Alabama have been leading the charge to delay any changes in red snapper management, as they have apparently built their businesses around a 'meat trip' mentality that won't be satisfied with a 2 fish limit. No one wants to see businesses that are already struggling to come back from last year's devestating hurricane season further pinched, but if we don't take the necessary steps to rebuild this population, we'll end up with even more draconian measures being enforced. In the long run, we will see more fish in the Gulf, and more generous catch limits that will be worth more to recreational and commerical fishing economies.
Aaron Viles is the GRN's Campaign Director
Labels: Fish
posted by Aaron at 10:06 AM
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