The Gulf Region is known for its fishing, and so it’s in everyone’s best interest that Gulf fish stocks thrive. Unfortunately, as Daniel Pauly pointed out this fall, the fishing industrial complex has made “eating a tuna roll at a sushi restaurant…no more environmentally benign than driving a Hummer or harpooning a manatee.”Recent recreational season closures in the Gulf came after catch limits were exceeded, but the decision to close the amberjack season has excited a couple protests and press. While the system used to estimate catch levels has significant problems, the fact that we are able to take action to manage the Gulf’s amazing fisheries sustainably and limit overfishing is encouraging. The short-term pain of an early closure must be balanced against the long-term gain of healthy Gulf fish populations.Aaron Viles is GRN’s campaign director
