June 4, 2014 — So often, it seems that Washington operates outside of the realm of common sense. The red snapper issue is no different, with the federal government refusing to sample on reefs for this reef fish, hurting our coastal communities. Thankfully, last week the House Natural Resources Committee, of which I am a member, passed the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act.
This bill, which reauthorizes the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, was last reauthorized in 2006 and has jurisdiction over all federal fisheries — including authorizations for setting red snapper season in the Gulf of Mexico each year.
More than anything, our fishermen and coastal communities need relief. This bill will grant it to them.
First, the bill repeals Section 407(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which imposed inflexible quotas on red snapper fishing. Earlier this year, I introduced legislation called the SNAPR Act, which mirrors this language in order to give the courts added flexibility to restore our season back from the devastating nine days that was ordered this year.
Second, this legislation extends the Alabama state water boundary from the current three nautical miles to nine nautical miles from shore. Fishermen’s groups have made the case for this reform, arguing that it would effectively give the state more control over its own resources and the option for a more reasonable fishing season as well as creating equality in state water boundaries between all the Gulf states.
Read the full opinion piece at The Atmore Advance