February 26, 2015 — Two respected Gulf Congressmen have taken the lead on a letter addressed to the Secretary of Commerce ensuring NOAA acts swiftly on the distribution of Gulf recreational electronic data collection funding passed last year.
The U.S. Congress, the Gulf of Mexico Regional Fisheries Management Council, Gulf commercial fishermen and federally permitted Gulf recreational charter-for-hire captains know the importance of accurate and real time data collection based on electronic monitoring of Gulf fisheries, especially in the highly controversial and often explosive Gulf Red Snapper fishery.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Montrose, have taken the lead on a Congressional letter addressed to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and signed by 10 Members of Congress and Senators urging the Secretary to ensure that NOAA acts swiftly on these funds.
Rubio and Byrne were joined by other prominent Congressmen representing every Gulf State, including; U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas), U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-La., and U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla. The broad, Gulf-wide background of the Delegation’s support for this program helps to highlight the benefits to the entire Gulf fishery.
Read the full story at Gulf Coast News Today