August 15, 2015 — NEW ORLEANS — Recreational fishermen get a greater share of the red snapper catch in the Gulf of Mexico under a rule approved by a governing body.
On Thursday, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council increased the share of the catch going to recreational fishermen — made up of charter boats and non-commercial anglers. The council met in New Orleans.
The change gives recreational fishermen 51.5 percent of the total catch and commercial fishermen 48.5 percent. Currently the catch is split 50-50. The change needs the approval of the U.S. Commerce Department.
The increase came about after scientists re-examined catch data and discovered they’d underestimated what non-commercial fishermen caught.
Red snapper is a highly prized fish and highly managed. Commercial and recreational fishermen must abide by catch limits and other rules.
Roy Crabtree, regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service, said management of red snapper has helped the stock recover and rebuild.
For instance, red snapper had disappeared off the coast of Florida near St. Petersburg 15 years ago, he said. “They’re back all the way down to the (Florida) Keys now,” he added. “We’ve made huge progress.”
Read the full story from the Associated Press here