ST. PETERSBURG – Fishermen/fisherwomen came from all over the eastern U.S. to protest the National Marine Fisheries Service about current fishing regulations they deem as over-regulations. The peaceful gathering was held outside the NMFS headquarters where many guest speakers promoted conservation, but expressed bylaw concerns to a cheering crowd. Organizers plan to take their message to Washington D.C. in the next few days.
Many anglers felt that some of the data used to implement government regulations on fishing populations is incorrect or out dated. For instance, the NFHS issued a moratorium on red snapper in federal waters from the east coast of North Carolina to Florida. While NFHS feels the closure will give the fish a “needed break”, anglers argue that in the instance of red snapper, not only have regulations since 1991 prevented the species from being overfished, but they have allowed the fish to thrive in recent years.
One organization, the East Coast Fishing Section, a segment of the Southeastern Fisheries Association, claimed they challenged an NMFS study that found that red snapper were overfished to the point of near extinction.
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