October 29, 2014 — After more than two years striving to obtain sustainable management of the Gulf Red Snapper Fishery, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council recently voted to approve Reef Fish Amendment 40, a measure supporting both commercial and recreational fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico by differentiating the amount of fish caught by recreational anglers and charter boat companies who provide fishing trips to hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Reef Fish Amendment 40 divides the recreational red snapper sector into two distinct components – a private angling component and a for-hire component.
After reviewing the document and listening to hour after hour of public testimony, the Council approved sector separation with an added three-year sunset provision. The amendment now goes to the Secretary of Commerce for final approval and implementation.
“Fishermen, scientists, managers and everyone who has a stake in a healthy Gulf of Mexico have reason to be heartened by the council’s decision,” said Chris Dorsett, Vice President for Policy and Programs at Ocean Conservancy on a posting on their website. “This decision enables a much more tailored approach to ensuring that red snapper populations in the Gulf are healthy for generations to come. It will allow state and federal managers to be more responsive to the unique needs of the fishermen from each sector, rather than lumping them together in a single system.”
The amendment separates the quantities of red snapper caught by private recreational fishermen and charter for hire captains who provide access to fishing to the non-boat owning public. It will also increase accountability to address the red snapper quota being exceeded, which has happened every year but one since 2007.