WASHINGTON — April 18, 2013 — U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, said today he was pleased to see governors from the Gulf Coast states actively engaging in discussions on how best to manage red snapper fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.
Four of the five Gulf Coast governors – Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal, Texas’ Rick Perry, Florida’s Rick Scott and Mississippi’s Phil Bryant – signed a letter on Wednesday calling on Congress to allow their states to take control over management of red snapper from the federal government.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley was a notable exception. Bentley told AL.com today that the plan proposed by the governors allowed the federal government too much control over state fisheries.
Bentley said he supported legislation introduced by Bonner in March that would extend the state water boundaries of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
The bill, titled the Gulf Fisheries Fairness Act, would afford the states greater control over reef fisheries and open up more Gulf waters to fishing.
Bonner said he had concerns about the plan advocated by the Gulf governors in their letter to Congressional leaders this week.