May 3, 2015 — The first effort to have the five individual Gulf States take over management of Gulf red snapper was defeated by a vote of 22-16 when Amendment H.R. 1335, sponsored by Louisiana Representative Garrett Graves, came to a committee vote.
The ill-fated amendment offered by the first term Congressman would have created the Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority (GRSMA) within 60 days of enactment. The duties of the GSRSMA would have been:
- To review and approve red snapper fishery management plans, as set out in the Act.
- To provide standards for each Gulf coastal State to use in developing fishery management measures to sustainably manage Gulf of Mexico red snapper in the coastal waters adjacent to such State.
- To the maximum extent practicable, make scientific data, stock assessments and other scientific information upon which fishery management plans are based available to the public for inspection prior to meetings described in paragraph.