January 30, 2017 — Anyone who has paid attention to Gulf of Mexico red snapper management in the last several years knows that it is the most controversial of all Gulf species. Though controversial, there is one thing that almost everyone agrees on – the need for better data. At the upcoming January meeting, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) is slated to take a major step in the right direction by voting on an electronic logbook (ELB) requirement for the for-hire portion of the fishery.
Electronic logbooks deliver managers more timely and accurate information so they can make more informed management decisions, but they also make good business sense for coastal economies and the charter fleet. For communities like Orange Beach and Gulf Shores that rely so heavily upon the tourism income generated by fishing, this means more stability and better information for our Chambers of Commerce and Convention and Tourism Bureaus to plan and market to potential customers.