We in Florida are not alone:
LOUISIANA BUTTS HEADS OVER RED SNAPPER REGS
At its February meeting, the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council rejected a proposal by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that would provide harvest accountability and allow Louisiana's recreational fishermen to choose their own season dates for recreational red snapper. "It's obvious when looking at recreational landings of red snapper for the Gulf of Mexico," said head of Fisheries for Louisiana, LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina, "that the current federal system of controlling recreational harvest isn't working. For the past six years the recreational quota was exceeded five times. The only year the quota wasn't exceeded was in 2010, likely a direct result of massive fishery closures resulting from the BP oil spill. Overages ran from a low of 19 percent to a high of 89 percent in those six years and exceeded 7 million pounds of red snapper which is almost twice the current recreational quota."
"Our proposal for regional management would have allowed Louisiana to manage its recreational fishery by closing the red snapper season when our allocation of fish was harvested. In turn, the Gulf Council would allow Louisiana recreational fishermen through the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission process to set the red snapper season dates and daily bag limits," added Pausina.
Here comes Crabtree:
In related action, the Gulf Council gave the Regional Director of NOAA the authority to close federal waters (EEZ) beyond those states that are determined to be non-compliant with federal regulations.
89 % overages...Only in NOAA land. Only with EDF, backed by Pew, data. King NOAA will manipulate data, as needed, to 'prove' the need for shares/separation. Texas was the first to tell the feds what they can do with their so called 'scientific-data'. Then Louisiana & Florida. Regardless of what Mississippi & Alabama does, the majority of gulf states have shown a strong vote of NO CONFIDENCE in NOAA to manage our fisheries."
"It's obvious when looking at recreational landings of red snapper for the Gulf of Mexico," said head of Fisheries for Louisiana, LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina, "that the current federal system of controlling recreational harvest isn't working."
Florida agrees:
Commission proposes 2013 Gulf recreational red snapper season in state waters
News Release
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Media contact: Amanda Nalley, 850-410-4943
(Back to Commission meeting news)
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed a 44-day recreational red snapper season for Gulf of Mexico state waters at its meeting Feb. 13 in Orlando.
This season would start June 1 and end July 14. The proposed 2013 season is inconsistent with the current proposed federal season, which is currently expected to be about 27 days but may be shortened once state seasons in all Gulf state waters are finalized.
The Commission will make a final decision on this season at the April Commission meeting in Tallahassee.
While the federal limit for how many pounds of red snapper can be caught has increased, the season length has gotten shorter because of more fishing effort and larger fish, according to federal fishery managers.
After listening to public comment, the Commission chose to go inconsistent based on reports that the upcoming federal stock assessment would likely show red snapper populations are doing better than previously thought and reports from anglers that the fishery is improving and preference is to have a longer season.
The Commission also gave direction to FWC staff to look further into other long-term management options for red snapper.
For more on the proposal that was given to the Commission, visit MyFWC.com/Commission.
