Crimes against the American people
NOAA's 3 day 2017 American Red Snapper season, and Amendment 40:
NOAA doubles red snapper violation fines:
For red snapper violations that involve ARS caught in federal waters during a closed season, that are over the catch limit, undersized, or filleted at sea, the penalty now starts at $500.00 per violation, plus an additional $50.00 per fish.
What the Experts are saying about the American Red Snapper, & Amendment 40:
Dr. Robert Shipp, Director of Marine Science, University of South Alabama, Leading expert on Red Snapper:
"There are 3.5 times more Red Snapper in the AL reef zone alone than the NMFS shows in the entire Gulf of Mexico."
Dr. Robert Shipp
Mr. Nick Wiley, Executive Director, FWC:
"FWC strongly opposed sector separation and Amendment 40 also. We felt it was dividing the fishery and the fishermen. We did our best to convince the other Florida Council representatives (all three of them) to vote with FWC, but they would not." Mr. Nick Wiley
Amendment 40 (Sector Separation) is what resulted in a 3 day recreational; 49 day federal permitted for-hire 2017 Gulf of Mexico ARS season.
Think the for-hire head/charter boat fishery approves of Sector Separation (Amendment 40)? Think again!
Captain Dylan Hubbard, and Sig, Hubbard's Marina:
"Time to stand up for your rights. Hubbard’s Marina DOES NOT and has NEVER SUPPORTED SECTOR SEPARATION so before you think that we are happy with 3 day season for recreational anglers and our 49 day season for red snapper first realize that we have vehemently opposed this idea since it was first ever discussed and begged the recreational anglers to get involved in fighting against Sector separation (amendment 40) when that didn’t work we waiting till the sunset provision when it came up for a reinstatement and again we vehemently opposed it and urged recreational anglers to join us.
Despite our opposition and actually, a majority of fed permitted for-hire sectors opposition the amendment was pushed through. (More than 3/4 of for-hire sector opposed this still don’t know how it was passed) However, Sector separation is now law, there’s nothing more we can do about it but we still have to unite."
Captain Dylan Hubbard
Guys, I do not know what the answer is, or if there even is an answer. But I do know this...the better informed, more involved, and the better united we are, the better our chances are of taking back what is being stolen from us. Bob Harbison