Aquaviolator
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State wildlife officials: Delay snapper ban
By DINAH VOYLES PULVER, Environment writer
June 25, 2010 12:05 AM
Posted in: Fishing Tagged:Snapper Ban LAKE MARY -- Florida wildlife officials want the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to delay approval of a proposed new rule that prohibits bottom fishing in thousands of miles of the Atlantic Ocean off the state's coast.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved the new rule -- designed to restore red snapper populations in the region -- earlier this month. It extends a ban on fishing for red snapper and prevents fishermen from bottom fishing in the closed area, federal waters along the southern Georgia and Florida coasts. The council must forward the rule to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke for final approval, which is expected later this year.
The council proposed the closure because officials say rules that prevent fishermen from keeping red snapper still allow an unacceptable number of red snapper deaths when the fish are thrown back.
Commissioners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are concerned the closed area is overly restrictive, in part because it prevents fishermen from going after more than 70 other species besides red snapper.
The commission agreed Thursday to send a letter to Washington asking Locke not to sign the rule until after a new scientific assessment of the snapper population is complete later this year.
"We're very hopeful the results of that assessment will allow us to take a look at that bottom closure area and shrink it even more," said Mark Robson, director of the commission's division of marine fisheries and an appointed member of the council,
Robson said officials still have "a long way to go," in recovering snapper populations.
However, he believes the fish could be recovered without the bottom-fishing closure, which covers the core red snapper populations.
Commissioner Kenneth Wright said it "makes sense to wait and get more data."
Robson proposed delaying the closure at the June 9 council meeting, but it was not approved by a majority of the council. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say federal law requires the new rules to be in place by December.
"Unfortunately, there were not enough people on that council as smart as Mark," said Ted Forsgren, one of several representatives for recreational and commercial fishing groups who spoke Wednesday, urging the commission to support a delay. Fishermen say the closure will cause devastating impacts to the East Coast fishing industry.
By DINAH VOYLES PULVER, Environment writer
June 25, 2010 12:05 AM
Posted in: Fishing Tagged:Snapper Ban LAKE MARY -- Florida wildlife officials want the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to delay approval of a proposed new rule that prohibits bottom fishing in thousands of miles of the Atlantic Ocean off the state's coast.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved the new rule -- designed to restore red snapper populations in the region -- earlier this month. It extends a ban on fishing for red snapper and prevents fishermen from bottom fishing in the closed area, federal waters along the southern Georgia and Florida coasts. The council must forward the rule to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke for final approval, which is expected later this year.
The council proposed the closure because officials say rules that prevent fishermen from keeping red snapper still allow an unacceptable number of red snapper deaths when the fish are thrown back.
Commissioners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are concerned the closed area is overly restrictive, in part because it prevents fishermen from going after more than 70 other species besides red snapper.
The commission agreed Thursday to send a letter to Washington asking Locke not to sign the rule until after a new scientific assessment of the snapper population is complete later this year.
"We're very hopeful the results of that assessment will allow us to take a look at that bottom closure area and shrink it even more," said Mark Robson, director of the commission's division of marine fisheries and an appointed member of the council,
Robson said officials still have "a long way to go," in recovering snapper populations.
However, he believes the fish could be recovered without the bottom-fishing closure, which covers the core red snapper populations.
Commissioner Kenneth Wright said it "makes sense to wait and get more data."
Robson proposed delaying the closure at the June 9 council meeting, but it was not approved by a majority of the council. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say federal law requires the new rules to be in place by December.
"Unfortunately, there were not enough people on that council as smart as Mark," said Ted Forsgren, one of several representatives for recreational and commercial fishing groups who spoke Wednesday, urging the commission to support a delay. Fishermen say the closure will cause devastating impacts to the East Coast fishing industry.
