WASHINGTON, D.C.–Red snapper and other kinds of fishing will be affected by a bill passed by the U.S. House Tuesday in Washington. The Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act, passed the House and is essentially a reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Fishery Management Act.
But the bill includes more than the previous law.
It also includes provisions that address stock assessment and surveying concerns and extends state management for red snapper out to 9 nautical miles. The language further states that red snapper caught by foreign vessels or killed during oil rig removal are not included in the quota, said a news release from Cong. Steven Palazzo’s camp.
“This bill benefits our fishing industries and local economies by giving states more flexibility and authority to manage their fisheries. As a Gulf Coast native and sportsman, I understand the importance of protecting and sustaining this industry,” said Palazzo.
“But I also believe there is no reason federal bureaucrats should be making decisions that have significant impacts with no input from our fishermen. The fact that our current red snapper season is only ten days long is a clear implication alone that the current methods are ineffective. The bill passed today includes reforms that will increase local control over these extremely important issues and allow our fishing industries along the Gulf Coast to continue thriving.”
The Act now goes to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
You can keep up with the bill and read the complete text here.
