Gulf Council considering plan providing up to 100 percent of quota beyond 9.12 million pounds to recreational sector
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is urging saltwater anglers across the Gulf region to respond online in favor of increasing red snapper allocations for the recreational fishing community.
The deadline to comment online at Regulations.gov is Monday, Dec. 9.
Under proposals in Amendment 28, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council could move forward with an allocation plan that provides up to 100 percent of any red snapper quota above 9.12 million pounds to the recreational sector.
RFA executive director Jim Donofrio said in a press release that any plan providing a minimum of 90 percent of any red snappper quota beyond 9.12 million pounds to the recreational sector would help give equal opportunity for anglers to enjoy the benefits of rebuilding the red snapper stock.
“This is not an allocation war, this is about helping reallocate a portion of the quota over and above the present threshold towards the recreational sector in order to help increase the opportunity for anglers to fish,” he said.
“Based on the alternative proposals outlined in Reef Fish Amendment 28 calling for an increase in the recreational red snapper quota only if the total snapper quota is greater than 9.12 million pounds, RFA would support adjusting the allocation percentage of any additional red snapper quota to a minimum of 90% for the recreational sector and 10% for the commercial sector, until a point at which fisheries managers determine that anglers can return to the original 195-day fishing season and four fish bag limit,” Donofrio said in a letter to the Gulf Council.
Click here to read all of RFA’s official comments to the council.
