Red Snapper Ban May Be Lifted

Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 7:43 pm Post subject: Red Snapper Ban May Be Lifted

There may be hope for the red snapper. Sure would be nice for that ban to go away for now.

Could the red snapper ban be lifted?
by Joel Allen
Posted: 05.01.2012 at 1:18 PM

Offshore commercial and recreational fishermen are excited about the possibility that the two-year-old ban on catching red snapper may be lifted.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council placed an item on its next meeting agenda that indicates the council will consider emergency action on the controversial red snapper ban that went into effect in January 2010. The agency closed off a large area of the Southeast to fishing the popular species to preserve and rebuild the fish population, though many fishermen have doubts that red snapper stocks are depleted.

In a recent email sent to fishery council members, executive director Bob Mahood said the council's staff had received a number of questions from the public about the agenda item. He told members the possible emergency action has to do with the council's review of the number of red snapper unintentionally caught and discarded by fishermen over the past two years. "If the Council determines removals of red snapper through discarding are below the total removals allowed under the rebuilding plan, the Council may choose to allow harvest of red snapper," Mahood wrote.

Council member Tom Swatzel of Murrells Inlet told NewsChannel 15 the change in red snapper status could come in a variety of different combinations.

"There could be a limited harvest and that would be a good thing," Swatzel said.

The fishery council will consider the emergency action on red snapper at its June meeting in Orlando, Florida, Swatzel said.

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=748513#.T6BzcGDDMza
_________________
Tight Lines
---Billy---

Newbie Joined: Jun 06, 2012 Posts: 1

I hope there is hope for red snapper, thanks for sharing the good news, I really like this area. Everything we have to do is wait for the final decision.

mov to avi

Deck Hand Joined: Apr 17, 2011 Posts: 5

50 lbs a trip for the first week of the month,it's an insult,they might as well keep it closed,what am I gonna do with 200 dollars worth of fish split 3 ways for a week.

Newbie Joined: Jul 08, 2012 Posts: 1

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council placed an item on its next meeting agenda that indicates the council will consider emergency action on the controversial red snapper ban that went into effect in January 2010. The agency closed off a large area of the Southeast to fishing the popular species to preserve and rebuild the fish population, though many fishermen have doubts that red snapper stocks are depleted.

	South Carolina Offshore Fishing Forum Index -> On The Hill	All times are GMT - 4 Hours
Page 1 of 1