Orange Beach, AL 11.12.2006 – Recreational and Sport Fishing Enthusiasts-- your voice is needed to help stop the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) from implementing the Red Snapper Interim Rule.
In order to counter the thousands of signatures from environmental groups requesting the NMFS to drop the Red Snapper Total Allowable Catch (TAC) to 5.8 million pounds, the Orange Beach Fishing Association (OBFA) has created an online petition. This petition supports the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s decision to delay, by four months, any further action on Red Snapper, and supports the voluntary buyout of a portion of the commercial quota which would then be transferred to the recreational sector. It is not a question of if Red Snapper should be protected, but how they should be protected. The new rules create an undue burden on recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts.
Among other things, the NMFS interim rule proposes:
Setting the Red Snapper TAC at 5.8 million pounds, proportionately reducing the commercial and
recreational quotas
Reducing the recreational bag limit to 2 fish
Setting the for-hire captain and crew bag limit at zero
Reducing commercial minimum size limit to 13 inches
This Interim Rule is being pushed by environmentalist groups based on flawed data. Recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts nationwide must speak up and let the NMFS know this is not acceptable to the recreational fishing sector! Your signature on this petition will have an impact!
Please visit www.OrangeBeach.ws/OBFA_Info.html for additional information and a link to the OBFA’s online petition. Please don’t delay, as time is running out for your support of this positive action.
