Redfish Harvest May Open in Federal Waters
Redfish harvest in Gulf waters would resume under NOAA proposal | NOLA.com
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking public comment on a proposal to open redfish harvest in federal waters to the Mississippi guide fleet.Under the plan, proposed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, each angler fishing federal waters with a licensed charter captain would be allowed one redfish per day measuring at least 18 inches in length. There would be no maximum size limit.
"This two-year study would collect biological information on offshore red drum to aid biologists in assessing the status of the population in a future stock assessment," NOAA said in a release.
That sounds good and wholesome, but David Cresson, executive director of the Louisiana branch of the Coastal Conservation Association, says the proposal opens a Pandora's box that his organization hoped had been closed three decades ago.
"We've seen the way the federal government manages the fisheries under its jurisdiction, so this effort to open red-drum harvest should terrify all recreational anglers, regardless of the stated intentions," he said.
According to details of the plan, a maximum of 30,000 pounds of redfish would be harvested during the term of the exempted fishing permit. Proponents say that would be about 2,000 fish, and that adjustments could be made on the fly to ensure the quota is not exceeded.
But Cresson said bad precedent has already been established when the feds allow pilot studies that, he says, aren't conservation-minded.
"This is yet another example of the feds managing fisheries by exempted fishing permit, and proves yet again that the federal system is completely non-functional," he said. "The charter-for-hire privatization scheme for red snapper started with an exempted fishing permit, and it would not surprise me at all to see that end up being the ultimate goal of this effort."
NOAA will accept public comment through April 23. Those looking to express their opinions may email 0648.XD816.Red.Drum.EFP@noaa.gov.
The agency asks that "Red Drum EFP" be included in the subject line.
Written comments may be sent to Steve Branstetter, NOAA Fisheries, 263 13th Avenue S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
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