Saving Seafood

Red snapper frustrations boil over in Alabama as feds place strict limits on 2023 season

March 13, 2023 — In coastal Alabama, red snapper fishing lures in millions of dollars in economic impact to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Tourists, who spend their vacations on the beaches, will often seek a charter boat captain and plunk down the cash to sail off for hours of deep-sea fishing in pursuit of red snapper.

But salty questions are being raised this year over Alabama’s reduced haul of the fish from last year. And the reduced aggregate weight of red snapper caught in 2022 resulted in the federal government slashing the state’s quota for red snapper fishing this year by such a considerable figure that some officials believe the 2023 season might have to end before summer vacations are over.

The latest dispute is part of a decades-long battle over the science behind red snapper assessments. It’s a scientific battle waged between federal and state bureaucrats that shows no signs of letting up any time soon.

“We need the federal government to get out of the way so all types of anglers can enjoy an abundant red snapper season,” said U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile.

Some environmental groups are worried Alabama is overfishing its waters.

Meredith Moore, director of the fish conservation program at Ocean Conservancy, said 2022′s total pounds of red snapper caught in Alabama — at 463,892 pounds — was far lower than the previous two years. Recreational anglers caught up to 1.1 million pounds of red snapper in 2020.

“The local impacts to Alabama’s red snapper population are clear,” Moore said. “In 2022, despite the fishing season being open through the end of December, anglers weren’t able to catch anywhere close to as many fish as in the two previous years – a serious sign that fishing effort has been too high, and the local stock of red snapper has been depleted.”

Read the full article at AL.com

Ren Seafoods shells out USD 4.17 million for Alabama property as it establishes new processing hub

May 18, 2021 — Ren Seafoods has purchased a former Smith’s Bakery building for USD 4.17 million (EUR 3.41 million) in Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A., where it is establishing a seafood processing facility and distribution hub.

The recently purchased property includes 15.63 acres, complete with a 70,130-square-foot production area, a 35,684-square-foot cross dock, and a 4,826-square-foot truck service facility, AL.com reported. About 30,000 square feet of the facility, used by the bakery for storage and distribution, is leased by Frios Gourmet Pops, according to the media outlet.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Gulf Council promises red snapper season similar to last year’s

April 19, 2021 — The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, known as the “Gulf Council,” is promising a similar red snapper season to last year’s. As always, the catch will be limited.

The season for commercial anglers or charter boats has been set for June 1 through August 3. Private anglers will find out exact dates for a season early next week.

Ever since Alabama was given the authority to manage and set limits in its own waters three years ago, the promise has been to ensure private anglers have access to what is known to be an abundant resource of red snapper.

“For the 2021 season, we are going to fish to about the level that we have fished for about the last two years. Around a million pounds,” said Scott Bannon, Director of Alabama’s Marine Resource Division. Bannon says unfortunately how much you can bring home isn’t going to change from last year. Even as studies show there could be three times as many red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico now compared to previous estimates.

Read the full story at NBC 15

Ren Seafoods selects Mobile, Alabama for new seafood processing and distribution hub

March 3, 2021 — Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. will be the location for Ren Seafoods’ new seafood processing facility and distribution hub, if all goes according to the company’s plan.

The seafood company said it will invest USD 12.4 million (EUR 10.2 million) into a shuttered manufacturing facility in Mobile for the project, which will create 54 jobs, Area Development reported. Ren Seafoods, which is affiliated with Pennsylvania-based The Fishin’ Co., expects to break ground on the new facility in April, with construction tentatively wrapping up later this year.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Feds aim for reduced red snapper season in 2021

March 1, 2021 — Alabama anglers and seafood lovers who have mistrusted the federal red snapper management program in the past won’t like it any better in the coming year after NOAA Fisheries announced plans to “calibrate” the state’s snapper reporting system to better manage the fishery. What calibration means in this case is to cut in half, apparently, and that means far shorter seasons and reduced bag limits for the popular table fish this summer.

“Under the Gulf Council state management plan, there is a section that says there will be a calibration factor between the federal surveys and what they say about how many fish are landed in each state and what our surveys show are landed,” says Scott Bannon, Director of the Alabama Marine Resources Division (MRD). “Ultimately, NMFS wants to use that calibration number to develop what they call a ‘common currency’ across the Gulf for each state survey.”

Under certain calibration alternatives, Alabama’s quota for red snapper could go from 1.12 million pounds in 2020 to 547,298 pounds in 2021.

“We’re in disagreement with that, and we are working through the Gulf Council process to find an alternative and not have a dramatic cut in our season,” Bannon said. “Mississippi’s calibration is larger than Alabama’s, and they would see a season cut even larger than that. The other Gulf states, Texas, Louisiana and Florida, would stay similar to last year’s quotas.”

Read the full story at AL.com

Senator Doug Jones’s bipartisan legislation to protect red snapper passes Congress

December 23, 2020 — Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones’s bipartisan legislation to improve the health of reef fish populations, such as red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, passed the Senate. The legislation was co-sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, and a companion bill was recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Garrett Graves, R-Louisiana, and Jared Huffman, D-California.

“I’ve been fishing all my life, so I know how important it is to protect Gulf species like red snapper,” Jones said. “The use of descending devices and venting tools is one way we can help maintain healthy populations of reef fish, which is crucial for the economy of Alabama and for ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy red snapper season.”

“In 2016, we won the battle to wrestle control of flawed red snapper management from the federal government,” Graves said. “We now have better fish management, better access to fishing and improved economic activity. The Modern Fish Act, our bill to require the inclusion of recreational fisheries and better data in fish management practices, became law in 2018. Now, with the DESCEND Act, we are going to see more fish, more fishing opportunities in the Gulf, more tourism and better sustainability of our fisheries. This is a win-win for conservation and good eating. I appreciate all of the support and hard work of the Coastal Conservation Association, American Sportfish Association, Center for Sportfishing Policy, TRCP and all the anglers out there that are the true conservationist that want to ensuring fishing opportunities for generations to come. We’ve created a foundation for successful state management of the species through our previous legislation and the unanimous approval in the Senate is reflective of the progress we have made. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law and our anglers getting to spend more time on the water.”

Read the full story at the Alabama Political Reporter

CARES Act spend approvals clears USD 13.2 million for fishery aid in four states

October 1, 2020 — Four states that recently gained CARES Act spend plan approvals are now in the process of distributing aid, which all together totals just over USD 13.2 million (EUR 11.2 million) in funds.

The four states – North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, and Rhode Island – represent collectively less funding than many individual states. Currently just over USD 114.1 million (EUR 97.1 million) in funds have been cleared for release through spend plans, with the largest recipient so far – Massachusetts – receiving just over USD 28 million (EUR 23.8 million).

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Maine’s CARES Act spend plan acknowledges now-approved aid isn’t enough

September 29, 2020 — Maine is among the latest states have had CARES Act spend-plans approved by NOAA, bringing the current total of states with approved plans to 12 as of 29 September.

Maine – along with Alabama, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Virginia – have all had spend plans approved and can now begin the application process for fishery participants. The states join California, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Oregon, and South Carolina.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Applications open for Alabama’s CARES Act Marine Industry Relief Program

September 25, 2020 — The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Division announced this week that it is currently accepting applications for its CARES Act relief program for fishery-related businesses.

The program was established to provide financial relief for losses suffered by the state’s marine fishing industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information about the program, visit this website.

Congress awarded $3.2 million of CARES Act money to the state of Alabama to address financial losses caused by the pandemic that occurred in the state’s seafood industry between March 1 and May 31, 2020.

Read the full story at the Alabama Political Reporter

Gulf Fishing Family Hurting After Hurricane Laura Destroys Cameron, Wrecks Havoc on Surrounding Area

September 1, 2020 — The Gulf fishing fleet docked at or near Cameron, LA bore the brunt of Hurricane Laura as it roared ashore in the early hours of August 27th as a category four storm. In one area alone, ten of the 15 shrimp boats tied-up sank to the bottom of Bayou Contraband after being ravaged by rough waters and constant winds gusting up to 135 mph.  The Gulf Seafood Foundation is calling upon government officials in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi for an immediate coordinated seafood specific disaster relief effort for fishermen, seafood processors and the extended seafood family.

“We are calling upon both our state leaders and federal representatives to quickly get monetary help for our fishing communities,” said Raz Halli, president of the Gulf Seafood Foundation.  More than 120 miles of Gulf coastline was impacted by the storm, a coastline that is home a variety of commercial fishermen.  Even though Mississippi was not impacted by this storm, we are calling upon their representatives to join our effort because their fisheries still have not received compensation for the fresh water diversion that ravished their fisheries last year.”

Sitting a mere three feet above sea level, Cameron has been an epicenter for hurricanes.  In 2005 Hurricane Rita hit the city, home to just over 6000 residents, with winds clocked at more than 120 mph. Three years later Hurricane Ike leveled Cameron with a 12-foot storm surge.

Read the full story at Gulf Seafood News