Saving Seafood

Commercial fishermen concerned recreational fishing is leading to overfishing

May 13, 2022 — Cobia, Lane Snapper, Greater Amberjack, Gag Grouper, and Gulf of Mexico Jacks Complex — these are all fish you can catch out in the Gulf of Mexico. Many of you have probably eaten, any, or all these fish, but they’re also being overfished, or close to it, according to NOAA, and its annual report on American fisheries.

This report has some commercial fisherman concerned about their own livelihood, and what they say is the lack of oversight for recreational fishing.

“There are plenty of fish out here to be caught,” said Captain Matt Sexton for the Small Shellfishing vessel. “Everyone should have equal chance to catch fish out here, but there are a lot of rules and regulations that are going on that are not fair to the commercial fishermen.”

Those same concerns were repeated by boat captains readying their boats for their next trip.

Read the full story at Fox 4

 

Seasonal Prohibition on All Fishing (Commercial and Recreational) for or Possession of Mutton and Lane Snapper in U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters

March 29, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHEN:

NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on fishing for, or possession of, mutton and lane snapper in U.S. Caribbean federal waters.

  • This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on April 1, 2021, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, June 30, 2021.
  • The prohibition on possession does not apply to mutton and lane snapper harvested and landed ashore prior to the closure.

The U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone consists of those waters extending from the three-nautical mile seaward boundary of the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the nine-nautical mile seaward boundary of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, out to 200 nautical miles offshore.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

This seasonal closure protects mutton and lane snapper when they are spawning (reproducing) and therefore more vulnerable to fishing pressure.