A permanent ban on red snapper fishing has been approved in the US South Atlantic. (Photo: Stock File)

Council votes to ban snapper and grouper fishing

UNITED STATES
Thursday, June 10, 2010, 21:50 (GMT + 9)

A controversial ban of snapper and grouper fishing off Florida, affecting nearly 5,000 square miles of the Atlantic, was approved Wednesday morning in a bid to save red snapper.

The ban would still need approval of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke before it takes effect. The fishing restrictions, which were approved by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, now head to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and ultimately Locke, but could be finalized by December.

Earlier this year, the federal government banned red snapper fishing in the southeast, finding that red snapper is overfished. This red snapper ban is scheduled to expire on 5 December.

The Wednesday vote makes that ban permanent and bans the fishing of other snapper and grouper.

The council is a regional board that advises the federal government on fishing regulations.

For four hours last night, hundreds of fishermen, both commercial and recreational, urged the council at its meeting in Orlando, to delay any proposal to ban bottom fishing, The Orlando Sentinel reports. They repeated their experience that the red snapper population is healthy and that such a large ban is unnecessary.

Scores of people worried about the huge economic losses that the fishing industry, and Florida's tourism, would suffer with such a massive ban.

However, the council voted 9 to 4 to go ahead with the ban affecting more than 70 other fish. Before final approval, the council did agree to a smaller fishing ban area, reopening much of the Georgia coastline.

Council chairman Duane Harris said the council was under a legal deadline to pass regulations that would take effect before the red snapper ban expires in December.

The ban area covers 4,827 square miles, from just north of the Florida-Georgia border to southern Brevard County, in waters from 98 feet to 240 feet deep.

Related articles:

- Legislation proposed to protect Florida fishing jobs
- Gulf of Mexico red snapper recovering
- Regulators mull tougher red snapper restrictions

By Denise Recalde
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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