The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved the new rule — designed to restore red snapper populations in the region — earlier this month. The council has delayed the approval of the extended ban on fishing for red snapper that prevents fishermen form bottom fishing in the closed areas, federal waters along the southern Georgia and Florida coasts.
The council proposed the closure because officials say rules that prevent fishermen from keeping red snapper still allow an unacceptable number of red snapper deaths when the fish are thrown back. Commissioners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are concerned the closed area is overly restrictive, in part because it prevents fishermen from going after more than 70 other species besides red snapper.
Mark Robson, director of the commission’s division of marine fisheries, said that they are very hopeful the results of that assessment will allow them to take a look at that bottom closure area and shrink it even more. Commissioner Kenneth Wright said it “makes sense to wait and get more data.” Robson proposed delaying the closure at the June 9 council meeting, but it was not approved by a majority of the council. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say federal law requires the new rules to be in place by December.
