Closing the bottom to fishing has upset the Senators as Lowcountry anglers rally to force regulators to change a federal law. The S.C. Senate has adopted a resolution to officially oppose the proposed federal law that would close the red snapper fisheries along the state coastline. This means that it would essentially end nearly all bottom fishing offshore because the popular snapper is a bottom-dwelling fish.
The legislature’s resolution was approved by voice vote. The bill now goes to the House for action, where similar legislation is pending. The move is in reaction to a pending action by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, part of a new federal law that requires regional councils to end overfishing. As per regulators the move is needed to help restore a fish population considered to be in a long-term decline; anglers say not enough research has been done on a species that is widely caught.
It is observed that a closure would put commercial captains all but out of business, they say, and curtail recreational fishing. Sen. Paul Campbell, R-Goose Creek, said he supported the resolution because the consequences would be too much when the impact on tourism and the money invested by fishermen in boats and crews is factored in. he told that there is a better way to do it and he support being more prescriptive instead of using a shotgun blast to take everything out.
