Fw: Act Now to End Overfishing of Gulf Red Snapper

[Guest guest]

" The Ocean Conservancy "

Act Now to End Overfishing of Gulf Red Snapper

 

Overfishing is a serious threat to the long-term health of the Gulf of

Mexico. It is bad for fish, fishermen and the coastal economies that depend

on sustainable fishing. You likely know that we have been working to end

chronic overfishing of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, which has resulted

in a reduction of the spawning population to just 3% of its historic level.

 

Right now we are at a critical juncture that can lead to key conservation

measures being put in place within the next few months. Please join us in

urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to implement their proposed

temporary rule to end overfishing and finally start rebuilding the depleted

red snapper.

 

Take Action

 

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=Aztu5zr8VtyZxcsYRy0xsA..

 

Last August, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council failed to

take action to end the chronic overfishing of red snapper in the Gulf

of Mexico in time for the 2007 fishing season. This failure prompted the

U.S. Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to

step in and take action to put key conservation measures in place early this

year. These conservation measures are contained within a proposed temporary

rule that NMFS is currently taking public comment on.

 

We thank the thousands of you who helped convince the Commerce

Department to stand up to interest groups fighting to continue the

overfishing of red snapper. Your efforts led to this positive action by

NMFS.

 

We need your help NOW to make sure the Commerce Department and NMFS

implement the temporary rule as proposed or make it even stronger.

 

The conservation measures included in the proposed interim rule would:

 

* Lower the red snapper catch level from 9.1 million pounds to 6.5 million

pounds, to help address overfishing.

* Reduce the number of fish recreational fishermen can keep per day from 4

fish to 2 fish.

* Reduce the commercial minimum size limit from 15 to 13 inches

total length to reduce bycatch.

* Establish a target to reduce, by 50%, the terribly destructive bycatch of

red snapper by shrimpers.

 

For more information, please visit our website -

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=myRptbfJ_o4zrsndpzHl1g..

 

Sincerely,

 

 

David Dickson, Gulf of Mexico Outreach and Advocacy

The Ocean Conservancy

 

 

 

 

 

 

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