The NMFS is closing the Red Snapper fishery January 4^th, 2010

Ø What: At the request of SAFMC/NMFS after a narrow 7 to 6 vote, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has signed an interim rule to close all Red Snapper fishing from North Carolina to Key West for 5 months starting January 4^th, 2010 with the authorization and stated intention to close it for an additional 6 months. 

Ø Why: The Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act of 2007 requires that fisheries managers enact management plans to end overfishing by January 1, 2010.  It also instructed them to improve the quality and accuracy of the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Surveys (MRFSS) by January 1, 2009.  Fisheries managers have failed to meet the Congressional mandate to improve the fatally flawed MRFSS system, but have decided to enact draconian and unnecessary closures based on fatally flawed science and data in the MRFSS system.  Enacting measures without the mandated improvements in the MRFSS system does not meet the intent or instruction of the MSRA of 2007.  In addition, enacting these, and other proposed fisheries policies without updated and improved science is irresponsible and will cause extensive and unnecessary economic hardship during the worst economic climate in over a generation.

Ø What’s Next: Federal fisheries managers are currently considering options to close the entire South Atlantic to all bottom fishing from 95’ on out for up to 35 years. 

Ø What can you do? A petition is being collected to urge congress to pass legislation to restrict the Commerce Department from enacting any further closures in the South Atlantic region, and to rescind the current interim closure of the Red Snapper fishery until fisheries managers improve the MRFSS system, and it passes a peer review.  Click here to sign an online petition and tell Congress to stop Fisheries Managers from passing rules until the science and statistics it uses are repaired and successfully reviewed.

Ø Who can you talk to? Tell your local politician bad science, bad economics, and the current robust Red snapper fisheries do not equal a complete closure of the fishery.

Ø Does it really matter?  This is not just about the Interim Snapper closure.  The same flawed science, statistics, and management will be used to miss-measure and miss-manage other species.  Tens of thousands of jobs are at stake during the worst economic crisis in a generation. If you fish or live in Florida, this will affect you.

Ø Where can you get more information?  http://safmc.deep-blue-sea.org contains links and information regarding past, current, and pending actions.  Downloadable versions of this flyer are available <adobe pdf flyer> and <word flyer>.

This petition is sponsored and supported by the following fishing clubs and organizations