Learn more about red snapper and what you can do to oppose H.R. 3094.
H.R. 3094 is the latest attempt to disrupt a fisheries management process that puts science and stakeholders first. We should be striving to improve the solid procedural foundation established by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, rather than undermining it with piecemeal exemptions.
— Tim Sloane, Executive Director, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations
Red Snapper
Congressman Graves claims to know how to run commercial fishing businesses better than the hard working fishermen and women that spend their lives at sea providing sustainable seafood to American consumers. H.R. 3094 is just another example of government overreach – it is a controversial, reckless, and misguided policy that is being forced on fishermen against their will and consent. It will allow three state bureaucrats to eliminate the commercial red snapper fishery 10% at a time; yet the supporters of the bill keep repeating that their intent isn’t to harm commercial fishermen. Commercial fishermen from Alaska to Maine to the Gulf of Mexico aren’t fooled by this false sense of empathy. H.R. 3094 is rotten and needs to go.
— Eric Brazer, Deputy Director, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance
The red snapper fishery is successfully rebuilding because of the conservation and science mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. H.R. 3094 would put at risk the full recovery of Gulf red snapper and the livelihoods of fishermen and small-businesses across the Gulf region and the country. Instead of rolling back 40 years of federal fishery management progress, we strongly recommend Congress focus on fixing and improving recreational red snapper management under the MSA.
— Rob Vandermark, Executive Director, Marine Fish Conservation Network
Passage of H.R. 3094 would open the door to a host of copycat bills that would allow special interests in every region on the coast to sidestep the requirements of federal fisheries law. Should H.R. 3094 become law, it’s not hard to imagine that it would quickly be followed by legislation creating the New England States Groundfish Management Authority, the Mid-Atlantic States Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Authority, the South Atlantic Reef Fish Management Authority and the Pacific States Rockfish Management Authority. It’s also not hard to see fish populations crashing as a result.
— Charles Witek, Attorney, Salt Water Angler and Blogger
Red Snapper
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, which makes management decisions for the federal red snapper fishery, has representation from each Gulf State as well as commercial and recreational fishermen, and other stakeholders. There is no need for this bill. It will be bad for the fish.
— Judith S. Weis, Professor of Marine Biology, Rutgers University, Member of Marine Action Team of Sierra Club
H.R. 3094 jeopardizes the nation’s fisheries on a grand scale. The Magnuson-Stevens Act prioritizes resource health over the self-interest of any one user group. H.R. 3094 reverses these priorities and will bankrupt the resource to serve the political goals of a single user group. In the end, the resource and everyone who enjoys or depends on it will lose.
— Linda Behnken, Executive Director, Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association
It is an immature, unnecessary and bound-for-failure move for anyone frustrated with state or states’ fishing sector to try to claim federal fish as “theirs,” and then try to take this fish “home” to manage their own way. Magnuson-Stevens will work for you, if you help make it work. Let’s be adults here and re-affirm the Regional Council’s capacity to make fair and scientifically-based policy decisions.
— Kevin Scribner, Outreach and Advocacy, Salmon-Safe and Oregon-based Slow Fish Movement
Every species in every state will be threatened if H.R. 3094 is passed. In the northeast striped bass fishing outside the three-mile limit was already proposed in legislation earlier this year. States are subject to local political pressure and will act in their best interest, which does not necessarily align with the best interest of the fish. We need a strong MSA and National Marine Fisheries Service to continue to rebuild and safeguard our fisheries.
— Capt. Dave Monti, Charter Boat Operator
Learn more about red snapper and what you can do to oppose H.R. 3094.
After reading many of the above comments, I must say this is pathetic. So many organizations pretending to support good fisheries management of a public resource, yet it’s all about supporting commercial ownership of the public resource. So shameful and just plain wrong. Even the name here is a joke! Marine Fish “Confiscation” Network would better sum up the mission here. The collection of organizations speaking out here against the American public would do well to be more vocal. The louder you scream, and the more attention given to the disgraceful, in your face practices of the Gulf Council, the more converts you bring to the opposite side where the “true conservationist” , recreational anglers reside. You people can not win an open honest debate where all data and facts are presented in the public arena. Your only hope is to continue to rule through the elitist supported and populated committees of the Councils!. Keep up the good work, speak loud and proud, sooner or later the tide will turn where “real” science and logic manage our fisheries, not this debacle that exists to protect profits of a few.