Voices Opposing the Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act
- The Gulf States ALREADY Manage Red Snapper — Charles Witek
- Who Has the Right to Manage Red Snapper? — Charles Witek
- Learning Lessons from Red Snapper and HR 3094 — Tim Sloane
- The Politics of Red Snapper: A Commercial Industry & Seafood Supply Chain Perspective — Eric Brazer
- Stand Up for the Fish — Dave Monti
- Continuing the Success of the Magnuson-Stevens Act in the Gulf of Mexico — Rob Vandermark
- The Challenge: Managing Recovering Fish Stocks — Charles Witek
- When It Comes to Our Fish, Everything Is Connected — Charles Witek
- States Make a Grab for Gulf Fisheries — Dennis McKay
- Gulf Council Hears Anglers’ Voices — Will They Listen? — Brian Hartz
- Fisheries Management: Science, Policy & Politics — Charles Witek
- H.R. 3094 is a Fish Grab in the Making — Dennis McKay
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This page covers the legislative history of H.R. 3094. Learn more about issues involved in red snapper management and why the Marine Fish Conservation Network opposes this bill.
June 2016: House Markup
On June 17th, 2016, the full House Natural Resources Committee marked up the “Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act” (H.R. 3094), a bill offered by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) to amend MSA by transferring authority to manage the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery to the Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority (GSRSMA). This new entity would include marine fishery managers from all five Gulf states and would approve fishery management plans from each state, coordinate stock assessments and distribute federal funding for management, assessments and research, among other things. If passed, GSRSMA would also be exempt from the MSA rebuilding requirements and would be allowed to eliminate up to 10% of the commercial red snapper fishery each year.
At markup, Committee’s Chairman Mr. Bishop (R-UT) offered an amendment at markup that would remove federal funding from the bill, which passed by voice vote.
Mr. Young (R-AK) offered an amendment that would strip mention of MSA in the bill, an attempt to limit the bill’s reach only to the Gulf of Mexico to avoid setting a precedent for the other coasts and regional management areas. The bill’s sponsor, Mr. Graves, opposed the amendment. Mr. Young withdrew his amendment under the condition that he and Mr. Graves work to address the issue prior to the bill coming to a vote on the House floor. Mr. Graves agreed to work with Mr. Young to do so.
The bill passed the full committee, as amended, 24-14, mostly along party lines with Republicans voting Yes and Democrats voting No. Reps. Young (R-AK) and McClintock (R-CA) voted No, and Reps. Polis (D-CO) and Clay (D-MO) voted for the bill. Rep. Fleming (R-LA) voted “present.”
Next step is for the bill to be scheduled for a floor vote before the full House, though this possibility is uncertain given a crowded legislative schedule and shortened election-year calendar. The bill is strongly opposed by many commercial fishermen around the US, including the entire commercial red snapper fishery. It is also opposed by a majority of the red snapper charter fleet. The MFCN is strongly opposed to this legislation.
Previous Legislative Activity
The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a hearing entitled “The Impacts of Federal Fisheries Management on Small Businesses” at 10:00am EST on Thursday, March 3, 2016.
- Details about the hearing, including scheduled witnesses
- Read more about the issue: States Make a Grab for Gulf Fisheries, by Dennis McKay
The House Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3094, the “Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act,” on Thursday, October 22, 2015.
- Committee Hearing Memo
- Letter from the Network in opposition to H.R. 3094
Learn more about issues involved in red snapper management and why the Marine Fish Conservation Network opposes this bill.