Snapper silliness still has anglers seeing red
The bumper sticker on the white Ford pickup truck could not have been more clear: “National Marine Fisheries Service: Destroying Fishermen and Their Communities Since 1976!” Poignant. Harsh, even. But tame by today’s standards. The sticker made me think of an issue affecting offshore bottom fishermen who depart inlets between the Treasure Coast and South Carolina. I’m no mathematician, but something fishy is going on with red snapper statistics. Red snapper, a larger cousin of mutton snapper and mangrove snapper, resides in waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It is presently off limits to harvest by east coast anglers, and has been since 2010. The reason? Because 10 years ago, fisheries statisticians determined that the red snapper fishery was “undergoing overfishing.” Along with “jumbo shrimp,” that expression is still one of my all-time favorite oxymorons. click to continue reading the story here 08:28
Instead of falling for the divide and conquer tactics that have destroyed this industry try to understand the role of commercial fishermen.
Not everyone is able to buy a 10,20,50 thousand dollar boat to go out and catch supper.
Not everyone can afford to charter a boat or jump on a head boat.
Many just don’t want to be bothered with the task of finding, catching processing and all other aspects involved with putting a finished product on the table.
Commercial fishermen are the ones who step up and provide the products for the millions of consumers who depend on them to have access to the oceans bounty. I suggest instead of falling for the same old divide and conquer game that has worked so well in the past to ruin both sides, ALL FISHERMEN UNITE to put an end to this crusade that is destroying our rights and our heritage.