RELEASE:
Palazzo Supports Bill Benefiting Coastal Fishermen
Washington, DC – Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) released the following statement regarding the House passage of the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act (H.R. 1335):
“This bill benefits our fishing industries and local economies by giving states more flexibility and authority to manage their fisheries. As a Gulf Coast native and sportsman, I understand the importance of protecting and sustaining this industry. But I also believe there is no reason federal bureaucrats should be making decisions that have significant impacts with no input from our fishermen. The fact that our current red snapper season is only ten days long is a clear implication alone that the current methods are ineffective. The bill passed today includes reforms that will increase local control over these extremely important issues and allow our fishing industries along the Gulf Coast to continue thriving.”
H.R. 1335 is a full reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Fishery Management Act. It also includes provisions that address stock assessment and surveying concerns and extends state management for red snapper out to 9 nautical miles. The language further states that red snapper caught by foreign vessels or killed during oil rig removal are not included in the quota.
6/2/15
