The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (SAFMC) has managed to do the unbelievable once again. At their meeting in Orlando on this past week, they voted to stop all bottom fishing in Federal waters from 98 feet deep to 240 feet deep.
It is mind boggling to me how they came up with the area to close. Their first target many months ago was the same depth ranges in the entire red snapper habitat area, reaching from North Carolina to the Florida Keys. They modified that last month – much to the disbelief of many of us – to EXCLUDE North and South Carolina from the ruling. Their final ruling passed this week now EXCLUDES the Georgia coast line as well. I guess they have data that the red snapper fishery north of the Florida-Georgia state line is healthy.
Folks, if this does not smack of back room deals and politics, I […]
Original post by About Saltwater Fishing
Read the full article. Click on the "original post by" author/publication link.
