Plans to Prevent Southeast Overfishing Win Final Approval

Press Releases and Statements Read time:

Navigate to:

  • Table of Contents
Plans to Prevent Southeast Overfishing Win Final Approval

Holly Binns, a project director for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson's approval of new catch limits on some species in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council gave initial approval to the plans in August.

“These plans are a proactive approach and are significant for fish in the Gulf of Mexico. About two dozen species, from black grouper to gray snapper, are now protected under catch limits designed to prevent overfishing.

“However, 13 important species, such as red hind and dolphinfish, were not included in the plans and remain vulnerable to overfishing. Failing to grant protections to these species raises serious concerns for their future. If we do not conserve these popular fish today, they likely will suffer population declines. At that point, severe fishing restrictions may be the only recourse to help them recover. Preventing overfishing is more prudent than waiting for a crisis.

“More needs to be done to ensure the plans work well and the limits are enforced. But overall, we are pleased to see the start of a more preventive approach to policies in a region where fish are vital to a healthy ocean ecosystem and our coastal economies.”

See how the new limits compare to average catch:

Gulf Catch Limits

Background:

These two protection plans are formally known as the Generic Annual Catch Limits Amendment and Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 18. They both set annual catch limits but address different sets of species. The GACL, authored by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, covers mostly snappers and groupers. Amendment 18, which was authored jointly by the Gulf council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, covers migratory fish offshore in the open ocean, such as king mackerel. The two councils jointly manage these species which move between the two jurisdictions. The new rule are effective Jan. 30.

Pew had asked the Secretary of Commerce, which has the final say in regional fishery decisions, to alter the plans to cover 14 more species, including dolphin fish, little tunny, red hind and dog snapper.  However, he declined to add in those species.

America’s Overdose Crisis
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
Quick View
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
RELATED
Topics
Ocean Conservation
Places
South Atlantic

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

An aerial view of a vast wetland, with scattered vegetation visible on sandy islands.

Article

April 19, 2024 In Western Australia, a Conservation Model for the World
A large group of people in formal or traditional attire stands together on a stage, with a digital background depicting marine life and the large text “WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.”

Article

April 10, 2024 WTO Needs to Redouble Its Effort on Fishing Subsidies
A man in a winter hat and sunglasses kneels on a rocky shoreline in front of a campfire, holding a metal mug with gloved hands. Behind him, in the water, a motorboat is moored to the shore. Cliffs rise on both sides of the water.

Article

April 4, 2024 Why Newfoundland’s South Coast Fjords Are Sacred

MORE FROM PEW

A presentation being given by a businesswoman to a group of participants at a business conference. Four Plan Features Can Boost 'Retirement Readiness'
An illustration of a couple holding hands walking away from an outline of houses behind them Pathways to Homeownership: Housing in America
A photograph of City Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia to Address Pressing Policy Challenges
A bright blue T-cell infected by HIV is engulfed by hundreds of yellow virions. Pew Researcher Seeks to Crack Code on HIV Cure
Composite image of modern city network communication concept

Learn the Basics of Broadband from Our Limited Series

Sign up for our four-week email course on Broadband Basics
Quick View

How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?

Pills illustration
Pills illustration

What Is Antibiotic Resistance—and How Can We Fight It?

Sign up for our four-week email series The Race Against Resistance.
Quick View
Pills illustration

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as “superbugs,” are a major threat to modern medicine. But how does resistance work, and what can we do to slow the spread? Read personal stories, expert accounts, and more for the answers to those questions in our four-week email series: Slowing Superbugs.