Holly Binns, director of the Pew Environment Group's Southeast Fish Conservation Campaign, issued the following statement today in response to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's 8 to 5 vote to approve plans to prevent overfishing that protect dozens of species by setting science-based catch limits.
“The council has taken a forward-looking approach that allows managers to set scientifically sound fishing limits now before species suffer population declines. This proactive strategy is necessary to avoid what happened with South Atlantic red snapper, which is in such severe trouble that a fishing moratorium was needed in 2010 to save the species.
“This plan will help avert steeper restrictions in the future, setting a course towards restoring a healthy, balanced ocean ecosystem. It is like visiting the doctor for preventive care, rather than waiting until you end up in the emergency room.”
For more details about the plan, please see our fact sheet.