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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 10
BY REPRESENTATIVES REYNOLDS, GREENE, AND RICHARD AND SENATOR
GARY SMITH
FISHING: Memorializes congress to encourage the National Marine Fisheries Service, the
Gulf of Mexico Marine Fisheries Council, and the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries
Management Council to adopt a weekend only fishery for red snapper
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to2
encourage the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Gulf of Mexico Marine3
Fisheries Council, and the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council to adopt4
a weekend-only fishery management regime for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico5
for 2012.6
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the National Marine Fisheries Service, an7
agency in the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, through the Gulf8
of Mexico Marine Fisheries Council and the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council,9
to manage and regulate marine species located in the Gulf of Mexico; and10
WHEREAS, this management and regulation includes a determination of the11
sustainability of each species and preservation of the sustainability through the setting of12
take limits, individual fishing quotas, and opening and closing seasons; and13
WHEREAS, red snapper is a highly sought-after fish and, through the years has been14
one of the most popular fish for restaurants but is currently one of the most highly regulated15
fisheries due to the fact that in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the population spawnings16
were not as strong as had been expected; and17
WHEREAS, in an effort to protect the fishery, regulations were instituted that limited18
the number of fish that could be taken and set the minimum and maximum sizes; and19 HLS 12RS-165 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 10
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WHEREAS, although these regulations have resulted in an increase in the number1
of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico and in an overall increased health of the red snapper2
populations, because of the past experience with an unexpected spawning difficulties,3
NOAA Fisheries continues to maintain tight rein on the red snapper fishery and continues4
to implement stringent regulations on the taking of red snapper in the Gulf with those5
regulations for 2012 involving an open season of only forty days; and6
WHEREAS, a forty-day season for red snapper will be devastating particularly to the7
charter fishing industry whose clientele are eager for the experience of fishing for and8
landing Louisiana's famed and highly sought after red snapper; and9
WHEREAS, the charter industry in the state of Louisiana is an industry, like so many10
others across coastal Louisiana, that has been hard hit in recent years by hurricanes, record-11
setting riverine flooding, and the BP oil disaster in the Gulf; and12
WHEREAS, one of the options discussed while determining the 2012 management13
regime was a weekend-only fishery which would elongate the period of time within which14
red snapper could be caught to nearly the entire summer, thus enabling the charter fishing15
industry, largely a weekend-only industry, more opportunities to ply their trade, book their16
charters, and increase the income to an already hard-hit industry.17
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby18
memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to encourage19
the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Gulf of Mexico Marine Fisheries Council, and20
the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council to adopt a weekend-only fishery21
management scheme for red snapper for 2012.22
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the23
presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the24
United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation and25
the heads of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Gulf of Mexico Marine Fisheries26
Council, and the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council.27 HLS 12RS-165 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 10
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Reynolds HCR No. 10
Memorializes congress to encourage the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Gulf of
Mexico Marine Fisheries Council, and the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council
to adopt a weekend-only fishery for the 2012 red snapper season.