On March 20, eight organizations representing the sportfishing community, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), delivered a letter to five governors of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) from the Gulf region, in support of state-based Gulf red snapper management model recently formulated by their states’ fisheries directors.
Sent from the American Sportfishing Association, Center for Coastal Conservation, Coastal Conservation Association, CSF, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, International Game Fish Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, and Billfish Foundation, the letter’s recipients included GSC Vice-Chair Gov. Phil Bryant (MS), and GSC members Gov. Robert Bentley (AL), Gov. Rick Scott (FL), Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA), and Gov. Greg Abbott (TX).
Of the 40 million anglers across the country who spend $61.7 billion annually on their recreational fishing pursuits, many reside and recreate in the Gulf of Mexico. The letter states: “We are completely confident that this well-thought-out plan will allow for the Gulf red snapper population to continue to rebuild while allowing for reasonable public access to this pubic resource. The states have an outstanding track record of successful fisheries management, as evidenced by the numerous economically important and biologically sustainable marine fish stocks that are under state management.”
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
