This is a petition from concerned citizens who will be negatively affected by the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council's 2009 request to the NOAA Fisheries Service for emergency interim rule closure of the American red snapper fishery which will result in an economic disaster. We have heard and testified on numerous occasions at public hearings that the numbers and sizes of red snapper catches have improved, and this does not coincide with the NMFS stock assessments, specifically SEDAR 15 dated February 2008.
This ruling will affect all aspects of the fishing industry. This includes recreational fishermen, charter boats, head boats, commercial fishermen, restaurants & patrons and all the affiliated businesses and people in this region.
If this ruling is put into effect it will cause an economic disaster for all the citizens who rely on the benefits of fishing.
We agree that the current Red Snapper stock assessment does not reflect the current stock conditions and the emergency interim rule closure should NOT go into effect.