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Nelson Seeks Review of Fishing Bans
02/23/10 - 02:28 PM

Sen. Bill Nelson

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Florida U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson today called for a congressional review of the federal government’s new restrictions on commercial, recreational and charter fishing in Florida and other coastal states. 

In recent months, the federal government has closed off huge areas of Florida coastal waters to fishing for several kinds of fish including red snapper, grouper and amberjack.  That’s because the areas are overfished, regulators said.

On Tuesday, Nelson requested that the Senate Commerce Committee examine the ban on red-snapper fishing and fisheries closures in Florida.  In a letter the Florida Democrat sent to leaders of the committee, he asked for a determination of whether federal officials are using reliable data to support the tough fishing restrictions.  He also said the panel should examine whether economic aid could be provided to communities hardest hit by the fishing bans.

“What’s troubling is too often these closures are based on limited data and sporadic stock assessments,” Nelson wrote.  He disclosed the letter and his call for a congressional probe during a meeting this morning in his Washington, D.C. office with representatives of Florida’s recreational, commercial and charter fishing industries.

While conceding protections against overfishing are necessary, Nelson said the fishing industry has raised legitimate concerns about the science the government is using to support the bans.  Fishermen contend federal fisheries managers are using outdated or incomplete data to make the decisions.

Nelson also said he intends to file legislation soon to address red-snapper restrictions in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

Meantime, the government’s recent attempt to end overfishing has become so contentious that thousands of fishermen from across the country, including the contingent from Florida, plan to protest on Capitol Hill.