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Red Snapper population dangerously low - Stop irresponsible over-fishing now

Target: Dr. Rick Leard, Deputy Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Sponsored by: The Ocean Conservancy

Poor and irresponsible management of the Gulf of Mexico has drastically reduced the number of red snapper to 3% of their natural levels! For almost two decades, fishery managers have allowed catch numbers well above the safe levels recommended by scientists, and this over fishing is destroying a fragile ecosystem.

The ecosystem is losing a top predator and its natural balance is being thrown off-kilter. Remaining red snapper are smaller and less productive. With fewer and smaller fish to catch, fishermen lose out on a better living. Bottom line: the decline of red snapper harms the ecosystem, Gulf fishermen, and consumers.

Fortunately, with proper management, we can end this decline, rebuild red snapper to healthy levels, and ensure that our Gulf ecosystem remains healthy for future generations.

Fishery regulators are currently debating these issues and making important decisions. Speak up and tell decision-makers you care about the future of Gulf fishing and dont want to see it harmed by irresponsible management!

deadline: 3-10-2006
goal: 12,000

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Dear Dr. Leard,

I am deeply concerned about the health of the Gulf of Mexico marine ecosystem. I am writing to urge the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to develop a strong plan to rebuild the severely depleted red snapper population in the Gulf.

As the Council considers what management measures to include in amendments to fishery management plans for shrimp and reef fish it must consider the strongest and most effective measures possible to end overfishing of red snapper.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimates that the red snapper population is at only three percent of its historical abundance. Even more alarming, NMFS also estimates that up to 80 percent of juvenile red snapper are caught and killed as "bycatch" in shrimp trawl nets.

Therefore in this scoping process I urge the Council to consider measures that will do the following:

-establish science-based fishing limits for red snapper to end overfishing;
-enforce these limits and not allow them to be exceeded, as they have been in the past;
-end the unacceptable waste of red snapper in the shrimp fishery, and;
-ensure that red snapper are rebuilt quickly.

Thank you for considering my views on the need to end overfishing of red snapper.

Sincerely,

[your name here]

We signed the “Red Snapper population dangerously low - Stop irresponsible over-fishing now” petition!

# 10,592:

3:28 am PDT, Sep 24, Kaytie Irvine, California

# 10,591:

6:53 pm PDT, Sep 23, Annette Leary, New York

# 10,590:

12:20 pm PDT, Sep 6, Olaya Garcia, Spain

# 10,589:

11:48 am PDT, Aug 18, Chuck Dowe, Massachusetts

# 10,588:

12:48 am PDT, Aug 18, Patricia Osborne, New York

# 10,587:

11:46 am PDT, Aug 9, Charlie Newnam, North Carolina
If it tastes that good shouldn't you be making sure it will be around to taste good later? You keep taking when you should return the favor and give a little back!

# 10,586:

1:52 pm PDT, Aug 8, Natalie Perry, Kansas

# 10,585:

5:04 pm PDT, Aug 4, Joshua Neese, Indiana

# 10,584:

9:08 pm PDT, Aug 1, Elijah Stutes, Hawaii

# 10,583:

6:59 am PDT, Aug 1, Polly Odyssey, Missouri

# 10,582:

11:23 am PDT, Jul 31, Ashley Abbey, Georgia

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8:27 pm PDT, Jul 22, Brian Hirst, Australia

# 10,580:

4:18 pm PDT, Jul 18, Dana Szemereta, North Carolina

# 10,579:

9:41 am PDT, Jul 17, Anna Grace Deierlein, South Carolina

# 10,578:

12:28 am PDT, Jul 16, Jennifer Matte, Canada
Prot�geons nos �cosyst�mes, ils sont fragiles

# 10,577:

12:04 am PDT, Jul 16, Name not displayed, Wisconsin

# 10,576:

2:26 am PDT, Jul 15, Sabrina Jennings-Telles, New Mexico

# 10,575:

10:40 am PDT, Jul 11, Deborah Themas, Illinois

# 10,574:

1:38 am PDT, Jun 17, Perkins Irene, Romania

# 10,573:

7:37 am PDT, Jun 16, Hazel Matich, Illinois

# 10,571:

3:38 pm PDT, May 22, Elle Thomas, Canada

# 10,570:

6:31 pm PDT, May 20, Alex Hill, Fiji

# 10,569:

8:11 pm PDT, May 19, Terri Dunaway, RN, Rhode Island

# 10,568:

11:18 am PDT, May 19, Miki Ivey, Michigan

# 10,567:

8:52 am PDT, May 19, Matthew Pintar, Pennsylvania

# 10,566:

5:17 pm PDT, May 18, Shelby G., California

# 10,565:

11:43 am PDT, May 11, Rachel Heater, Florida

# 10,564:

5:26 pm PDT, May 6, Emily Rogers, Connecticut

# 10,563:

8:48 am PDT, May 6, Niurka Suarez, Florida

# 10,562:

4:08 pm PDT, May 2, Michelle Brown, Virginia

# 10,561:

4:21 pm PDT, Apr 28, Anthony Montapert, California

# 10,560:

8:45 pm PDT, Apr 27, TAYLOR WEIDNER, Colorado

# 10,559:

11:35 pm PDT, Apr 22, Sara Boissonnault, New Hampshire

# 10,558:

8:15 pm PDT, Apr 22, Pauline Houzard, Guadeloupe

# 10,557:

9:50 pm PDT, Apr 21, Erika Stone, Virginia

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10:06 am PDT, Apr 21, Name not displayed, Maryland

# 10,555:

5:55 pm PDT, Apr 19, Melissa Bardwell, Washington

# 10,554:

10:40 am PDT, Apr 18, Robert Jones, Pennsylvania

# 10,553:

1:52 pm PDT, Apr 17, Shane Thornton, Alabama
This is crazy, appentlly the government has not done studies off the coast of Alabama. We have managed our snapper fisheries like no other. Our population of snapper has increased by 10%. Now the Feds want to take our limit down to 2. That is going to put all of our Charter Boats out of business and hurt our economy. So before you point the finger make sure its pointed in the right direction. Now we will pay for MS FL TX and LA mistakes. Thanks alot!!!

# 10,552:

5:59 pm PDT, Apr 14, Name not displayed, Kentucky
What will happen when are children ask, " what is a red snapper"? Will we say, " I don't care, let's go kill out some other species!"

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Red Snapper population dangerously low - Stop irresponsible over-fishing now

This petition has been closed.