As a member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Snapper/Grouper Advisory Panel, I feel it is important for me to address the implementation of the Snapper/Grouper Amendment 36 – Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs). Over the past four years I’ve listened to, read and studied in-depth testimony discussing the effectiveness, locations, and implementation of SMZs. A wide sector of user groups, including marine scientists, researchers, data managers, conservationists, bureaucrats and legacy commercial, recreational and for-hire fishermen, has delivered this information.
Sanctuaries protecting spawning habitat for snapper/grouper make common sense. They improve fishing by protecting the cradle of future stocks, and they improve the access to plentiful fish. Take for example the extraordinary rebound of Florida’s mutton snapper fishery. creation of the Riley’s Hump, an SMZ at the far tip of the Florida Keys, has benefited anglers greatly because this critical spawning habitat has been protected. Riley’s has now become a prolific fish producing haven.
I strongly support this process. I’m also a strong advocate of wise regulations designed to improve and protect the future of our marine fisheries. With an ever-expanding fishing population and limited marine resources, it is critical to take immediate action to better protect and monitor these special spawning sites for snapper and grouper and provide funds to enforce these SMZs.
Like our parks on land, ocean sanctuaries make common sense and because of this I support the Snapper/Grouper Amendment 36 – Spawning Special Management Zones.
Perhaps you are from Missouri (the Show Me State), and you want to see proof. I suggest you take the time to investigate the work of marine scientist and research developer Dr. Will Heyman. Pay special attention to the research and implementation of SMZs in Belize, and how these sanctuaries protect spawning aggregations of snapper, grouper and other reef fishes. In Belize, commercial fishermen love Dr. Heyman for the work he has done helping them establish SMZs in their areas.
The next time you hear someone talking negatively about marine protected areas, remember that properly managed sanctuaries make common sense. They can also make fishing better over very large areas of ocean and improve access to plentiful grouper and snapper by protecting special spawning sites.
Written by Rodney Smith.