Today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following statement regarding the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council public hearing this week, during which they will consider a proposal to divide the recreational red snapper sector, further partitioning the annual fishery allocations.

"The option they want to consider is a painfully obvious attempt to disenfranchise the recreational sector in favor of the desires of a New York based environmental activist group to end public access to the red snapper fishery," said Vitter. "The public has already made it clear that they do not support it and it's not a good idea, and so I urge the Gulf Council to immediately end any consideration of this amendment to support what the Gulf fishermen want."

On August 18th, Vitter made a statement ahead of the hearing, disavowing Amendment 40, which would cut off additional access to offshore resources for Louisianians. Click here to read more. The Gulf Council will vote on Amendment 40 in October 2014.

In June, Vitter wrote an op-ed in the Houma Courier, "Protecting red snapper fishing." Vitter's op-ed was about fairly managing our fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and protecting the rights of recreational anglers - particularly with access to the red snapper fishery. Click here to read the op-ed.

 

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