Long-term Plan Delayed on Red Snapper Recovery ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Red snapper is popular with commercial and amateur anglers off the eastern coast. But environmentalists say it's overfished and its numbers are only a fraction of what they were several decades ago. A solution to the problem could still be months away. WABE's Jim Burress explains.

In March the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted to halt temporarily ed snapper fishing while it studied how to solve overfishing of the species.

At its December meeting, however, members delayed a vote on a long-term recovery plan.

The Council also fell short of issuing stronger requirements that would prevent the accidental catch of the fish.

That's disappointing to Holly Bins of the Pew Environment Group, who has advocated for tougher restrictions.

"Protections are necessary to reduce the number of Red Snapper that are caught unintentionally when fisherman target other species. A large number of those Red Snapper too often just don't survive when they're released back into the water."

The council next meets this spring, and could finalize its Red Snapper recovery plan by summer.

Jim Burress, WABE News.
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