News Release
March 4, 2004

Red Snapper IFQ Referendum Favorable

By Pete Emerson

Yesterday afternoon, the results of the Gulf of Mexico IFQ referendum were released by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Ninety-two percent of eligible fishermen, or 145 individuals, voted in the referendum. Eighty-one percent of the weighted votes, casts by 104 fishermen, supported the development of an IFQ program. As you know, a special provision in the M-S Act requires a second referendum to implement IFQs in the snapper fishery.

Next week the Gulf Council meets in Mobile, Alabama. We will be urging them to initiate a red snapper/reef fish IFQ management plan amendment. Assuming the Council moves forward our attention turns to program design issues and the second referendum.