Southeast Fishery Bulletin FB08-032 has arrived and we quote (emphasis ours):
“NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) is seeking comment on a proposed rule that would establish referendum guidelines and procedures for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). These guidelines and procedures are for the Council to follow in determining procedures and voting eligibility requirements for referenda on Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) programs. The intended effect of these procedures and guidelines is to ensure IFQ program referenda are fair and equitable.”
While we doubt very much that an IFQ program referendum can ever be completely fair and equitable, particularly in such a diverse fishery as the Gulf of Mexico grouper fishery, it can’t hurt to keep an eye on these things and provide input when it is begrudgingly solicited.
Full text of the bulletin is here in pdf format.
We would like to apply for the contract to sell these people blue printer paper.