The Gulf Council, working with fishers and conservationists, has recommended the creation of two marine reserves off the west coast of Florida to help ensure the survival of gag grouper, and some council members have already indicated support for the proposed Tortugas Ecological Reserve. In the past, however, fishery managers have been slow to adopt marine reserves as standard fishery management tools in part because of the misguided perception that commercial and recreational fishing are at odds with no-fishing reserves. Marine reserves are not the entire answer to better fisheries management, but they are a key element. Baker said the workshops should have two important outcomes. We hope to get a good list of how marine reserves can work in the Gulf of Mexico as well as a list of what problems we have to overcome.
People do care about the oceans.
This is a critical time for them to influence whether the council approves the proposed Tortugas reserve later this year.