Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Conservation Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1161
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2013-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alabama
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Fishes
Florida
Government studies and investigations
Gulf of Mexico
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Mississippi
State and local government operations
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-13
text: 
Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Conservation Act of 2013 - Directs the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to prepare, adopt, and submit to the Secretary of Commerce a fishery management plan providing for the conservation and management of Gulf of Mexico red snapper and specifying the requirements necessary for Gulf coastal states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) to comply with such plan. 
 
Requires the Commission to ensure an opportunity for public participation in the preparation of the plan. 
 
Prohibits such plan, for a three-year period, from reducing the overall quota of Gulf of Mexico red snapper apportioned to commercial fishing, except in the event of a reduction in stock in which case the quota shall be reduced to ensure a sustainable harvest. Permits an increase in quota based on stock assessments. 
 
Directs the Secretary to determine whether the plan includes fishery management measures compatible with the national standards in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and to certify whether the plan properly conserves and manages Gulf of Mexico red snapper. 
 
Requires each Gulf coastal state to submit to the Commission appropriate management measures to ensure compliance with the conservation objectives of the fishery management plan. Directs the Commission, upon certifying that the states have submitted sufficient measures, to certify to the Secretary to revoke federal management of Gulf of Mexico red snapper. Directs the states to manage the Gulf of Mexico red snapper in the adjacent coastal waters consistent with the fishery management plan.
 
Directs the Secretary, upon receiving the management measures certification from the Commission, to publish notice in the Federal Register revoking regulations and portions of the federal fishery management plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico that conflict with the plan for Gulf of Mexico red snapper, including the deletion of the species from the management unit. 
 
Directs the Commission to determine at least annually whether state enforcement is satisfactory and to notify the Secretary of each negative determination. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to close the fishery within federal waters adjacent to such a state upon receiving notice of a negative determination or a report that the state has not implemented any necessary measures to end overfishing, rebuild fisheries, or provide for data collection to monitor harvests. 
 
Directs the Secretary to report biennially to Congress on the economic impacts and benefits for the local, regional, and national economy of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate