We, the undersigned, are gravely concerned over the use of wire-mesh fish traps in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Caribbean.
Fish traps needlessly kill tropical fish and destroy undersized juvenile snappers and groupers before they've had a chance to grow and reproduce. There are no effective restrictions to protect these millions of juvenile and tropical fish needlessly killed each year in fish traps. Therefore, declining reef fish populations could decrease even further due to this wasteful fishing method.
Tropical fish, which play a vital role in keeping reef areas clear of algae growth, can comprise up to 54% of fish trap catches. Therefore, fish trap use is contributing to the loss of coral bottom cover due to algal invasion and overgrowth.
These problems demand IMMEDIATE action.
We ask the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Governor of our State, Commonwealth or Territory, and the voting members of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the U.S. Caribbean Fishery Management Council to move without delay to protect OUR marine environment and its inhabitants by phasing out the use of wire mesh fish traps by 2004 or sooner if at all possible.
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