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MDMR outlines three paths to change red snapper allocations; MS Creel calibration is under way
Summary
Agency staff told the commission there are three potential pathways that could raise Mississippi's red snapper allocation: accounting for underharvest across the Gulf, certifying state-level creel (MS Creel) estimates against MRIP, and a full SEDAR assessment incorporating new creel data.
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources staff briefed the advisory commission Tuesday on three pathways that could increase Mississippi's red snapper allocation and reduce the risk of paybacks when states exceed their quotas.
The director said the Gulf Council and state directors have discussed a policy that would avoid paybacks when the Gulf-wide quota is underharvested; staff called that the first, shorter-term option. The second path is calibration: Mississippi, with Alabama, is working to get its state creel survey (MS Creel) certified and reconciled to the federal Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). "We're planning on submitting the package altogether," staff said, and they expect to produce catch estimates through the current period for MS Creel within about a week of the July 15 meeting. The third path is a longer-term approach: using new state creel estimates from Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana (and other regional surveys) in a new SEDAR assessment to reset the stock advice and reallocate annual catch limits among Gulf states.
Staff cautioned that it is difficult to predict a specific percentage increase but said the agency's stated goal has been to push allocations into the 120 range for Mississippi, and possibly higher. Commissioners discussed potential timing; staff said they hope to have documentation and comparisons in place well before April of next year to support allocation adjustments that would principally affect Mississippi and Alabama.
At the meeting, Trevor (MDMR staff) and other staff described recent landing totals: Mississippi had brought in roughly 78,000 pounds of red snapper so far in the season, with two strong opening weekends of roughly 26,000 and about 13,000–14,000 pounds each. Staff said decisions about weekend- or kid-oriented fishing events would depend on quota status and that five state directors would decide policy changes about paybacks if the Gulf-wide approach is adopted.
No commission vote or regulatory change occurred at the meeting; staff said they will continue documentation and coordination with MRIP and the Gulf Council.
