Gulf of Mexico, AL, USA, (May 21, 2010) – Calling his request “sensible and significant for protecting the resources of the region”,  the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance endorsed a federal request Wednesday by U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) to declare the Gulf of Mexico a fishery failure following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 



“Make no mistake, a fishery failure is the last designation you would want for a fishery,” said David Walker, Alabama constituent of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance. “But considering how this oil could impact our fishery long term, Sen. Shelby’s call for a disaster designation is both sensible and significant for protecting the resources of our region – fish and fishermen, alike.”



Under current law, the Department of Commerce has the discretion to designate a commercial fishery failure as a result of man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers.

Shelby, the ranking Republican on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, formally requested the disaster status Wednesday from Commerce Department Secretary Gary Locke.

"This drilling disaster has the potential to impact our natural resources and many connected economies for decades,” Walker said. “As one of the largest fishing organizations across the Gulf, we are united in support of Sen. Shelby’s request.”



The 501c(6) non-profit Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance is a Gulf-wide organization of commercial and recreational reef fish fishermen and allies seeking the economic, conservation and social benefits of a sustainable and modern fishing industry. Members of the organization hail from ports in all five Gulf states.

In Walker’s home state of Alabama, fishing is one of the largest economic engines netting more than $800 million in sales and supporting nearly 18,000 jobs. In 2008, commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico harvested 1.27 billion pounds of finfish and shellfish that earned $659 million in total landings revenue, according to NOAA’s most recent fish stock assessment data.



“We all know this has the potential to be very damaging environmentally, and we’re monitoring this very closely,” said Tj Tate, executive director of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance.  “What also concerns us is the way misinformation seems to be fueling negative consumer reactions.”



“We want to remind people just how large the Gulf really is – today, 81 percent of the Gulf of is open for commercial fishing and recreation,” Tate said.  “The public needs to understand our fish is fresh, high quality and available and that we are working closely with NOAA to ensure seafood safety measures.”



According to Sen. Shelby’s letter to Commerce Department Secretary Locke on Wednesday, the Department of Commerce is given the discretion to designate a commercial fishery failure as a result of man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers. A federal fisheries disaster declaration would provide immediate federal assistance to the area and mitigate devastating impacts to the Gulf’s fisheries.

More about the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance can be found at www.shareholdersalliance.org.

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