WHEREAS, the harvest of many Gulf of Mexico commercial and sport fish species must be regulated in order to maintain or rebuild their populations, and
WHEREAS, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service have established regulations governing the harvest of various species to accomplish this purpose, and
WHEREAS, many regulated species closely resemble other species that may, or may not, be regulated, for example greater and lesser amberjack, and members of the snapper group, and
WHEREAS, the regulations cannot be effective unless anglers and commercial harvesters can properly identify the species so regulated.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation requests the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service to produce and make readily available an illustrated fish identification guide for all regulated Gulf of Mexico fish species (and any similar species with which they could be confused) that can be easily understood by persons who are not scientists.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, March 12, 2000 in Alexandria, Louisiana.