Texas Fauna Project

Red Snapper

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The commercial red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico is managed under an Individual Fishing Quota system, which has succeeded in bringing overfishing under control. However, these quotas are tradeable. Dr. Stunz explains how this quota market has allowed speculators to buy and rent out these fishing rights to fishermen who must not only pay high rights royalties, but also undergo the risks of boats, seas, crews, fuel, and more.