NAPLES GUIDES ASSOCIATION

October 10, 2015

Honorable David Jolly
1728 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Re: H.R. 3521, the Gulf Red Snapper Data Improvement Act
Dear Representative David Jolly:
The Naples Guides Association is pleased with your recently announced H.R. 3521, the
Gulf Red Snapper Data Improvement Act. We commend your willingness to play a
leadership role in finding solutions to the Gulf of Mexico reef fish issues. Your
willingness to create a competitive grant program that will encourage science and data
collection protocols through cooperative research between academics, fishermen, and
scientists exhibits the congressional leadership our coastal economies, fisheries, and
fishermen deserve.
The reef fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico play an important role in Naples working
waterfronts and supports a vibrant and robust water-related economy. The Gulf Red
Snapper Data Improvement Act is a great conduit to inject even more capital investment
into our community through projects that facilitate cooperative research that innovates
the science and the data assessment tools that manage and protect our fisheries. The Gulf
Red Snapper Data Improvement Act is a common-sense approach to engage the Naples
coastal business community that relies upon healthy fisheries as an integral part of
innovating the Gulfs fishery science and data assessment.
We commend your offices willingness to create a bill that fosters competitive and
cooperative projects that will ultimately accentuate the innovation required to better both
the regions science and data assessment tools. We encourage your office to reach out to
the Gulf states congressional delegation to help forward this resolution. The Naples
Guides Association offers any assistance your team may need with these efforts. Again,
Mr. Jolly, we commend your leadership and your efforts to protect the fishing and
tourism industry of the Gulf, especially Floridas and most importantly Naples.
Sincerely,

Captain Will Geraghty

President, Naples Guides Association