Red snapper and other reef fish now have new legal protection.  Amendment 27/14, a joint plan between the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), will change the way 3.5 million anglers fish, according to the American Sportfishing Association (ASA).  New federal rules call for the use of specific devices to reduce the mortality of bycatch, including non-stainless steel circle hooks, venting tools and dehooking devices for all anglers in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Aquatic Release Conservation (ARC) of Daytona Beach, has developed and patented the ARC DEHOOKER, a safe release dehooking device. The ARC DEHOOKER meets the design standards of numerous agencies, including NOAA Fisheries/NMFS. The patented pig-tail curl of the ARC DEHOOKER, is the only tool needed to remove internal and external hooks, and comes in a multitude of sizes to meet requirements.  ARC is also the exclusive distributor of the Florida Sea Grant Novak Venting Tool Kit. 

Beginning June 1, Amendment 27/14 will require that the hook removal device be constructed to allow the hook to be secured and barb shielded without injuring the fish during the removal process. The dehooking end must be blunt with all edges rounded, and must accommodate all hook sizes used in the Gulf reef fisheries.

The goal of Amendment 27/14 and ARC is to foster the survivability of unwanted, undersized or endangered Gulf of Mexico species. Additional fishery conservation partners, including Dr. Guy Harvey and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation in Fort Lauderdale, have fully endorsed ARC's product line.
 
"I am particularly pleased to have found an organization as passionately devoted to the conservation and restoration of the world's fisheries as I am," said Guy Harvey. "ARC has created and designed a simple tool that is completely effective in releasing both lip hooked and deep hooked fish without having to touch or remove them from the water. This new technology may well be the most important discovery in fishery conservation and could well play a decisive role in the restoration of one of the world's most endangered species group," continued Harvey.