A recreational fishing organization that has sued the federal government over fishing quotas released a report Wednesday that says quotas benefit the commercial fishing industry and ignore the economic benefits of recreational angling.

The Coastal Conservation Alliance last month sued the National Marine Fisheries Service to challenge its adoption of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Management Plan, which sets quotas for grouper and snapper fishing.

In its subsequent report, the alliance says the quotas that start Jan. 1 are fundamentally flawed and a threat to angling. Titled "Truths, Misconceptions and Misrepresentations about Catch Shares and IFQs" (individual fishing quotas), the report is designed to dispel what the alliance says are rumors and false information the government and some commercial fishermen are disseminating.

The fisheries service claims that quotas can be discontinued at anytime, and that shares can be reallocated to other commercial and recreational fishermen in the future. The alliance argues that neither scenario ever has happened, and the latter would be extremely unlikely after commercial fishermen sell or lease their shares to make easy money.

"It's a mess. It's an absolute mess," alliance Executive Director for Florida Ted Forsgren said.

The alliance complains that commercial fishermen will get 65 percent of the shares for red and gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. Of that, 57 percent will go to long-line fishing, which has been heavily criticized because of the amount of by-catch.

Keys commercial fishermen complain that most shares will go to large corporate fleets and long-line vessel operators, which will force out mom-and-pop businesses and keep young people from getting into the business.

In addition to buying a boat and a license, younger fishermen will have to buy the costly shares, said Stock Island Lobster Co. owner Peter Bacle.

Detractors also say the quotas eliminate incentive for fishermen to work hard, as they always will be assigned the same catch level, no matter how hard they worked, Bacle said.

Only commercial fishermen who landed 6,000 pounds or more a year were allowed to vote on the quotas, so the votes were weighted in favor of owners of vessels with larger annual catches, opponents say.

Chester Brewer, chairman of the Coastal Conservation Association's National Government Relations Committee, said the needs of commercial fishermen were the only ones considered in the quotas. It allows a select group to use a public resource for its own personal gain without having to pay for it, he said.

The controversy over individual fishing quotas, also known as catch shares or limited access privilege programs, is spreading as more fisheries are targeted. The gulf council also has approved other red snapper quotas, and is considering new ones for reef fish species such as king mackerel.

"The average angler and governmental policymaker has little knowledge or understanding of these new programs," Forsgren said. "We assembled this special report to explain the programs, the problems and voice our concerns."

tohara@keysnews.com