Leaders
map out path for federal marine fisheries conservation.
Congress is currently
revising the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, the law
that governs our nation’s marine resources. Recreational saltwater anglers and
the sportfishing and boating industries are intensifying efforts to ensure that
their social, conservation and economic priorities are well represented in the
legislative process.
Today, in a series of
meetings on Capitol Hill, the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries
Management co-chairs, Johnny Morris, founder and CEO, Bass Pro Shops, and Scott Deal, president, Maverick Boats, briefed members of
Congress and media on the commission’s recommended changes to the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. The commission, composed of scientists, former
agency administrators, environmentalists, industry
representatives and economists, wants to ensure that saltwater
recreational fishing becomes a priority of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries
Service.
“Our commission offers a clear path to better stewardship of
America’s marine fishery resources,” said Morris. “Today we ask Congress to join
us on that path. We extend the invitation on behalf of all current anglers and
future generations of anglers who will enjoy our nation’s resources for many
years to come.”
Previewed in February during the 2014 Progressive Miami
International Boat Show in Miami, Fla.,
A Vision for Managing America’s SaltwaterRecreational Fisheries outlines
recreational fisheries management issues that need to be addressed in the Magnuson-Stevens
Act reauthorization.
“This is the first time that the recreational fishing and
boating community has set forth a comprehensive vision,” Deal said. “I’m
honored to be a part of this effort and proud to help lead our collective
industries in ensuring that Congress hears our voices.”
The economic impact of
saltwater angling in the U.S. is considerable. In 2011, approximately 11
million Americans saltwater fished recreationally, spending $27 billion in
pursuit of their sport. That activity generated more than $70 billion in
economic output and sustained 450,000 jobs. Anglers contribute more than $1.5
billion annually to fisheries habitat and conservation via excise taxes, donations
and license fees alone.
Throughout 2013, members of the blue ribbon commission met
to deliberate and debate strategies to improve saltwater recreational fisheries
management. A wide range of experts and other stakeholders, including
economists, scientists, federal and state agency administrators,
environmentalists, charter captains and individual recreational anglers, were
invited to meet with the commission to provide information and advice on a
variety of fisheries management issues. The report reflects their input.
“Our nation’s marine fisheries and their management needs
vary widely from Alaska to Florida to coastal New England. Reauthorization of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act is important to the stateside toolbox for
delivery of conservation- and recreation-based marine fisheries programs,” said
Ron Regan, executive director of the Association of Fish & Wildlife
Agencies. “We commend the Morris-Deal Report for its thoughtful groundwork in
thinking through visionary improvements for the future, including stock
rebuilding timelines.”
“We look forward to
increasing state flexibility in meeting their marine fisheries conservation
objectives through reauthorization of the Act.”
“The Magnuson-Stevens Act
established a management system for commercial fisheries, which has made great
strides in ending commercial overexploitation of our marine fisheries,” said
Jeff Angers, president of the Center for Coastal Conservation. “However, for more
than three decades it has focused primarily on commercial fishing. It’s time
for Congress to do something for saltwater recreational fishing.”
A Vision for Managing America’s SaltwaterRecreational Fisheries identifies six key policies that would
achieve the commission’s vision. Those recommendations primarily focus on the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The recommendations include:
- Establishing
a national policy for recreational fishing
- Adopting
a revised approach to saltwater recreational fisheries management
- Allocating
marine fisheries for the greatest benefit to the nation
- Creating
reasonable latitude in stock rebuilding timelines
- Codifying
a process for cooperative management
- Managing
for the forage base
"Congress should
establish a national policy to promote saltwater recreational fishing,” said
Mike Nussman, president and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. “In
addition, Congress must open the ‘rusted-shut’ door of marine fisheries
allocation to
achieve the greatest benefit to the nation.”
Contributors to the work of the commission include the American
Sportfishing Association, Association
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Berkley
Conservation Institute, Center
for Coastal Conservation, Coastal
Conservation Association, Congressional
Sportsmen’s Foundation, International Game
Fish Association, National
Marine Manufacturers Association, Theodore
Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and The
Billfish Foundation, as well as Bass
Pro Shops and Maverick
Boats.
> Comment on this
landmark report via Twitter #MarineVision2014.
