Recreational
and Commercial Fishing Industries Unite For Fisheries Reform
-Industry
Leaders Descend on Capitol Hill to Make Their Case-
WASHINGTON,
D.C. –
Members of the recreational, charter, and commercial fishing
industries, representing well over 100 fishing organizations,
met with Members of Congress and congressional staff in support
of bipartisan legislation which promotes healthy populations of
fisheries and fishing communities.
H.R. 5425, the
Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fishery Act of 2008,
co-sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ),Henry Brown (R-SC),
Barney Frank (D-MA), and Walter Jones (R-NC) would provide a
measure of flexibility into the management process without
compromising conservation goals.
At present, the law requires a total
rebuilding of the stock of certain “overfished” species
within 10 years, often requiring drastic reductions in fishing
quotas and in some cases a complete or effective shut-down of
the fishery.
Those
who attended meetings on Capitol Hill stated:
“The
Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and its members continue to
fight for fishing organizations nationwide. I am encouraged by
the level of bipartisan support we have received for this
legislation. Congressional
support for H.R. 5245 is the first step to managing fish
populations for both recreational and commercial purposes
without compromising our conservation efforts or the rebuilding
efforts initially established by the Magnuson-Stevens Act.”- James
A. Donofrio, Executive Director of the RFA
“The
spirit of cooperation between the sectors was amazing. Everyone
there recognized the passion we have in common, FISHING. Together we
can effect positive change for the resource and the fishermen no
matter if you were commercial, charter or recreational.”- Robert
Spaeth, Southern Offshore Executive Director
”The
real, and we believe, unintended impact of the current
Magnuson-Stevens Act, is that historic fishing communities,
small historic fishing families, and the fishing public are
suffering brutal social and economic harm.
So much so that the charter fishing sector is facing 25%
or more of the national fleet going
out of business at the end of this year.
This inflexibility of the current Magnuson-Stevens Act
along with a slow economy and increasing fuel prices is causing
unprecedented reductions in fishing effort every day.” -Capt.
Bob Zales, II, Executive Director, Conservation Cooperative of
Gulf Fishermen (CCGF)
“There
are plenty of precautionary measures taken to protect the fish.
It is time to recognize the need for precaution with the
people who fish. The recreational and commercial sectors have
come together for the first time in history because of the
unfair and unnecessary fishing regulations being forced upon us.
The increasing pressure from the current Magnuson-Stevens Act
has caused over-restriction of fishing activity, costing the
USA
billions of dollars in economic impact.”-
Dennis O’Hern, Executive Director, Fishing Rights Alliance,
Inc. (FRA)
"Rhode
Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) is proud to support
this legislation which will ensure conservation, rebuilding, and
access for our fisheries."-
Douglas
MacPherson
,
Rhode Island
Saltwater Anglers Association
ORGANIZATIONS
SUPPORTING H.R. 5425, THE FLEXIBILITY IN REBUILDING AMERICAN
FISHERIES ACT OF 2008
Alaska
Charterboat Association
Atlanta
Saltwater Sportsman's Club
Atlantic
Marine Electronics
Atlantic
Highlands Bait, Tackle & Boat Rental (NJ)
Bay
Park
Fishing Station (NY)
Big
Game Fishing Journal
Bimini
Bay
Outfitters
Bombardier
Recreational Products
Bradley
Beach Fishing Club
Brielle
Chamber of Commerce (NJ)
Cape
May
County Party & Charter Boat Association
Captain
Anderson’s
Marina
Captain
Tate’s (NJ)
Captree
Boatmen's Association
Charterboat
Association of
Puget Sound
Coastal
Bend
Guides Association (TX)
Coastal
Fisherman
Conservation
Cooperative of Gulf Fishermen
Deep
Creek Charterboat Association (AK)
Destin
Charter Boat Association (FL)
E-Z
OUT-RODDER
Eastern
Shore Anglers
Virginia
Fishermen’s
Conservation Association
Fisherman's
Den (NJ)
Fishermen’s
Supply (NJ)
Fishing
Rights
Alliance
Folsom
Tackle Corporation
Forked
River Tuna Club
Francis
Fleet of
Point Judith
,
RI
Garden
State
Yacht Sales (NJ)
Golden
Gate Fishermen’s Association (CA)
Greg
Abrams Seafood
Greater
Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association (NJ)
Grumpy's
Tackle (NJ)
Half
Hitch Tackle
Har
Lee Rod Inc. (NJ)
Hobby
Lobby Marine (NJ)
Homer
Charter Association (AK)
HD
Wood Advertising
Julian’s
Sport Shop (NJ)
Indian
River
Charter Boat Association
Island
House Marina (VA)
Jersey
Coast
Anglers Association
Key
West
Charter Boatmen's Association (FL)
Long
Island
Beach
Buggy Association
Maine
Association of Charterboat Captains
Manasquan
River
Marlin & Tuna Club
Marco
Island
Charter Captains Association
Marine
Retailers Association of
America
Marine
Trades Association, NJ
Marine
Trades Association, NY
Marine
Trades Association, RI
Maryland
Charertboat Association
Maryland
Saltwater Sportfishing Association
Montauk
Boatmen's and Captain's Association
Murphy's
Hook House (NJ)
My
Wife's Rod & Reel Repair Shop (NJ)
National
Association of Charterboat Operators (NACO)
National
Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
New
Jersey
Angler
New
Jersey
Beach
Buggy Association
New
Jersey
Outdoor
Alliance
New
York
Fishing Tackle Trade Association
Nor’east
Saltwater
North
Coast
Fishing Association (CA)
North
Fork
Captain's Association
Northeast
Angling
Northeast
Charter Boat Captain’s Association
Old
Inlet
Bait
&
Tackle
,
Delaware
Orange
Beach
Fishing Association
Palm
Beach
Towers
Panama
City
Boatmen Association (FL)
Pensacola
Charterboat Association
Piedmont
Offshore Sportfishing Club (NC)
Port
Aransas Boatmen (TX)
Port
Monmouth Marine, Inc. (NJ)
Ramsey
Outdoor (NJ)
Recreational
Fishing
Alliance
Rhode
Island
Saltwater Anglers Association
Rudy
Marine (DE)
Save
the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund, Mid-Atlantic
Scott's
Bait & Tackle (Bradley Beach, NJ)
Scott's
Bait & Tackle (
Mystic Island
,
NJ
)
Sea
Hawk
Sports
Center
(MD)
Shark
River
Surf
Anglers
Shore
Catch Guide Service (NJ)
Sonoma
County
Abalone Network (CA)
South
Atlantic
Charterboat Association
South
Jersey
Marina (NJ)
South
Jersey
Saltwater Anglers
South
Texas
Big
Game Fishing Club (TX)
Southeastern
Fisheries Association
Southern
Offshore Fishing Association
Spray
Dock (NJ)
Spring
Lake
Freezer
Steinhatchee
Charter Association
Stellwagon
Bank Charter Boat Association
Stone
Harbor
Yacht Sales (NJ)
Suffix
Fishing Line
T
& A Tackle (NJ)
The
Fisherman
The
Reel Seat (NJ)
The
Tackle Box (NJ)
Treasure
Island
Marina
United
Boatmen, NY & NJ
Viking
Yacht Company
Virginia
Council of Angling Clubs
Westport
Charterboat Association (WA)
White
Water Marine (NY)
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