glad to see Tim Scott’s name in there addressing the rally…
RFA Calls ‘Keep Fishermen Fishing’ Rally A Win
Members of Congress Pledge to Fix Broken Fisheries Law
The second historic Keep Fishermen Fishing rally in Washington DC was deemed a success by organizers!
While the legislative line-up of speakers at yesterday’s national fishermen’s rally was impressive, the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) said it was the commitments made by those powerful Members of Congress that turned the day into a win for America’s coastal fishing communities. (Click here to see one of the earliest reports from the event by News Herald reporter Valerie Garman.)
“Key sponsors of Magnuson reform legislation which would right the wrongs contained in a broken federal fisheries law agreed to make this the year that U.S. coastal fishermen were given a fair shot at the political process,” said RFA’s executive director Jim Donofrio. “Everyone agrees that fish populations have surged in the past decade, but that’s been at the expense of America’s fishermen, which is now being officially recognized by key members of Congress.”
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), sponsor of S632 in the Senate called the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act told rally attendees that great progress has been made on rebuilding coastal fisheries, but explained that a “one-size-fits-all approach to fisheries management” based on bad science won’t work. “Today I am calling on Congress to begin hearings on Magnuson reform this year and I will be making a major push to see that that happens, not next year, not 2 years from now but this year,” Sen. Schumer said, adding “we need to have an open and honest debate on the flexibility bill.”
Schumer went on to say the he would be talking to his colleagues on the Commerce Committee about starting a debate on the reauthorization of Magnuson as soon as possible, “so that your voices can be heard, not just outside the Capitol but inside at a hearing table in the Capitol.” The senator from