RFA WELCOMES NEW SUPPORT FOR MAGNUSON REFORM
Calls On Industry & Congress To Unite In Effort To Fix Federal Fisheries Law
(6/28/2011) Nearly 5 years of political pressure by grassroots political activism along the coast seems to be paying off for recreational fishermen and business owners, as a new piece of legislation introduced before Congress last week (HR 2304) shows that Congress is beginning to recognize the plight of the saltwater angler.
According to the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) which has publicly led the charge for fisheries reform, the Fishery Science Improvement Act (FSIA) sponsored by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and supported by the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus attempts to address some of the key issues impacting angler access to healthy, rebuilding fisheries stock. In a release issued by the legislative caucus last Friday, HR2304 would address key elements of the current Magnuson Stevens Act, including setting of annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) using current scientific stock assessments as well as extending rebuilding deadlines for non-overfished stocks of fish.
In light of the current fisheries train wreck now derailing the livelihood of so many members of America’s recreational fishing industry, RFA Executive Director Jim Donofrio praised the legislative caucus for recognizing the need for management flexibility in saltwater fisheries. “This has been a long battle for our RFA members, not only in getting more legislators onboard with Magnuson reform, but especially in getting some of our friends in the industry to jump onboard,” he said. “RFA has taken some heat these last few years for arguing against the use of annual catch limits and accountability measures in the recreational sector while pleading for relief from arbitrary deadlines, so our thanks to Rep. Wittman and his Caucus members for pledging to get involved in Magnuson reform.”
RFA has thoroughly reviewed the legislation and believes there is good, straightf