Twelve recreational marine organisations and companies have called on the US Congress to ensure that recreational saltwater anglers are represented in any new changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The group, called the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, has introduced a document called a “Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries” that identifies fisheries management issues pertinent to recreational fishing and boating interests.

The group yesterday briefed members of the US Congress and the media on its recommended changes to the fisheries policy. The commission, co-chaired by Scott Deal, CEO of Maverick Boats, and Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops, wants to ensure that saltwater recreational fishing becomes a priority of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service.

"This is the first time that the recreational fishing and boating community has set forth a comprehensive vision," Deal said in a statement. Deal said that recreational anglers have a significant economic impact. In 2011, according to industry data, approximately 11m Americans fished recreationally in saltwater, spending US$27bn. That activity generated more than US$70bn in economic output and sustained 450,000 jobs. Anglers contribute more than US$1.5bn annually to fisheries habitat and conservation via excise taxes, donations and license fees.

The commission has gained the opinions of economists, scientists, federal and state agency administrators, environmentalists, charter captains and individual recreational anglers to form their report.

The report calls for adopting a revised approach to saltwater recreational fisheries management, allocating marine fisheries for the greatest benefit of the country, creating reasonable latitude in stock-rebuilding timelines and codifying a process for cooperative management.

"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."

Mike Nussman, president and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association, said Congress should establish a national policy to promote the sport. "In addition, Congress must open the 'rusted-shut' door of marine fisheries allocation to achieve the greatest benefit to the nation,” he said in the statement.

Topics