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Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, United in Conservation |
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE October 29, 2009
Collaborative
letter points out deficits in data collection HOUSTON, TX –An impressive array of the major marine industry, recreational angling and environmental groups co-signed an October 22 letter to Dr. Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Atmospheric and Ocean Administration (NOAA), calling for reform of recreational angling data collection by the federal government. “This is the first time in history that the five largest ocean environmental groups and the seven most significant marine recreational groups have come together to push a solution to a fisheries problem. All these groups deserve credit for seeing the significance of the issue and agreeing to work toward fixing it,” said Robert G. Hayes, general counsel for Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). The issue of recreational angling data collection has taken on greater significance due to the requirements of the revised Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). Those revisions require an end to overfishing by a time certain through the establishment of annual catch limits and the development of enforceable accountability measures. However, current data collection efforts fail to provide the data necessary to effectively implement those requirements and the result on the water has been shortened seasons, reduced bag limits and increased size limits. “Closing down fishery after fishery for recreational anglers was not what Congress had in mind when it reauthorized the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 2006,” said Matt Paxton, CCA federal lobbyist. “There were many critically important conservation measures included in the reauthorization of MSA, but they are all dependent on a functioning, timely data collection system to work as intended. Without it, there is great risk that calls by some sectors to gut MSA will gain traction, and no one with a long-term commitment to healthy marine resources wants that.” The 12 groups signed on the letter agreed that recreational anglers are not at fault for exceeding fishing quotas in some fisheries and acknowledged that anglers generally adhere to bag, season and size limits. The problem lies with the tools the federal government is using to monitor recreational catch. “One way to avoid this never-ending spiral of further restrictions is to put in place a data collection system that makes the timely collection and analysis of recreational catch data a priority so that managers are able to take action before quotas are exceeded,” the letter states. “The groups that signed on this letter do not always see eye-to-eye, but the fact that we are able to come together on recreational data collection shows the significance of this problem and the need for a real solution,” said Patrick Murray, president of CCA. The groups urge NOAA to develop and fund a system to manage the recreational sector in compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and that such an effort be included in the President’s 2011 budget.
Click here to see the
Letter to Dr. Jane Lubchenco CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. Visit www.JoinCCA.org for more information.
ACTION ITEM We will be able to accept comments and questions on this issue until November 15, and selected comments may be posted below. Thank you.
Ted Venker Why does any of this matter - they aren't going to pay attention to it anyway. Recreational angling doesn't matter to these people. - Roy M. The data issue is huge, but why on earth would you partner with Pew to get it changed? I think they've proven they are not on our side when it comes to the ocean. They are not the recreational angler's friend. - Glen P. Clearly we do not see eye-to-eye on many issues with a number of the groups that have signed on, but I am afraid you are missing the point on what this letter is about. This is a big step in that groups like Pew, Environmental Defense and Oceana have all acknowledged that recreational anglers are not the problem. As it states in the letter: Recent news articles have pointed out that federal recreational fishing quotas have been exceeded and leave the impression that recreational fishermen are at fault. As a general matter, individual recreational fishermen are not to blame for this result. The average recreational fisherman lives within the bag, season and size limits set by the federal government. Moreover, many are committed to fisheries conservation and are members of our organizations. If we are ever going to get a data system that accurately counts us and can keep our fisheries from closing unjustly, then we are going to need to work with anyone and everyone to get such a system in place. - Newsroom Moderator If this will fix MRFSS we need it yesterday. It's ridiculous what is going on with red snapper in the Gulf. - Marty S.
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