Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)

Conservationists applaud strengthened
fishery management legislation

WASHINGTON, DC - Coastal Conservation Association is keeping a hopeful eye on a strengthened marine fisheries conservation bill that was introduced today by House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA). If passed as currently written, this latest version of the Magnuson-Stevens Act would represent a significant step forward in how recreational fisheries are viewed and managed.

“Sport fishermen depend on a strong Magnuson-Stevens Act to ensure that there are healthy fish populations for them to pursue. We applaud Chairman Pombo for his leadership and for working closely with those of us in the recreational fishing sector as they drafted the bill,” commented Bob Hayes, general counsel for Coastal Conservation Association “We are close to the first comprehensive revision of the law in 10 years, and the first that considers recreational fishing interests on par with commercial fishing.”

The bill introduced today takes some of the positive components of the Senate Commerce Committee’s bill passed December 15, 2005, and makes additional improvements.

Coastal Conservation Association was part of the Marine Conservation Working Group organized by the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) that brought together policy experts from the nation’s leading recreational fishing and marine conservation organizations, including the American Sportfishing Association, Berkley Conservation Institute, Environmental Defense, the International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, and the Izaak Walton League of America.

For additional information about the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the principles outlined by the TRCP Working Group, go to www.angling4oceans.org

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