For most sport fishermen most of the time, recreational fishing is about far more than harvesting fish; most anglers first and foremost want access — the opportunity to try to catch fish.
In the United States, healthy fisheries have traditionally meant better fishing access for anglers. That’s one of the main reasons why anglers have always been at the forefront of conservation efforts: Beyond the clear understanding that conservation is vital for the health of the resource, it’s good for our fishing experiences, too.
However, something is clearly “off” with federal fisheries management when improving the health of fisheries resources doesn’t translate into improved access. In the worst case of this — that of Gulf of Mexico red snapper — healthier stocks have actually led to diminished access.
In recent years, at every turn there seems to be another example of a federal fisheries-management decision that has left anglers feeling bewildered. While Gulf red snapper gets most of the attention, similar management challenges have arisen with summer flounder, cobia, black sea bass, triggerfish, amberjack and others. Despite overfishing being at an all-time low, angler frustration with federal fisheries management has reached an all-time high.
This frustration stems from what seem to be overly restrictive regulations and abrupt season closures at odds with what anglers experience on the water. Anglers need reasonable access to enjoy our sport.
Fortunately, earlier this month, six U.S. senators led by Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) introduced the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act. This bill addresses the recreational-fishing community’s priorities for improving the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the primary law governing federal marine fisheries management. A similar bill was introduced in the House earlier this year by representatives Garret Graves (R-La.), Gene Green (D-Texas), Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.)
MSA has historically focused almost exclusively on commercial fishing; the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act would insert key changes in management strategies better suited to the nature of recreational fishing. Recreational fishing is fundamentally different…
