Page 4747 Page
MakingWaves Waves Winter Summer 2016 Making 2016
these proposals. In addition, RFA will work to develop a long-term solution that affords recreational fishermen legal protection from marine sanctuary designations.
New Report Urges Modernization In Federal Fisheries Management New Gretna, NJ - The nation's leading marine conservation and trades associations today released a landmark series of recommendations for the incoming Administration and the new Congress that strive to balance improving access to public waters, creating economic growth, and enhancing the conservation of marine fish stocks. The guidance for federal policy makers in A Vision for Marine Fisheries Man-
generates 455,000 jobs. However, outdated federal management policies threaten to stem this positive economic trend. "The report represents the culmination of considerable thought and discussion put forward by the recreational fishing community," said Jim Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance. "It defines the policy priorities that our industry must advance with the incoming Administration and new Congress in order to achieve a much needed balance between meeting conservation goals and providing ample recreational opportunities and access."
The report recommends a shift away from using the same tools to manage commercial fishing and recreational fishing at the federal level. New approaches should reflect the reality of demand for recreational access to our marine fishery resources, the current economagement in the 21st Century: Priorities ic activity associated with that acfor a New Administration calls for an cess, and the scientific data of the light footprint recreational access end to antiquated federal policies that have inhibited a vital source of has on our fishery resources. economic growth and a proud "It's important that lawmakers and American tradition. policymakers understand that commercial and recreational fishing "We are deeply committed to enneed to be managed differently," suring a bright future for marine said Ted Venker, Conservation Direcreational fishing," said Jeff Anrector of Coastal Conservation Asgers, president of the Center for Coastal Conservation. "It's a critical sociation and Chairman of the Center for Coastal Conservation's Govcomponent of our economy, and it's a proud part of America's herit- ernment Relations Committee. "The Vision report's recommendaage of conservation. The recomtions suggest taking a clear-eyed mendations in this report will ensure that we as a nation do all we look at our nation's fisheries, using modern science and technology to can to continue this legacy." guide decision-making." The Vision report highlights the economic value of recreational fish- "Fishing is a treasured pastime and tradition for millions of Americans ing in coastal waters. Today, 11 and needs to be treated as such," million American anglers fish for continued Angers. "The new Adrecreation in saltwater. From license sales to retail sales, the recre- ministration and Congress should take steps to keep this tradition ational saltwater fishing industry alive - for the benefit of all those contributes more than $70 billion who enjoy fishing, for the hunannually in economic activity and
dreds of thousands employed in the recreational fishing industry, and for future generations of anglers who will fall in love with the sea." Contributors to the report include American Sportfishing Association, Center for Coastal Conservation, Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation,Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, International Game Fish Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Recreational Fishing Alliance, The Billfish Foundation, andTheodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
The RFA Anticipates Positive Change under President Trump's Leadership New Gretna, NJ, - When the news broke this morning that Donald J. Trump had been elected to serve as the 45th president of the United States, the Recreational Fishing Alliance's Executive Director Jim Donofrio couldn't have been more pleased.
The RFA was the only sport fishing organization in the country that supported and publically endorsed Mr. Trump right from the beginning," explained Donofrio. "He obviously understands business as well as anyone, and we quickly realized that an administration under his leadership would benefit the recreational fishing industry, particularly those in the manufacturing sector such as boat and engine builders and tackle companies, which have been operating under increasing governmental restrictions for years. We believe these businesses will now be better able to improve their products and