M&B News
Center for Coastal Conservation Launches
“Let America Fish” Campaign
Calls for Fair and Reasonable Access to America’s Fisheries
“Recreational boating and fishing
habitat restoration, and their license
vation announced last month the
are two of America’s oldest and
fees pay for management and
launch of “Let America Fish,” a
most beloved past times. They are
restoration conducted by state
communications campaign focused
family friendly activities that con-
agencies. Contributions from li-
The Center for Coastal Conser-
“Recreational boating and fishing are
two of America’s oldest and most
beloved past times. They are family
friendly activities that connect people to nature and help them to develop an abiding respect for our
natural resources. Through the ‘Let
America Fish’ campaign, we hope to
help lawmakers and the general public understand why current federal
fisheries law is unfair to the recreational angling community. Revising
federal law and agency guidance will
ensure fair and reasonable access to
America’s fisheries and improve fisheries management to guide the future of recreational fishing and
boating.” Center for Coastal Conservation President
Jeff Angers
nect people to nature
cense fees and excise taxes on fish-
and help them to de-
ing equipment drive $1.5 billion
velop an abiding respect
annually toward conservation and
for our natural re-
habitat restoration. Building and
sources,” said Center for
preserving healthy fish stocks is in
Coastal Conservation
the best interest of all Americans,
President Jeff Angers.
and recreational anglers, along with
“Through the ‘Let Amer-
fishing equipment manufacturers,
ica Fish’ campaign, we
have developed fishing tackle and
hope to help lawmakers
best practices that reduce fish mor-
and the general public
tality. “The Center for Coastal Con-
understand why current
servation aims to make fishing fair
federal fisheries law is
by fixing marine fisheries manage-
unfair to the recreational
ment,” said Angers. “We hope the
angling community. Re-
messages delivered through ‘Let
vising federal law and
America Fish’ will resonate with
agency guidance will en-
Members of Congress, recreational
sure fair and reasonable
anglers and boaters nationwide.
access to America’s fish-
Our goal is to sustain healthy fish
eries and improve fish-
stocks and ensure our
eries management to
ocean fisheries remain truly public
guide the future of recre-
resources that are available to all
ational fishing and boat-
Americans.”
ing.”
As a group, recreational
anglers provide a greater
12
on adjustments to the Magnuson-
economic impact than industrial
Stevens Act (MSA) that benefit
commercial fishermen. America’s
recreational fishing. The campaign
11 million recreational saltwater
highlights the impact of the recre-
anglers make a combined eco-
ational fishing and boating indus-
nomic contribution of $70 billion
tries on the U.S. economy, speaks to
annually, spend $26.5 billion each
the conservation efforts put forth by
year, and create 455,000 American
recreational anglers, and sheds light
jobs. In addition, recreational an-
on the fact that the current laws are
glers have led the way to maintain
unbalanced thereby severely limit-
sustainable fish populations and
ing access for recreational anglers.
protect habitats. They contribute to
October 2016 www.marshandbayou.com
The Center for Coastal Conservation maximizes opportunity for saltwater recreational anglers by
organizing, focusing and engaging
recreational fishing stakeholders to
speak with one voice to shape federal marine fisheries management
policy. Visit www.CoastalConservation.US.