Probably the most important piece of legislation to impact fisheries management is undergoing revision in Congress.  It is the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

This legislation will incorporate the recommendations of the President’s Ocean Commission and the PEW Commission Report.  It is very complicated as most legislation is but you have the opportunity to impact some of its provisions.  To help us understand the issues that are of most importance to recreational anglers, we have invited Lee Crockett and Brooks Montcastle of the Marine Fish Conservation Network to attend the next monthly meeting of club representatives.  Lee has a clear understanding of the Bill and the inner workings of Washington.  He will provide us with an overview of the bill, provide the pros and cons and answer any questions you might like to ask.  Lee will start his presentation at exactly 7:30 p.m. and has to leave at 8:30 so don’t be late or you will miss this opportunity.  The JCAA has been a part of the network for quite a few years.  Tom Fote has been on their board of directors and for a time served on the executive committee.

The Senate Bill S2012 was introduced on December 15, 2005.

Some of the issues in the bill that recreational anglers need to be aware of and express their opinions to their legislators are:

            Issue:  Saltwater Fishing License.

            The bill requires that a uniform national program for registration of recreational fishermen be established.  This is a Saltwater Fishing License.

The reasons given for this sound great.  To improve management of marine fisheries, it is essential to obtain more complete recreational fishing data.   A license would create a national angler database to improve data collection.

            It is difficult to believe that this will do anything to improve data collection.  There is a lot of information that is currently available that is not being used, such as the log books that have been required of Party and Charter boats for years.  This abundant source of information is ignored.  So it does not make a lot of sense to add more complexity and cost.  A prime example of this is the tuna permit, which keeps adding species, and all the money goes to the contractor who provides the permit.  Look at the great job that has been done on tuna!  I don’t think so.

Issue:  Data Collection/Science

            The bill addresses the collection, quality control and use of science that is the basis of fishery management decisions.  The quality of scientific advice by the SSC’s is improved by a peer review.  The bill also authorizes the payment of stipends to SSC members.

It is certainly critical to expand and enhance the collection and use of

fisheries-related information.  No one can disagree with that.  The bill strengthens the use of scientific information by mandating formalized scientific peer review.  The bill establishes a national data collection system.  The bill expands the categories of social and economic information that can be collected.

However, it is unclear who will be doing the collection of information and who the peer reviewers will be.  The current system could be considered to meet these requirements and yet most recreational anglers and commercial fishermen have serious doubts about the validity of the existing data.  Data which is provided by recreational and commercial fishermen, is considered anecdotal and not given any weight.  This does not make sense.  This source of information must be given the weight that it is due and a system needs to be developed to do this. 

Other items in the bill include emphasizing an ecosystem approach to fisheries management; setting a hard deadline for ending overfishing and incorporates stock life history into rebuilding requirements; promotes the use of market-based dedicated access privileges; broaden and provide better balance of constituent interest on the fishery management councils.  To deter repeat offenders the bill strengthens fisheries enforcement by increasing the civil and criminal penalties for violators.

To learn about the bill make sure a representative of your club is present at the next meeting. 

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