C O M M I T T E D T O I N C R E A S I N G Y O U R B U S I N E S S G L O B A L LY
SEPTEMBER 2018
Modern Fish
Act Passed
On the 11th of July
2018, the U.S. House
of Representatives
passed a bipartisan
bill that includes the
Modernizing Recreational
Fisheries Management
Act of 2017 (Modern Fish
Act). This historic vote
of 222 to 193 marks the
fi rst time the priorities of
the recreational fi shing
sector have been included
in the reauthorization
of America’s primary
important conservation of
natural marine resources.
President of the Centre
of Sportfi shing Policy,
Jeff Angers said, “Marine
recreational fi shing is not
a partisan issue, which
was illustrated by the
support from both parties
in the House. We owe great
thanks to Chairman Rob
Bishop, Congressmen Don
Young, Garret Graves, Gene
Green and Marc Veasey
for working together
to properly recognize
recreational fi shing within
the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
These bipartisan leaders
have made the difference for
anglers from coast to coast.”
In 2014, the priorities of
the recreational fi shing and
boating community were
identifi ed and presented
to federal policy makers
by the Commission on
Saltwater Recreational
Fisheries Management in
a report entitled, “A Vision
for Managing America’s
Saltwater Recreational
Fisheries.” This group is also
referred to as the Morris-
Deal Commission, named
for co-chairs Johnny Morris,
founder and CEO of Bass
Pro Shops, and Scott Deal,
president of Maverick Boat
Group.
Continued on page 6
marine fi sheries law,
the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. This act
was introduced to the House
of Representatives on the
6th of April 2017 with the
Senate version introduced
by Senator Roger Wicker on
the 10th of July 2017. The
Magnus-Stevens Act never
properly addressed the
importance of recreational
fi shing which led to
shortened and cancelled
seasons, smaller bag limits,
and unnecessary restrictions
for anglers. The passing of
the Modern Fish Act will
provide federal managers
with the tools and data
needed to appropriately
manage recreational fi shing,
rather than continuing
to manage recreational
fi shing in the same way as
commercial fi shing. It will
also improve the access to
America’s federal waters
and help promote the
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