SEPTEMBER 2018
Modern Fish Act Passed
Continued from page 3
Many recommendations of
the Morris-Deal Commission
are addressed by the Modern
Fish Act and included in
House of Representatives
200 (H.R. 200). This
legislation addresses
many of the challenges
faced by recreational
anglers, including allowing
alternative management
tools for recreational
fi shing, re-examining
fi sheries allocations and
improving recreational
data collection. The bill
aims to benefi t fi shing
access and conservation
by incorporating modern
management approaches,
science and technology to
guide decision-making.
American Sportfi shing
Association President, Glenn
Huhes said, “The recreational
fi shing industry is grateful
that H.R. 200, which
includes the provisions of
the Modern Fish Act, has
now passed the U.S. House
of Representatives. “The
Modern Fish Act represents
Recreational Fishing
Alliance President, Jim
Donofrio added, “We are
on our way to pragmatic
Magnuson-Stevens Act
reform that will allow better
access to rebuilt fi sh stocks
while ensuring long-term
sustainability.”
“Passing these provisions
of the Modern Fish Act
means taking the next
important step in recognizing
the cultural value of
recreational fi shing and
conservation contributions
of American anglers,” said
Whit Fosburgh, president and
CEO of Theodore Roosevelt
Conservation Partnership.
“We will continue to work
with our sportfi shing
partners to engage with
senators and see to it that
the Modern Fish Act becomes
law—it is critical if we hope
to see saltwater anglers
benefi t from the advances
in fi sheries science, data
collection, and management
at the heart of this important
legislation.”
Following the vote, the
coalition strongly encourages
the Senate to quickly pass
S.1520 as marine recreational
anglers and boaters are
eager to see these landmark
reforms signed into law.
www.tackletradeworld.com 05
baton, and immediately take
up and pass the Modern
Fish Act of 2017 as millions
of Americans are counting
on it.”
Coastal Conservation
Association President,
Patrick Murray commented,
“We are grateful to our
champions from both sides
of the aisle in the House
for recognizing the needs
of recreational anglers and
advancing this important
fi sheries management
reform. This is truly a
watershed moment for
anglers in our never-ending
quest to ensure the health
and conservation of our
marine resources and
anglers’ access to them.”
Congressional
Sportsmen’s Foundation
President, Jeff Crane said,
“We thank the House
Leadership, Congressman
Young and the leaders of
the House Congressional
Sportsmen’s Caucus for
their leadership in fi nding
bipartisan solutions to
move the bill forward. The
provisions of the Modern
Fish Act contained in H.R.
200 are a top priority for
saltwater anglers across the
United States and charts
a clear course for effective
recreational fi sheries
management while ensuring
abundant, sustainable
fi sheries for future
generations.”
the collective priorities of
the recreational fi shing
community for improving
federal marine fi sheries
management. There are 11
million saltwater anglers
in the U.S. who have a $63
billion economic impact
annually and generate
440,000 jobs. This legislation
will help ensure that the
economic, conservation and
social values of saltwater
recreational fi shing will
continue well into the
future.”
National Marine
Manufacturers Association
(NMMA) President, Thom
Dammrich said, “We
applaud the U.S. House of
Representatives for passing
common sense legislation
modernizing the federal
fi sheries management
system, which will provide
America’s recreational
anglers and boaters
reasonable and responsible
access to public marine
resources. The recreational
boating industry calls on the
U.S. Senate to pick up the
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