Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) have joined forces in a bi-partisan effort to support recreational fishing in Florida by sponsoring a new bill related to Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
That act requires annual catch limits (ACL's) be put in place for every fishery by December 31, 2011 as a means to stop overfishing. Unfortunately the science is not available to make sound decisions at this time and a rush to meet the deadline could be unnecessarily harmful to recreational angling opportunities.
To avoid arbitrary rule making and closing fisheries unnecessarily, the Nelson-Rubio bill eliminates the need for NOAA Fisheries to implement ACL's if there has not been a stock assessment on a particular stock in the last six years, and there is no indication that overfishing is occurring. This will give more time for officials to make appropriate stock assessments before implementing ACL's.
“It’s a simple formula,” said Sen. Rubio. “Regulatory decisions, if necessary, should always be based on sound science. This legislation provides a simple answer to fishermen and to fishery managers.”
“Fishery management decisions should be based on sound science,” Sen. Nelson said. “This legislation will ensure that science is a priority.”
The Nelson/Rubio Bill has a broad backing of fishing, boating and industry groups intent on having marine resources management based on good science. The bill will not affect stocks that have already been identified as overfished.
More information is availabel on the Nelson/Rubio Bill (S.1916), at: http://www.asafishing.org/government/documents/FSIA_Fact_Sheet.pdf.
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