National fishing & boating groups praise introduction of Modern Fishing Act
July 28, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. (LOG NEWS SERVICE) — Representatives of the recreational fishing and boating community have praised the introduction in the U.S. Senate by a bipartisan group of senators of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017.
The introduction of the measure by Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican, would improve public access to America’s federal waters, promote conservation of our natural marine resources and spur economic growth, the American Sportfishing Association said in a release.
“This bipartisan legislation includes key provisions that will adapt federal fisheries management to manage recreational fishing in a way that better achieves conservation and public access goals,” Mike Nussman, president of the American Sportfishing Association said in the release. “Recreational fishing provides many economic, social and conservation benefits to the nation, and with this legislation, the federal fisheries management system will better realize those benefits.”
Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association said that NMMA applauds Wicker and his cosponsors for working across the aisle to introduce the Modern Fish Act. “When passed, this landmark legislation will modernize the federal regulations governing access to the public’s natural resources by boaters and anglers.”
Wicker’s measure, Senate Bill 1520, was cosponsored by five fellow senators — Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, John Kennedy, R-La. and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
A companion bill, H.R. 2023, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 6, by Republican Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana.
A coalition of groups including the American Sportfishing Association, Center for Sportfishing Policy, Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, International Game Fish Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Recreational Fishing Alliance, The Billfish Foundation and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership support the Modern Fish Act.
