Sportfishing Industry Takes Action to Keep Flounder Fishery
Open to Fishing
by Mary Jane Williamson
April 30, 2008, Alexandria, Va. — The American Sportfishing Association
(ASA) is recommending a six-point plan of action to maintain summer flounder
fishing along the mid-Atlantic coast. Industry leaders and angler groups
are concerned about a threatened closing of the summer flounder fishery
in 2009 in federal waters (three miles to 200 miles offshore) by federal
fishery managers.
“This fishery is one of the most important sportfish on the U.S.
Atlantic coast,” said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. “Clearly
such an action would reduce recreational fishing opportunity and have
a negative impact on the sportfishing businesses which depend on summer
flounder. The irony of this threat is that summer flounder stocks in
the Atlantic are at a 40 year high.”
The six-point plan was approved by the ASA Government Affairs Committee
at its April meeting in California. “ASA has been concerned
about the summer flounder fishery for quite some time,” said Bill
Shedd, ASA Government Affairs Committee chairman and President of AFTCO
Manufacturing Co., Inc. “Like most complicated issues, there is
no one answer and there is no quick fix for challenges facing the summer
flounder fishery. But we believe these steps will go a long way towards
keeping the 2009 season open.”
The six action items are:
- Encourage the states, through their management measures of season
length, creel limits and size limits, to stay within the recreational
allocation, allowing the summer flounder fishing to continue.
- Request that the federal government conduct an economic impact study
of the recreational and commercial sectors of the summer flounder fishery
and reallocate the fishery more equitably between the recreational
and commercial sectors. The current allocation is 60 percent commercial
and 40 percent recreational.
- Request that the National Marine Fisheries Service improve its recreational
angler participation data. Congress has recognized that dependable
angler participation data is a key factor in fishery management decisions
and needs to be improved. In addition, every effort should be taken
by state authorities to improve their marine recreational angler participation
data.
- Take measures to accurately determine the target biomass for summer
flounder and improve the science review of the summer flounder stock
assessment scheduled for summer 2008.
- Request that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council follow the
advice provided by its Science and Statistical Committee.
- After an economic impact study of the recreational and commercial
sectors, begin discussions among fishery groups for Congressional action
seeking a buy-out of available summer flounder commercial fisheries.
Saltwater Subcommittee Chairman, Ben Moore, vice president, Boater’s
World, said, “We chose these actions because they are all areas
that the industry and angler groups can take action on now and expect
a reasonable chance for success. The committee reviewed a wide
range of actions, including legislation, but found that these six points
were the most effective and most likely to succeed.” Moore
further said, “We encourage industry members and angler groups
to work with ASA in a coordinated and collaborative way to implement
these points. We can accomplish a great deal much more quickly when we
work together.”
ASA has been working with the Save the Summer Flounder Fishing Fund,
located in New Jersey, to raise funds for additional review of scientific
data used to set summer flounder fishing seasons.
Phil Morlock, Government Affairs Committee member and Environmental
Affairs director at Shimano, said, “The committee members are very
aware of the significant negative economic impacts for the fishing tackle
industry and related businesses if the summer flounder issue is not addressed
in a timely and comprehensive manner. To be successful, ASA’s action
plan will require the full cooperation and sustained active involvement
of every manufacturer, retailer, sales agency and the anglers who are
our customers. We remain convinced that a rational and responsible
solution is possible by this approach. Anything less is simply unacceptable.”
“The Government Affairs Committee had a thoughtful and thorough
discussion concerning this issue,” said Robertson. “Today’s
challenges include summer flounder, red snapper and grouper, but other
fish stocks will challenge managers in future years. We must continue
to review the implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
Act and identify problem areas. As these areas are identified, we must
work cooperatively for effective solutions.”
The American
Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s
trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the
entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice,
speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state
and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler
advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies
could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself.
We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong
and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic
and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents
the interests of America’s 40 million anglers who generate over
$45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s
economy creating employment for over one million people.
