Spotted by Leon Roskilly

[charlieannear]

Leon Roskilly is very active in the Marine Conservation area, and often posts/emails articles of interest.

 

I can't take the credit for these- Leon spotted them!

 

http://www.tackletradeworld.com/sportfishing-aims-for-better-political-intergration/
 

Sportfishing aims for better political intergration

 

Sportfishing industry leaders and stakeholders from across the world appear to have made an increased effort to stand up for the sport on a political scale since the turn of the year. The sportfishing industry as a whole is making a more concerted effort to be more integrated with national and international politics, which can only lead to its future success and security.

In the USA, recreational fishing industry leaders met with Members of Congress to advocate not just for the industry’s business interests, but for the entire recreational fishing community. They were also in Washington, DC for the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) annual spring Government Affairs Committee meeting.

The Government Affairs Committee held a special session in the US Capitol Building to meet with invited Members of Congress. In the afternoon, the committee branched off into smaller groups and collectively met with Congressional office staff from states across the country.

The top federal legislative issues that the committee discussed with Congressional offices included passage of the Sportsmen’s Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act reauthorisation and reauthorisation of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Other key regional issues discussed with relevant offices included the proposed marine reserve in Biscayne National Park (Florida), impacts of the drought on California salmon and federal mismanagement of Gulf of Mexico red snapper, which impacts the entire Gulf area.

Meanwhile in Europe, the European Parliament Forum for Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment welcomed more than 40 participants to an event entitled “Long-term management of the European Sea Bass recreational fisheries,” during which measures to protect the species were discussed.

After a lively debate between the audience and the 10 MEPs present, the event was concluded by MEP Richard Corbett, who called for a "safety-first approach" and fair management of sea bass and for measures in which commercials should play the main part for the preservation of this iconic species.

Jean Claude Bel, CEO of the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA), stressed that, in some countries, the employment and the economic output generated by the 25 per cent of sea bass retained by anglers is up to 75 per cent higher than for commercial fisheries. “Recreational angling should be treated fairly and its socio-economic output must be acknowledged.”

Mr Jean Kiffer, president of the FNPPSF, a French maritime anglers’ organisation member of the European Anglers Alliance (EAA), presented the case of France in which the dramatic situation includes a lot of poaching. He asked for control and enforcement measures to be strengthened. He declared that sea bass fisheries should be forbidden during the breeding season in all zones and for all fishermen.

Mr Jan Willem Wijnstroom from the EAA explained that anglers have been asking for measures since the 2000s. Now that sea bass stocks are in deep trouble, urgent actions are needed. EAA advises that a higher Minimum Landing Size (MSL) for all, commercial and recreational, bass should be adopted and that fish mortality is promptly reduced.

[ChrisE]

Thanks for this very informative piece.

 

It is nice to read that we are slowly moving in the right direction for hopefully all recreational angling.

 

Chris