On Dec. 17, the U.S. Senate passed S.1520, also known as the “Modern Fish Act.” This is great news for sportsmen but there is one final push remains to get it to the President’s desk, and we need your help. Earlier this year the House passed accompanying legislation with H.R. 200, the “Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017,” but differences between the Senate and House bills require that the full House take a vote on the Senate version passed that passed on Monday before it can be sent to the President.
Since 1976, the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) has been the leading statute that governs the nation’s fisheries in federal waters. The MSA has made a huge impact on efforts to end overfishing, rebuild depleted fish stocks and protect fish habitats, however, recreational fishermen have suffered as the MSA primarily focuses on commercial fishing. The “Modern Fish Act” will address the issues of recreational fishing being lumped in with commercial fishing, which negatively affects recreational permits and regulations and creates parity between commercial and recreational anglers in the federal fisheries management system.
“Recreational anglers deserve a level playing field when it comes to our nation’s fisheries and need a system that serves sportsmen, not just special interests,” said Bruce Tague, vice president of government affairs for the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “We urge you to reach out to your U.S. Representative today and ask them to pass the “Modern Fish Act” and send this important legislation to the President!”
There are an estimated 11 million saltwater anglers in the United States. In 2015, recreational fishing contributed to nearly 440,000 American jobs, $63 billion in sales, $23 billion in income and $36 billion in value-added contributions made to the gross domestic product. The Modern Fish Act will protect, and likely increase, those revenue numbers while allowing better management of our fishery resources.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.