February 6, 2008
American Sportfishing Association Policy Alert
ASA’s Position on NOAA’s Sanctuaries Program’s Islands in the Stream Gulf of Mexico Proposal
For more information, contact Gordon Robertson, vice president and Government Affairs lead, 703.519.9691, x237, or Patty Doerr, Ocean Resource Policy director, x244.
The Situation
During a recent Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Florida, a marine protected area proposal for the Gulf of Mexico known as Islands in the Stream was described. The proposal would establish a series of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Gulf of Mexico. This is the same proposal that was discussed during ASA’s 2007 Sportfishing Summit at both the Government Affairs Committee meeting and during the general session on angler access. A copy of the NOAA and ASA presentations are available on ASA’s Web site under the 2007 Sportfishing Summit highlights.
ASA staff has had a briefing with NOAA about Islands in the Stream and has had two meetings with the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) concerning the proposal. During these meetings, ASA has clearly stated in written and verbal communication that the association does not intend to support any proposal that will diminish recreational fishing opportunity in the Gulf of Mexico—or any other location—and will firmly oppose any proposal that does so.
ASA’s position is that the establishment of further MPAs in the Gulf or any other location, or expansion of existing areas, should at a minimum maintain current areas of opportunity for recreational fishing and that the future of recreational fishing should be fully protected. In addition, any further designations must be accompanied by a transparent process with robust stakeholder participation. At the Summit, ASA’s Board of Directors approved a position statement on MPAs which guides ASA in all discussions relating to MPAs.
How You Can Help
Access to the resource is a critical element in having a successful sportfishing business. Recreational anglers, and boaters, have always been in the forefront of fisheries conservation in the United States financing countless conservation and restoration projects through license fees, motorboat fuel taxes and the federal excise tax on fishing gear. Anglers, and boaters, who shoulder most of the fisheries conservation efforts in this country, should not be penalized by arbitrary MPA designations. The American Sportfishing Association asks that you reach out to local anglers and stakeholders educating them about Islands in the Stream and ASA’s position on it. Stay updated on the issue by checking ASA’s website regularly and be prepared to take action if called to do so.
