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Presidential Amendment Ensures Recreational Fishing to Be Maintained on Federal Lands and Waters

Threat of Marine Protected Areas Blocking Anglers Out of Prime Fishing Areas Lessened

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President George W. Bush has signed an amendment to the 1995 Executive Order on recreational fishing that ensures that federal agencies maintain recreational fishing on federal lands and waters, including marine protected areas.

"Our nation's sportsmen and women are among our foremost conservationists. I was pleased to amend Executive Order 12962 to recognize the value of recreational fishing as a sustainable activity in federal waters," stated President Bush.

"This is a major victory for sportsmen and we commend the President," declared Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF). "CSF has been particularly concerned about the spawn of no fishing provisions in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that lock recreational anglers out of prime fishing areas."

To combat this rising tide, CSF worked with the American Sportfishing Association, Coastal Conservation Association and Center, and National Marine Manufacturers Association to inform decision makers of the societal and economic value of sport fishing and the threat to access posed by MPAs. CSF convened a June briefing with the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, Administration officials and sport fishing organizations to request that recreational angling be safeguarded as a beneficial and important activity.

"The American model of fisheries management is funded through fishing license sales and excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel. Annually, nearly $900 million of anglers' and boaters' dollars are provided to the states for conservation and recreation," Crane pointed out. "This amendment will help protect that investment and keep millions of acres open to sport fishing."

"We appreciate the leadership President Bush has shown by his recognition of recreational fishing as an environmentally sustainable activity on federal waters, including marine protected areas. This is a progressive declaration which will benefit millions of anglers today and in the future," stated Phil Morlock, director of environmental affairs for Shimano American Corporation. Shimano is the world's leading manufacturer of fishing tackle and has been actively engaged in the MPA issue.

MPAs with "no take" provisions have been identified as one of the greatest threats to recreational fishing and the tackle industry. "When anglers are denied access, they stop buying licenses and fishing tackle. The result is that less money is available to the states for fisheries management programs," noted Morlock.

SOURCE Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation