The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) applauds the recent decision by NOAA Fisheries to deny an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) that would have allowed pelagic longline (PLL) vessels into the East Florida Coast Pelagic Longline Closed Area.
“Both resident and non-resident anglers who fish along the east coast of Florida owe NOAA Fisheries a debt of gratitude for a decision that will continue to protect Florida’s world-class billfish fishery,” said CSF Fisheries Program Senior Director Chris Horton. “EFPs are intended to offer outside-the-box opportunities to improve fisheries management, but this particular EFP seemed to be more about granting exclusive access for a few boats to a closed fishery than it was for advancing fisheries science.”
More than two decades ago, swordfish in the Western Atlantic were in serious trouble due to overfishing. The public responded forcefully to the plight of swordfish, and as a result, nursery areas were identified and closed to the United States PLL fleet in 2001. Today, anglers point to the recovery with pride as a significant conservation victory.
“Angler conservationists can breathe a sigh of relief that the longline EFP application is no longer a threat to the conservation gains in the East Florida Closed Zone,” said Jeff Angers, president of the Center for Sportfishing Policy. “We will remain vigilant in protecting both this conservation zone we fought so hard for two decades ago as well as this amazing catch-and-release sailfish fishery that has grown off the east coast of Florida.”
On March 6, 2018, leading recreational fishing and boating organizations submitted public comments to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in opposition to the misguided EFP.
“We greatly appreciate NOAA’s decision to keep the conservation zone off-limits to this destructive gear,” said Patrick Murray, president of Coastal Conservation Association. “Clearly the voices of recreational anglers and marine conservationists were heard. This is a great victory.”
An unintended benefit of the East Florida Coast PLL Closed Area has been the establishment in the region of the nation’s best sailfish fishery. The direct economic benefit to coastal recreational fishing-related businesses and coastal economies has been remarkable.
“Saltwater recreational fishing along the East Coast of Florida supports 35,523 jobs and has a sales impact of over $4 billion annually,” said Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association. “Much of this economic activity is attributed to the tremendous sailfish fishery that has been supported in large part by the East Florida Coast Pelagic Longline Closed Area. The recreational fishing industry is relieved by NOAA’s announcement to not put this conservation success at risk by allowing longlining back into the area.”
Ever since the fishery was deemed recovered, there have been ill-conceived attempts to reopen the closed areas to the types of intense commercial fishing pressure that drove it into an overfished condition in the first place. The permit denied by NOAA Fisheries would have authorized PLL vessels to make thousands of sets in the conservation zone for up to three years and sell all the legal fish caught.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
