On May 18, the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils convened a Joint Workgroup via webinar to begin discussing opportunities to better manage recreational fisheries in their respective regions. This meeting was the result of a commitment by both Councils following a Council Coordinating Committee meeting last November in Silver Spring, Maryland, where the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Senior Director of Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy, Chris Horton, was given the opportunity to represent the recreational fishing community in a discussion on alternative management ideas in recreational fisheries.
Section 102 of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act (Modern Fish Act) of 2018 clarified that the regional fishery management councils, “Have the authority to use fishery management measures in a recreational fishery (or the recreational component of a mixed use fishery) in developing a fishery management plan, plan amendment, or proposed regulations, such as extraction rates, fishing mortality targets, harvest control rules, or traditional or cultural practices of native communities in such fishery or fishery component.” However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries has been reluctant to issue any guidance or encouragement for councils to use alternative measures and deferred to the councils to take such action.
“We’re very grateful for the leadership of the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils for taking the intent and opportunities provided by the Modern Fish Act seriously,” said Horton. “It’s difficult to successfully force some marine recreational fisheries, especially those in the Southeast, into the commercial fisheries management box, yet NOAA seems content with the status quo. No doubt changing NOAA’s management direction will be like changing a battleship’s course with a canoe paddle, but at least we have some strong rowers paddling in the right direction.”
During the meeting, the Joint Workgroup identified several goals they want to work toward, including:
The Joint Workgroup plans to convene again in late summer or early fall of 2020 to continue discussions of these measures and to consider which species may be good candidates for alternative management strategies.
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?
