By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director
A resolution supporting federal fishery management reforms benefitting recreational anglers recently passed both legislative chambers in Mississippi.
Authored by National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Executive Council Member Representative Scott Bounds and cosponsored by several members of the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, HCR 82 supports increased access and opportunity for recreational anglers through the encouraged adoption and implementation of the various provisions within the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act (HR 200) and the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017 (S. 1520).
Specifically, the resolution supports the proposed legislation’s ability to: provide flexibility to rebuilding plans; provide alternative management strategies; increase public involvement and transparency when scientific data are developed; facilitate greater incorporation of data, analysis, stock assessments and surveys from state agencies and nongovernmental sources; and repeal Section 407d of the Act, which would give the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council the authority to use alternative fishery management measures for recreational fisheries.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation continues to work with elected officials and members of the recreational angling community to support decisions at the Gulf Council level, and also at the federal level, that will benefit America’s 11 million recreational anglers as well as protect and promote their economic output.i
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?
