RFA applauds Trump’s election, anticipates ‘positive change’
The Recreational Fishing Alliance said it “anticipates positive change under President Trump’s leadership” in a statement released Wednesday.
The RFA’s Executive Director Jim Donofrio “couldn’t have been more pleased,” the group said.
“The RFA was the only sport fishing organization in the country that supported and publicly endorsed Mr. Trump right from the beginning,” said Donofrio. “He obviously understands business as well as anyone, and we quickly realized that an administration under his leadership would benefit the recreational fishing industry, particularly those in the manufacturing sector such as boat and engine builders and tackle companies, which have been operating under increasing governmental restrictions for years. We believe these businesses will now be better able to improve their products and expand their markets as we move forward.”
The RFA also said it is optimistic that the new administration will provide a more balanced approach to managing the country’s marine resources.
“The days of the environmental zealots running the show are, for the most part, over,” continued Donofrio. “I think we’ll start to see a more balanced approach between access to our resources, responsible stewardship, and common-sense conservation. This, of course, has always been a major goal of the RFA, but in many arenas it’s been an uphill battle. So, we’re excited about this new direction, and look forward to some positive changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act that will benefit our sector, along with a new attitude towards fishery management.”
The RFA said it also hopes that President-elect Trump will reverse the executive action taken by President Obama to designate areas of the oceans as national monuments and restricting fishing in those areas.
“We’re hoping that President Trump will reverse some of these designations in the near future,” said Donofrio. “They represent an unacceptable level of governmental overreach, and we already have a transparent public process to manage our resources in the form of the Magnuson Act.”
