Tag Archives: Recreational Fishing Alliance

Recreational Fishing Alliance opposes longliner return to Florida’s East Coast

The National Marine Fisheries Service recently announced that it had approved an Exempted Fishing Permit that would allow commercial longline vessels to re-enter the Florida East Coast Closed Zone and target swordfish. The Closed Zone, established in 2001, was created to primarily protect juvenile swordfish as well as other species killed as by catch in the longline fishery that was ...

Read More »

Bipartisan senators introduce the Modern Fish Act

The recreational fishing and boating community praised the Senate introduction of the Modern Fish Act by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Kennedy (R-La.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). The “Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017” (Modern Fish Act) would improve public access to America’s federal waters, promote conservation of our natural ...

Read More »

New Jersey 1st District legislators fighting to increase funding for the Bureau of Marine Fisheries

The New Jersey legislature is close to passing a FY 2018 budget for the state. In February, Governor Chris Christie submitted his $35.5 billion proposed budget.  The proposed budget included $2.34 million for Shellfish and Marine Fisheries and maintains the number of full-time positions at 34.   “These proposed funding levels are flat-line relative to 2017 and are far too ...

Read More »

Fishing, boating advocates praise Modern Fish Act

A coalition of boating and recreational fishing associations praised the introduction of a bill that addresses critical challenges facing saltwater recreational fishing at the federal level. Led by Congressmen Garret Graves (R-La.), Gene Green (D-Texas), Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.), the “Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017” (Modern Fish Act) would improve public access to America’s federal ...

Read More »

RFA urges action on marine sanctuaries, welcomes new commerce secretary

The Recreational Fishing Alliance on Thursday extended its congratulations to newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.,and at the same time urged the new secretary to slow the creation of new marine sanctuaries. “We’re hopeful that, with Secretary Ross’s business experience and President Trump’s leadership, the recreational fishing industry will grow and more fishing opportunities will become ...

Read More »

RFA welcomes Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross

The Recreational Fishing Alliance is congratulating Wilbur Ross on his approval this week as Secretary of Commerce by a 72-27 vote in the U.S. Senate. The Department of Commerce oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service, the two federal agencies that hold primary authority to implement and enforce federal fisheries laws such as the ...

Read More »

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 ...

Read More »

Industry applauds new NOAA fisheries, Magnuson-Stevens guidelines

Changes to national standards for Magnuson-Stevens are receiving accolades from the recreational fishing industry. NOAA Fisheries last week filed in the Federal Register its final rule to revise the guidelines for National Standards (NS) 1, 3, and 7 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).    MSA contains 10 national standards which guide the contents and objectives of federal ...

Read More »

RFA urges members speak out against ethanol mandate

The Recreational Fishing Alliance is encouraging its members to take action on ethanol by participating in a campaign being conducted through Boating United, a grassroots platform organized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. In May, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed increasing renewable fuel volume requirements for 2017. The announcement was met with dismay from NMMA and other industry associations, which ...

Read More »