A little update from 3/21/2012
Recreational Fishing Alliance (NJ)
Contact: Jim Hutchinson, Jr. / 888-564-6732 For Immediate Release
March 26, 2012
RFA PRAISES NJ ANGLERS FOR PRESSING CONGRESS
NJ Present & Future Members of Congress Support Anglers' "Rights"
New Jersey anglers, their elected officials, and even the state's next U.S. Senator turned out in support of the March 21, 2012 fishermen's rally in Washington DC.
The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) said the line-up of New Jersey members of Congress who took to the stage last Wednesday was impressive and proved that New Jersey's fishermen are leading the charge in helping address the serious management flaws impacting present and future access to sustainable fisheries.
"Our anglers aren't trying to unravel the federal fisheries law, we're simply asking Congress to address the unreasonable measures which were written in by those who oppose the sensible balance of commerce and conservation," said RFA executive director Jim Donofrio.
Two particular bills designed to amend the federal Magnuson-Stevens Act in Congress to help provide fishermen with reasonable access to coastal fisheries were highlights of last week's rally, and also boast the support of key New Jersey lawmakers. RFA said the most comprehensive reform bill is the Flexibility and Access in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act (HR3061) introduced by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ6) with U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (D-NJ2), two of the speakers at last week's rally.
The 'flexibility bill' would incorporate limited management flexibility in meeting arbitrary rebuilding deadlines, mandate that socioeconomic data is provided by regional fisheries councils to determine how management decisions will impact coastal fishing communities and would allow the Secretary of Commerce to suspend 'hard' annual catch limits & accountability measures when certain National Standards weren't met by NOAA Fisheries with regard to the 'best available science.'
"I'm proud to join with recreational and commercial fishermen to fight for this bill," said Pallone, adding "I believe it would address burdensome catch limits and protect fishermen jobs, while ensuring that our fisheries remain sustainable for generations to come," he added
HR3061 also would call upon the National Research Council to perform a comprehensive review of the data collection improvements made by NOAA Fisheries as per the last reauthorization of Magnuson in 2006, something which the federal fisheries service has not yet accomplished despite the Congressional mandate.
"This is about getting NOAA out of your boat and out of your baitbox," Rep. Frank Lobiondo told the crowd gathered at Upper Senate Park near the U.S. Capitol last week.
A second piece of legislation called the American Angler Preservation Act (HR1664) introduced by Rep. Jon Runyan (R-NJ3) also would add flexibility to rebuilding schedules when jobs are at stake. "Coastal communities in Ocean County and across the nation depend on this industry," said Rep. Runyan, while adding "the bottom line is that we need common sense reforms to our nation's fishing laws so that we can remove the job-killing regulations that are imposed on fishermen" he added.
"I was grateful for the opportunity to address this important gathering and speak about the need to protect New Jersey's fishing industry and the blue-collar jobs it creates," Runyan said of the rally.
Donofrio said he was equally appreciative of those legislators who took time during a heavy voting day in Congress to address the concerns of those fishermen who piled onto New Jersey buses from Atlantic Highlands, Brielle, Barnegat Light and Wildwood for the 7-hour round trip to DC last Wednesday; though he did reserve some criticism for New Jersey's two U.S. senators who have refused to acknowledge that the federal fisheries law is broken.
"The overfishing concerns in America can be addressed without simply ceasing all fishing activity, and while our House Members are starting to understand just how serious this issue has become, our U.S. Senators in New Jersey have been completely missing in action," Donofrio said. "This November, RFA hopes members will help fix that problem by voting for Joe Kyrillos as U.S. Senator from the Garden State."
While incumbent Senators from New Jersey were a no-show at last week's rally, State Senator Joe Kyrillos demonstrated his support for coastal fishermen by attending the rally to address the assembled fleet. "One of the most precious resources of New Jersey is our 130 miles of coastline." Kyrillos said following the rally, adding "as a coastal representative in the statehouse, I have been a tireless advocate for our recreational and commercial fishermen."
"My agenda in Washington will continue my effort to ensure proper fishery management so that the rights of saltwater anglers are protected. Because of a broken federal fisheries law that needs amending and because Bob Menendez has been silent on this issue, fishermen across the State of New Jersey do not have access to healthy stocks of fish," Kyrillos said.
"Bob Menendez's silence on this issue is all the more shocking since this is a jobs issue for both the recreational and commercial fishing sector," Kyrillos said, adding "The marine, boat and tackle industry is not just an important economic engine across the country, but a vital one for the state of New Jersey."
"During these unstable economic times, it is critical that we fight for every single job and we can do that in New Jersey and across the country by safeguarding the rights of saltwater anglers," he added.
RFA said a Senate version of the 'flexibility bill' was introduced last year by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) which has the support of fellow legislators and rally speakers like Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC). Donofrio said the fact that neither New Jersey Senator has signed on to support the reforms nor had interest in addressing the anglers at the March 21 rally should be remembered by fishermen this November when it comes time to vote.
"Sen. Kyrillos has reached out to the fishing community over the past 8 months, visiting the most important ports in New Jersey and sitting down with members of our coastal districts, and he has really taken the time to understand our concerns," said Donofrio recently in announcing the RFA's support for Kyrillos in the upcoming election.
"Sen. Kyrillos is a man of great integrity and is well-liked and respected by members of both parties in Trenton, which is precisely the quality of character that's sorely needed in Washington DC right now," he added.
About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit
www.joinrfa.org.
