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U.S.
House Passes Modern Fish Act
First-Ever
Sportfishing-Focused Legislation to Pass Congress Heads to President's
Desk
Washington,
D.C. - December 19, 2018 - Today, the U.S.
House of Representatives passed S.1520, the Modernizing Recreational
Fisheries Management Act of 2017 (Modern Fish Act). Today's vote was the
final step toward sending the landmark legislation to the President's
desk after it passed the
Senate on December 17.
"The
Modern Fish Act is the most significant update to America's saltwater
fishing regulations in more than 40 years and the recreational fishing
community couldn't be more excited," said Johnny Morris, noted
conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops.
"On behalf of America's 11 million saltwater anglers, we're grateful
to Speaker Ryan, the 115th Congress and all the elected leaders who came
together to support and enhance recreational fishing across America."
The
priorities of the recreational fishing and boating community were
identified and presented to federal policy makers in 2014 by the
Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management in a report
"A Vision for Managing America's Saltwater Recreational
Fisheries." The Commission was known as the Morris-Deal Commission,
named for co-chairs Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, and Scott
Deal, president of Maverick Boat Group. Four years later, many of the
recommendations of the Morris-Deal Commission are found in the Modern
Fish Act.
"America's
anglers and members of the recreational fishing and boating industry are
among the most responsible stewards of our marine resources because
healthy fisheries and the future of recreational fishing go
hand-in-hand," said Scott Deal, president of Maverick Boat
Group. "A huge thank you to our
congressional leaders who answered the call of the recreational fishing
community to improve the way our fisheries are managed."
America's 11
million saltwater anglers have a $63 billion economic impact annually and
generate 440,000 jobs, including thousands of manufacturing and supply
jobs in non-coastal states. Furthermore, $1.3 billion is contributed
annually by anglers and boaters through excise taxes and licensing fees,
most of which goes toward conservation, boating safety and
infrastructure, and habitat restoration.
"It is a
historic day for America's 11 million saltwater anglers thanks Senator
Roger Wicker, Congressman Garret Graves and our many champions in
Congress who fought until the very end for recreational fishing to be
properly recognized in federal law," said Jeff Angers, president of
the Center for
Sportfishing Policy. "For
the first time ever, Congress is sending a sportfishing-focused bill to
the President's desk."
The Modern
Fish Act will provide more stability and better access for anglers by:
- Providing
authority and direction to NOAA Fisheries to apply additional
management tools more appropriate for recreational fishing, many of
which are successfully implemented by state fisheries agencies
(e.g., extraction rates, fishing mortality targets, harvest control
rules, or traditional or cultural practices of native communities);
- Improving
recreational harvest data collection by requiring federal
managers to explore other data sources that have tremendous
potential to improve the accuracy and timeliness of harvest
estimates, such as state-driven programs and electronic reporting
(e.g., through smartphone apps);
- Requiring the Comptroller General of the
United States to conduct a study on the process of mixed-use fishery
allocation review by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Regional
Fishery Management Councils and report findings to Congress within
one year of enactment of the Modern Fish Act, and
- Requiring the National Academies of
Sciences to complete a study and provide recommendations within two
years of the enactment of the Modern Fish Act on limited access
privilege programs (catch shares) including an assessment of the
social, economic, and ecological effects of the program, considering
each sector of a mixed-use fishery and related businesses, coastal
communities, and the environment and an assessment of any impacts to
stakeholders in a mixed-use fishery caused by a limited access
privilege program. This study excludes the Pacific and North Pacific
Regional Fishery Management Councils.
America's recreational fishing and boating
community applauds Congress for this historic vote and looks forward to
final enactment of the Modern Fish Act following the President's
signature.
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