IS RECREATIONAL FISHING BEING BANNED?


A recent national opinion piece has ignited a firestorm this week concerning the efforts of the Obama Administration's Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and its involvement in implementing a policy of "marine spatial planning" that could ultimately effect the management of and public access to the nation's natural public resources. The column comes three weeks after the closing of the public comment period by the Presidential task force and on the heels of the historic fishermen's rally at the Capitol on February 24 coordinated by the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and its allied groups.

Recent press releases issued by some sportfishing industry and angling conservation groups have expressed dismay at the unwillingness of administrators to listen to their recommendations. None of this comes as a surprise to the RFA. More troubling is that some of these same insiders have shown a willingness under past administrations to accept use of executive privilege in managing coastal access while fruitlessly participating in the new administration's new bureaucratic task force process.

"The goal of the key players in the process, specifically the Pew Environment Group and its minions, is to attempt to implement through Executive Order what they had failed to accomplish through the legislative process," said Jim Donofrio, RFA Executive Director. "We welcome those organizations who feel disenfranchised by the task force to join us in working to prevent what is the usurpation of the management of this nation's fisheries, oceans, coastal waters and the Great Lakes for ideological reasons," Donofrio said.

The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force led by the White House Council on Environmental Policy was established by President Obama on June 12, 2009. According to the Presidential memorandum, the task force was charged with developing a national policy for the protection, maintenance and restoration of U.S. oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes. "It will also recommend a framework for improved stewardship and effective coastal and marine special planning," the White House said in June.

The same month the task force was established, Donofrio was invited to testify before congress in opposition to legislation sponsored by California Democrat Rep. Sam Farr (H.R. 21), a bill which would establish a new national policy for our oceans. In a release issued last fall, Donofrio said the RFA was unnerved by glaring similarities of the new report and Rep. Farr's H.R. 21, the Ocean Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act (aptly referred to as Oceans 21). "This appears to be an attempt by the Executive branch to circumvent the established legislative process and enact policy that failed as legislation 5 years in a row," Donofrio said, adding "RFA believes enacting laws through Executive order and proclamation sets a dangerous precedence."

Oceans 21 has failed to gain Congressional support because of its ability to restrict access to public resources while creating a new bureaucratic hierarchy with unprecedented power to regulate fisheries and implement ocean zoning without oversight or public input. The RFA has been in the forefront of exposing Oceans 21 and is a leader in preventing its passage. On June 18, 2009, the RFA was the only national fishing organization that testified before Congress in opposition of the bill.

"Recreational fishermen have been watching fisheries management in this country literally get hijacked by preservationists," Donofrio said this week in response to the national news headlines indicating the president was going to ban recreational fishing. "I don't think this president would consider banning recreational fishing outright, but it's clear to us that the Obama Administration would like to severely restrict recreational fishing." Donofrio said RFA and others are troubled by the number of staffers within the Administration who have direct ties to Pew.

RFA said the good part about the recent headlines is that people are opening their eyes to the fact that "the fisheries management system is broken" and in need of repair. "Are we concerned about realities regarding the task force? Yes we are, and that's the hijacking of H.R. 21, a bill that would set up such an incredible bureaucratic infrastructure that Americans would indeed have a hard time finding fishing opportunities," Donofrio said.

Records show that groups like Pew and the David & Lucille Packard Foundation have used funds to support implementation of marine protected areas, denying public access to large areas of coastal waters. "Years ago, Pew and Packard had a dream of creating blanket marine reserves across the country through the legislative process, but that quickly fell apart when Congress wouldn't support it so they moved into the states," Donofrio said. "True, they found certain governments like California very supportive of efforts to institute blanket closures, but they never gave up their goal of getting us all off the water by whatever means possible," he said. Donofrio explained that Pew-funded groups worked hard to push rigid "overfishing" language into the Magnuson Stevens Act during the 2006 reauthorization debate.

"Essentially, Pew was able to create these de facto reserves which make fishing opportunities so incredibly hard. Take for example red snapper and other important snapper/grouper which are off limits to recreational anglers in the south Atlantic despite rebuilding progress," Donofrio said. "Pew's stacked the task force deck, and they've even got one of their Pew Fellowship award-winners as head of the fisheries service, it's certainly troubling."

Dr, Jane Lubchenco, who the President appointed to run NOAA Fisheries in 2009, is also a past member of the Pew Oceans Commission, the steering committee of the Joint Oceans Commission Initiative, and a director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, SeaWeb, and Environmental Defense all of which are Pew funding recipients. Dr. Lubchenco also serves as Trustee Emerita of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

"Dr. Luchenco currently sits atop a growing number of appointees who are pushing an agenda of ocean zoning, catch shares and Draconian regulatory actions that are severely hindering our ability to fish with resulting negative impacts on the economy and significant job losses," said Donofrio who pointed out that it's been this apparent "takeover of fisheries management" which led to the fishermen's rally in Washington DC on February 24 which drew an estimated crowd of over 4,000 fishermen in support of the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act (H.R. 1585 and S. 1255).

Read more from RFA Press Releases
10/23/2009 - 12 Million U.S. Saltwater Anglers Ignored - www.joinrfa.org/Press/TaskForce_102309.pdf
6/24/2009 - RFA Testifies Before Congress - www.joinrfa.org/Press/RFACongress_062309.pdf

The complete opposite of the supportive trout groups mentioned in the thread that was closed. I have to agree with the RFA on this one.

Hey Chris, I believe his name was Hutchinson.

Great Post Chris. I hope you don't mind, but I shortened the article and included commentary in hopes that more CTFers will be encouraged to read it. Also, note that the article states "other organizations" are involved and further states that the PEM Environment Group is moving into the states; They have already influenced CA. We have a state organization that is fighting for our rights and will be the key force that over turns the "FEES INCREASE", Coalition Of CT Sportsmen, http://www.ctsportsmen.com/. They need our support also. We need all the help we can get.

The Summary Follows(If anyone feels I have misinterpreted the article please correct)



Many bureaucratic insiders have shown to accept use of executive privilege in managing coastal access

•"The goal is to implement through Executive Order what had failed to be accomplished through the legislative process,

. Join the RFA (and CT Coalition of Sportsmen (http://www.ctsportsmen.com/)) in working to prevent what is the usurpation of the management of this nation's and states fisheries, oceans, coastal waters and the Great Lakes for ideological reasons.

•The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force led by the White House Council on Environmental Policy is charged with developing a national policy; it will recommend a framework for improved stewardship and effective coastal and marine special planning

•,H.R 21, which would kill the established Congressional process and enact policy that Congress killed 5 years in a row. (Our elect representatives are being overruled by a bureaucracy!!)

•H.R 21 was not passed because it could restrict access to public resources while creating new bureaucratic agencies with unprecedented power to regulate fisheries without oversight or public input.

. H.R. 21, a bill that would set up such an incredible bureaucratic infrastructure that could limit fishing opportunities

•"Recreational fishermen have been watching

((WE need CTF as a group to be involved)

fisheries management in this country literally get hijacked by preservationists. There are a number of White House staffers who have direct ties to ***Pew (See Pew Environment Group’s Mission Statement)p at the end of this summary).

o Pew wants to create a blanket marine reserves across the country through the legislative process, but Congress wouldn't support it so they moved into the states,"(Can’t get away from it by moving out of state or the country. PEW’s reach is international (Can't run from it CTFers)
• Pew funds support to deny public access to large areas of coastal waters.
o for example red snapper/grouper which are off limits to recreational anglers in the south Atlantic despite rebuilding progress.
o Pew's stacked the task force deck. They are taking over fisheries management

Fishermen support of the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act (H.R. 1585 and S. 1255).*** PEW Mission Statement (in part)
(Tony Mel’s opinion: There are many aspects of PEW’s objectives that could be supported by CTFers, but unless we protect Recreational Fishing through an organized effort in CT and nationally, our “Baby (rec fishing) will be thrown out with the Bath water”)

Many of our natural systems have been pushed to the breaking point.

Greenhouse gases are changing the planet’s natural systems.. Overfishing and pollution have ravaged the oceans.
Pew is a major force in educating the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences and solutions to environmental problems..

Pew’s environmental activities have grown steadily over the past two decades, as has our staff of attorneys, scientists, economists, media professionals and campaign advocates. Much of our work is done through the following campaigns.


Protecting Ocean Life
Our marine work is aimed at preserving the biological integrity of marine ecosystems and primarily focuses on efforts to curb overfishing, reduce bycatch and prevent the destruction of marine habitat.

•
Wilderness Protection and Public Lands
Pew works to protect wilderness areas and public lands, both within the United States and around the globe.
Read More

•
Other Environmental Work
Pew is constantly seeking environmental projects where it can make a difference, such as the National Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production and the Northeast Land Trusts Consortium.
Read More

I just joined.

If I may, consider joining the Coalition of CT Sportsmen. (Mitch, if you think this should be moved, please, do so.)

Application Form: http://www.ctsportsmen.com/form.htm

The Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen is the only state sportsmen’s organization singularly dedicated to the protection, promotion and preservation of hunting, fishing, trapping and the scientific wildlife management programs which support them; Right to Keep and Bear Arms Constitutional provisions; Boating; Land use; and other sportsmen associated issues through legislative lobbying, legal defense in the courts, and political action. No other state sportsmen organization has as its sole purpose these activities. The Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen takes pride in its unsurpassed achievement and service to all of the Connecticut sportsmen’s community.
The success of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen hinges upon each sportsmen’s personal involvement and active participation in the Legislative process. You can help CCS meet its goals by becoming concerned, active, and vocal; volunteering your time, energy, and resources to improve the laws and regulations affecting our activities; and by encouraging others to do the same.