Anglers unite on conservation issues - Boat U.S. Reports

Boat/US Magazine, May, 2003

Eighty representatives of the saltwater fishing and boating community met with leaders from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service to discuss marine conservation and recreation issues in St. Petersburg Beach, FL, Feb. 24-25. The group laid the groundwork for collaborative approaches to improve marine policymaking that will better represent the agency's recreational fishing and boating constituency.

Billed as the Sportsfishing Leadership Conference, the event was co-sponsored by BoatU.S., the Billfish Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association, International Game Fish Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, and Recreational Fishing Alliance.

A series of panel presentations covered such topics as catch allocations for commercial and recreational fishing, representation on the eight regional fisheries management councils and the role of marine protected areas in marine resource management. The group made key recommendations to Dr. William Hogarth, NOAA's assistant administrator for fisheries, and senior NOAA officials. For more information, contact eangler@boatus.com.