U.S. Fisheries Service, BoatU.S. Team Up

An agreement with BoatU.S. signed June 16 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) establishes a partnership to involve more boaters and anglers in marine resource conservation and education. Under the agreement, BoatU.S. will promote the importance of marine sportfishing to policymakers while advocating responsible fishing practices for future anglers.

"We are delighted to enter into this partnership since BoatU.S. is uniquely capable of delivering innovative projects to the boating and fishing community," said Penny Dalton, NMFS director. "Marine anglers are an important constituency and this agreement will engage them in the fishery management process while keeping the lines of communication open through a respected advocacy group."

The agreement allows the two organizations to develop collaborative programs such as The Ethical Angler [R], launched last April. That partnership project is designed to help experienced anglers educate newcomers to the sport about responsible fishing practices. The two organizations are distributing a code of angling ethics developed by NMFS and redesigned for the consumer angler market by BoatU.S.

NMFS is responsible for the stewardship of living marine resources and habitat extending over more than two million square nautical miles of ocean and coastal areas known as the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. NMFS oversees activities that will increase recreational fishing opportunities by conserving, restoring, and enhancing marine ecosystems and fish populations; by increasing fishing access; through education and outreach; and by creating and strengthening intergovernmental and non-governmental partnerships such as this one with BoatU.S.