South Atlantic Bottom Fishing Delay Update

[YOLO]

For Immediate Release
Mary Jane Williamson, Communications Director,
mjwilliamson@asafishing.org, 703-519-9691, x227
http://www.asafishing.org

Recreational Fishing and Boating Community Supports Delay on
Bottom Fishing Ban in the South Atlantic
Although delay is good news; the only permanent solution is by legislation



Alexandria, VA – Dec. 3, 2010 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), Center
for Coastal Conservation, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, International Game
Fish Association and the National Marine Manufacturers Association support the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA
Fisheries) decision to delay a ban on all bottom fishing in a 5,000 square mile area of
the South Atlantic until June 2011. An already existing ban on commercial and
recreational fishing for red snapper in federal waters from North Carolina to northeast
Florida remains in effect. NOAA Fisheries is delaying implementing the ban on bottom-
fishing until June to allow time to consider the results of a new scientific assessment of
red snapper. According to NOAA Fisheries, the red snapper population is in better
condition than was previously estimated.

“The sportfishing industry and the recreational fishing and boating community are very
glad for this reprieve,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “We thank NOAA
Fisheries for listening to our concerns and our request to conduct a new red snapper
assessment before making a decision that would have profound social and economic
impacts on the South Atlantic region.”

In June, ASA released an economic study that highlights the economic battering the
southeast recreational fishing retail market would take should the current red snapper
fishing ban in federal waters be expanded to all bottom fishing. The survey data showed
that roughly 1,300 stores selling bait and tackle will be directly affected by the proposed
bottom fishing ban. These businesses will lose an estimated $78 million in sales in the
first year of the ban alone. This equates to an average loss of $60,000 in sales per store.
In addition, the survey found that 578 jobs will be affected. The study was conducted by
Georgetown Economic Services (GES), Washington, D.C. and furnished to NOAA and the
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Nussman further said, “Although today’s news is good, who knows what will happen six
months from now in the South Atlantic? What will happen when legally established
overfishing deadlines hit other fisheries lacking quality scientific data?”
Ending overfishing by the unprecedented 2010 and 2011 deadlines mandated in the
2006 Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act have compelled




NOAA Fisheries to consider a multi-species ban despite a dearth of evidence regarding
how rebuilding of red snapper stocks would be affected by continued fishing on other
stocks.

“We are glad that NOAA Fisheries has listened and acted on our requests and the entire
sportfishing community expresses its gratitude. However, the situation in the South
Atlantic is a stark reminder of how urgently a legislative fix is needed to prevent what is
clearly a dysfunctional management system of our public fishery resources,” said ASA
Vice President Gordon Robertson.

The crisis in federal marine fisheries management is generating growing support for a
legislative fix through the Fishery Conservation Transition Act (FCTA) which was
introduced in both the House and Senate. The FCTA was introduced by bi-partisan
Members of the U.S. Senate and House. Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and David Vitter (R-
LA) are co-sponsoring the Senate bill (S.3594). The House bill (H.R.6316) is co-authored
by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus co-chairmen Representatives Dan Boren (D-OK);
Paul Ryan (R-WS) and vice co-chairs Mike Ross (D-AR), and Jeff Miller (R-FL). Other co-
sponsors of the House measure include Representatives Rodney Alexander (R-LA);
Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam); Henry Brown (R-SC); Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Don
Young (R-AK).

This legislation has the backing of a broad coalition of recreational angling, boating and
industry groups who see a critical need to give federal marine fisheries managers the
time, resources and direction necessary to address chronic deficiencies in marine
fisheries data collection and science that have plagued federal fisheries management.

###



The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade
association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing
community. We give the industry a unified voice speaking out when emerging laws and
policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in
long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as
safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in
America. ASA also represents the interests of America’s 60 million anglers who generate
over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy
creating employment for over one million people.