Issues with Mass Senate Bill 529 - MPAs

[JohnR]

Well, here it is again, MPA talk as part of a Mass Bill. There is an upcoming meeting next Monday. If you can contact your senator and let it be known that you do not support the provisions for the MPAs (assuming you don't support MPAs)...

From the RFA:

Attached is a letter drafted by Michael Doebley which details the RFA's concerns with S529 (also known as the O'Leary Bill) as currently written. The hearing for the bill will be on Monday, July 18th, at the State House, at 1 pm in Room 1-A. Letters sent from your organizations or individual members based on this one would be great. Also, please encourage members to attend the hearing if at all possible.

The letter:

Lauren.Coughlin@state.ma.us

INSERT DATE HERE

Senator Pamela Resor

Representative Frank Smizik

Chairs, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, & Agriculture Room 473F
State House
Boston, MA 02133

Re: S526, An Act Relative to Comprehensive Ocean Resources Management



Dear Chairs Resor and Smizik:



As a resident of Massachusetts and a recreational fisherman, I must express my strong opposition to S529 as currently written. While I am supportive of the overall goals of this legislation, I believe the sections of the bill that address the issue of no-fishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) require substantial revisions before I can offer my support.



No-fishing MPAs are very controversial and would undoubtedly cause great social and economic harm in the coastal communities of Massachusetts.



The sections of S529 that address a process for how Massachusetts will determine where and under which conditions the marine waters of the Commonwealth could be closed to all fishing activities are in need of substantial revision. As currently written, I believe these sections of S529 leave the 1 million recreational anglers of Massachusetts vulnerable to the establishment of no-fishing zones based on political, philosophical, and profit-driven desires rather than science and necessity.

I respectfully request that the sponsors of the legislation and members of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture meet with representatives of the recreational fishing community to draft substitute language that establishes an unambiguous, science-based process for the consideration and possible implementation of no-fishing MPAs.

I wish to reemphasize that I appreciate the efforts of the sponsors of S529 and the members of the committee to improve how Massachusetts’ manages our oceans. I will strongly consider supporting S529 if my concerns are met.



Thank you for your consideration.

YOUR NAME

YOUR ADRESS