I recieved this from Patrick, President of the MSBA
Quote:
Dear RFA Member and Massachusetts Angler:
As you know, recreational fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Massachusetts. It adds to the quality of life and the economy in our state. Recreational fishermen have long demonstrated a commitment to conservation through abidance with minimum size requirements, bag limits, seasonal closures, and the use of non-lethal rod and reel fishing gear. Yet, some environmental groups are now pushing to keep us out of vast areas of our oceans by creating no fishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The RFA is not willing to stand down and watch recreational fishermen get shut out of MPAs. Therefore, we have launched a national initiative to introduce "Freedom to Fish" legislation in our coastal states.
Rod and reel fishing is a highly selective, inherently inefficient method of catching fish that traditionally has not led to overfishing. Those pushing for no fishing MPAs are lumping rod and reel anglers into the same category as trawlers using huge nets. It's time for everyone who cares about marine fisheries to focus on specific fishing gear that's causing specific conservation problems. Right now, recreational and commercial fishermen in California are facing a closure of some of their state's best fishing grounds around the Channel Islands. Make no mistake about it; California is just the starting point. Many environmental groups have made it clear in their own literature and public statements that their goal is to permanently close vast areas of federal and state waters around the country to all types of fishing.
The RFA Massachusetts (here originally said state) "Freedom to Fish" bill prohibits closures to rod and reel fishing unless there is a clear indication that it is the cause of a specific conservation problem. Further, the bill requires periodic review of any closure and provisions to reopen areas to rod and reel fishing whenever the basis for a closure no longer exists.
We expect strong opposition to the bill from environmental extremists. RFA-MA is preparing to initiate a well-organized grassroots campaign. As in any political battle, we need the support of members like you. To learn more about the campaign and what you can do to help, RFA, Massachusetts Striped Bass Association (MSBA) and other RFA affiliated organizations will hold a campaign-organizing meeting on March 20th, at 7pm. The meeting will be held at the Viking Club, located at 410 Quincy Avenue, Route 53, in Braintree. For directions and to let us know if you will be attending, or if you cannot attend but would still like to be involved, Call Patrick Parquette at ###-#### or visit the MSBA website at http://www.msba.net.
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From what I've seen so far, I fully support this and think this site should as well. While I'm not in favor of MPAs, I'm certainly not in favor of excluding people that have had virtually no impact on the environment and fisheries to warrant anything even close to this....
I realize there has been discussion on this with other states an am interested in any comments resulting from that. I am also curious to hear the Rhody version (if there is to be a RI version)
Thanks,
John
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