If you care about the future of saltwater recreational fishing, you need to speak up! NOAA Fisheries recently announced its plans to establish an agency-wide saltwater recreational fisheries policy, and is calling on anglers to help shape this landmark policy that will set a foundation for how NOAA Fisheries recognizes and considers recreational fishing going forward. 
For decades, many in the recreational fishing community have been critical of NOAA Fisheries for primarily focusing on commercial fisheries to the detriment of the nation’s 11 million saltwater anglers. Recognizing that its inattention has contributed to significant management problems, NOAA Fisheries leadership has committed to establish a national saltwater recreational fisheries policy to guide agency actions and decisions that affect recreational fishing.
To help ensure this policy is meaningful and makes a difference on the water, anglers like you need to speak up! Please attend the upcoming public town hall meeting and provide your thoughts on what key aspects need to go into NOAA Fisheries’ new saltwater recreational fisheries policy.
- June 17, 6:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn by the Bay
Portland, ME
For more information, please visit the National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy website.
For talking points to consider raising at the town hall meeting, the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, commonly known as the Morris-Deal Commission, produced a report that identifies the key issues and policies that must shape the future of saltwater recreational fisheries management. The Morris-Deal Report can be found here.
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