Top 4 Reasons to Oppose Alternative 4

Comments are due Oct. 10 on a plan that can significantly impact recreational fishing access at Biscayne National Park. This is the last chance for the public to weigh in before the National Park Service picks its plan. One of the options, called Alternative 4, includes a marine reserve that would close a substantial area of the park to recreational fishing. Here are my top 4 reasons to oppose Alternative 4:

1. There are better tools in the tool box.
   A marine reserve should only be implemented as a measure of last resort after traditional fisheries management strategies have failed. In Biscayne National Park, reasonable options (like Alternatives 6 and 7) can still achieve resource conservation goals while allowing for public access.
2. Rough waters ahead…for the local economy.
   This closure could negatively impact hundreds of local recreational fishing-dependent businesses.  That means jobs lost and empty wallets.
3. What about tackling the real problems?
   A marine reserve will do nothing to address the true threats to the aquatic resources in Biscayne National Park.  Poor water quality, warming waters, ocean acidification and invasive species aren’t improved because fishing is closed – they’re just ignored.
4. The point of no return.
   Once we lose fishing access here, we will likely never get it back. This precedent could very easily spread to other popular fishing areas of Florida and beyond.