Conservation is the goal of sportfishermen

By: BOB FLETCHER - Commentary | Sunday, October 21, 2007 7:05 PM PDT ∞

In response to Dave Downey's Oct. 11 article, "Reaching the point of no return": Like the little boy who cried wolf, there always seems to be someone who is saying, "There is a huge overfishing problem" and that "we are taking too many fish out of the ocean." As it turns out, these cries are false and based on emotion, not scientifically based information.

Recreational fishermen are stewards of the environment and advocates for sustainable fishing and conservation. They and the public are aligned in their support for the conservation and protection of fish species and the oceans today, and for future generations. 

Protecting the health of California's ocean environment without unnecessary closures of California coastal waters to recreational fishing is the overwhelming message from the results of a field poll released this week by California-based Field Research Corporation (www.keepamericafishing.org/fieldsurvey.asp).

More importantly, recreational fishermen want to protect the health of the ocean while preventing unnecessary closures to fishing along the California coastline. That's why a coalition of recreational fishermen's organizations has united to ensure that people who fish and boat have a voice in the implementation and outcome of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative process.

Recreational fishermen are especially concerned about the unnecessary closures of California's coastal fishing areas. They support the Blue Ribbon Task Force's mandate under the state's MLPA Initiative to examine all the options available to them to prevent harm to our oceans.

As residents and taxpayers, neighbors and friends, we share the public's concern about the future of our oceans. However, recreational fishermen and the general public do not support proposals that include a blanket ban or unnecessarily restrict public access to public resources. We agree with a large number of Californians who believe that closures could have a significant negative impact on local economies.

Let's not forget the economic activity of the recreational fishing community. At $336 million, California earns more state and local tax revenues from recreational fishing than most other states. The most recent figures available on total recreational fishing retail sales in California are $2.7 billion. (Source: USFW/ASA Sportfishing in America). These dollars then supported $2.3 billion in economic activity, plus 19,900 California jobs, which generated $161 million in California state and local taxes, paying $737 million in California salaries and wages.

Finally, and most importantly, recreational fishermen are concerned about the health of the ocean environment and endangered fish species. It is in the recreational fisherman's self-interest to protect fish and sensitive habitat so that the tradition of fishing can be passed down to our children and grandchildren. There's no need to cry wolf. 

Bob Fletcher is the president of the Sportfishing Association of California. Born and raised in San Diego, Fletcher grew up on, in or under California's coastal waters.