| PRESS RELEASE Recreational Fishing Alliance P.O. Box 3080 New Gretna, NJ 08224 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2004 Contact: Courtney Howell Phone: 1-888-JOIN-RFA Email: CHowellRFA@aol.com Maryland Freedom to Fish Act Signed Into Law Annapolis, MD - Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. signed the Maryland Freedom to Fish Act into law yesterday demonstrating his support for Maryland's fishermen and fishing industries. The law, sponsored primarily by Senator Roy Dyson and Delegate George Owings, establishes important standards that must be met before any of the state's waters can be closed off to fishermen. "This law recognizes the social and economic importance of recreational fishing and does a lot to help protect the rights of saltwater anglers in Maryland," said Michael Doebley, Deputy Director of Government Affairs for the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA). Under the new law the state would have to evaluate whether less severe management measures will be effective before an area is closed to recreational fishing. The law requires a scientific basis for the size of any closure, a program of monitoring a closed area to determine if the benefits of closing the area are being achieved, and provisions to reopen areas to recreational fishing whenever the basis for a closure no longer exists. The Maryland 'Freedom to Fish' initiative is part of the RFA's response to the radical environmental movement to close off vast areas of our waters by creating no fishing marine protected areas (MPAs), i.e. marine reserves. The RFA teamed up with friends from the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and others to produce this positive legislation. "This law is a win-win," said Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the RFA. "It protects public access to public resources while ensuring appropriate conservation of Maryland's marine resources." The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 1-888-JOIN-RFA. |