Fishing is critical to the recreational boating industry – more than 70 percent of all boat outings involve fishing
Key Facts
$115B
economic impact attributed to recreational anglers
828,800
U.S. jobs supported by recreational fishing
$38B
Conservation contributions, by anglers, since 1951
Recreational Boating Industry’s Top Policy Priorities
- Modernize and reauthorize the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
- Implement 30x30 protections that maintain reasonable and responsible access to recreation
- Pass the Forage Fish Conservation Act to require federal marine fisheries managers to better account for the role of forage fish in the ecosystem
- Establish a recreation advisory committee that advises the U.S. Department of Commerce on restoring marine ecosystems and improving access to national marine fisheries and sanctuaries
- Enact the Drift Gillnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act to phase in a ban on large mesh drift gillnets, which currently only operate off California
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Recreational Fishing Relies on Abundant Access and Healthy Ecosystems
[179.89 Kb] A one-pager outlining the industry’s top policy priorities to ensure abundant access and healthy ecosystems for recreational anglers.
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Comments: Recreational Boating and Fishing Community Outline Vision for 30x30 Initiative
[728.89 Kb] Industry stakeholders’ letter to NOAA Acting Administrator Benjamin Freidman, outlining vision for the 30x30 initiative.