NMMA Hosts Modern Fish Act Press Event with Senator Doug Jones
On Thursday, September 13, NMMA held a press call with Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) and recreational boating and angling leaders to discuss the importance of the Modern Fish Act. Nearly a dozen reporters attended the event, which led to multiple media stories.
According to an article by Rob Hotakainen of E&E News, soon after his election, Senator Jones was visited by hundreds of constituents who asked him to modernize federal fishing laws – and it worked:
“It paid off: Jones yesterday said it's time for Congress to pass the ‘Modern Fish Act,’ a bill that would make it easier for regulators to extend rebuilding schedules for threatened fish stocks.
“And he rejected criticism by opponents who fear that the bill, sponsored by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), would lead to overfishing.
"’The last thing I know my folks in Alabama want is for one of their favorite hobbies and pastimes to be threatened by overfishing,’ Jones told reporters in a conference call.”
Click here to read the full E&E News story: https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2018/09/14/stories/1060096993
Reagan Haynes of Trade Only Today published a piece titled, “Alabama senator supports bipartisan fishing bill,” that provides additional context:
“’It didn’t take long for me to understand how important this was to my state,’ said Jones, an Alabama Democrat, on a conference call Thursday. ‘Anglers, boaters and all Alabamans are counting on this legislation.’
“The bill has passed committee in both the House and the Senate, and has been passed by the House. It’s awaiting passage in the Senate, in part due to the difficulty scheduling floor time.
“Boaters and recreational anglers contribute $600 million a year, through excise taxes on boats and other equipment, to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
“’Recreational boaters and anglers are our country’s original conservationists and directly contribute to conservation [through the fund],’ Jones said.”
Click here to read the full Trade Only Today story: https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/industry-news/alabama-senator-supports-bipartisan-fishing-bill
Prior to the event, NMMA issued a Boating United alert encouraging all industry stakeholders to call their senators and tell them to pass the Modern Fish Act. The alert comes as the U.S. Senate considers voting on the bill this month.
Click here to take action now: https://www.votervoice.net/NMMA/Campaigns/60049/Respond
For more information, please contact NMMA Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Legal Affairs, Nicole Vasilaros at [email protected].