By Rodney Smith
If you look closely at the upcoming fourth ten-year revision and re-authorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act it will become clear how the recreational fishing industry and anglers suffer most when politics and conservation collide.
A closer look will also reveal how easy it is to take one-side or the other in this politico landmine or goldmine, depending on which angle you’re siding with, in this federal fisheries management arena created by congress. This is a feast for the partisan beast that keeps our country from moving forward on several extremely important social, economical and environmental issues.
Keep in mind that the partisan beast loves it when in this case one side, let’s refer to them as shareholders, and the other side, refer to them as environmentalist state “They’re our fish! Save them for us!”
While no one knows how this politico fiasco will play out in the coming months, I do predict it will continue to highlight division and not synergy. And, unfortunately we believe recreational anglers and fishing related businesses will suffer if we continue to follow the partisan course.
Clearly it has been the inability of left and right politics to agree or at least come to a reasonable compromise which has resulted in a re-authorized Magnuson-Stevens Act that is bogged down in political red tape and lacks the clear direction and horsepower it requires to make meaningful and necessary change for our fisheries. The victims of all this (besides the fish) are anglers and businesses that cater to recreational fishing.