SavingSeaFood - Florida Fishing Industry Reps Say D.C. Trip Was Successful

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Florida Fishing Industry Reps Say D.C. Trip Was Successful

Local seafood industry representatives are back from a lobbying trip to Washington D.C. They’re biggest concerns have been the “catch-share” program and the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which establishes catch limits for fish.

Charter Boat Captain Bob Zales II was back on the water Thursday, after spending the previous three days in Washington D.C.

He joined a local fishing industry group to meet with members of Congress over several issues that adversely effect his livelihood, like the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

They also told lawmakers why they're opposed to NOAA’s “catch-share” program, meant to reduce over-fishing.

"We feel that the program's not good for business. It's not good for tourism and it's certainly not good for the business operators that will be put out of work due to the catch-share program,” said Anderson.

Read the complete story from WJHG.

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May 22, 2012 - Listening to the New England Council's Groundfish Advisory Panel talk about how that industry is going to pay for monitoring costs is kind of like trying to figure out how to pay your bills when you've just lost your job. Though monitoring is important keeping costs down is critical. As Panel Member Gary Libby pointed out, "If we had 100 percent monitoring we probably wouldn't have an industry."

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