In its barely disguised campaign to tear a chunk from the hides of watermen under the guise of conservation, the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association is asking the governor and Department of Natural Resources officials to slash the annual commercial striped bass harvest from 42.5 percent of the state’s total take to 10 percent.
The MSSA’s letter reminds Maryland’s leaders that “the social and economic impacts of recreational fishing on our state are irrefutable” while “the value for the fish on the commercial market has been stagnant at best.” The value of recreational fishing, according to the letter is “over a $1 billion.”
Recreational angling, one billion bucks—that sounded familiar. So I Googled those terms and it seems we, in Maryland, are not alone. Turns out there are lots of fishy billionaires around:
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries: “Louisiana anglers generate approximately $1 billion in retail sales related to recreational fishing activity every year.”
Read the complete piece from the Baltimore Sun.