ALEXANDRIA, Va. — April 11, 2014 — Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Recreational Saltwater Fishing Summit, in Alexandria, Va., gathered recreational fishing leaders from around the country to discuss ways of improving the science, service and stewardship of America’s saltwater recreational resources. The last summit was held in 2010.
The summit’s agenda included developing an action plan to help the country shape fishing law. The Magnuson-Stevens Act, which governs commercial and recreational fishing, will come before Congress for reauthorization this year.
"There is a lot of positive energy in the room with more than a modest supply of hope and a commitment to follow through on key recreational issues," said Eileen Sobeck, NOAA's top fisheries executive, at the summit. "Resolving issues facing our fisheries today requires partnerships between managers, scientists and people who enjoy the resource. I commit that NOAA fisheries will actively engage the recreational fishing community, and we will do our part to find cooperative solutions.”
Key issues addressed at the summit focused in the areas of angler satisfaction, resource stewardship, science and data — both biological and socio-economic — successful relationships between fish managers and anglers as well as regional engagement and collaboration.