April 10, 2014 — Last week I attended NOAA's Recreational Saltwater Fishing Summit in Alexandria, VA with Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet and Capt. Rick Bellavance of Priority Too Charters, Pt. Judith. This was quite a showing for Rhode Island as we were three of the 70 recreational fishermen, charter captains, boat manufacturers and fisheries policy makers attending the Summit.
The Summit 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 Recreational Summit was held in 2010.
Capt. Bellavance gave a presentation on fishing data collection and the RI Fish for the Future's efforts (a pilot project that ran this summer) in which eight RI charter captains recorded and collected their catch data in real time on computer tablets on their vessels. Capt. Bellavance said, "I guess you might say I'm a data geek… I believe good reliable data is necessary for effective management."
The Summit's agenda included developing an action plan that would help the Country shape fishing law as the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) that governs commercial and recreational fishing will be coming before congress for Reauthorization this year. The hope was that the Summit would not only guide legislation but would also serve as an action plan for NOAA and its ocean work for the coming years.
Eileen Sobeck, assistant administrator for fisheries at NOAA (their top fisheries executive) said, "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." Sobeck, who attended the two day Summit participating in discussion groups and listening sessions, said "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."
Read the full story at Johnston Sunrise