May 30 , 2014 — The head of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen's Association says he'll take the fight to Congress if need be to fend off the implementation of a series of fishing restrictions proposed this week by Biscayne National Park officials.
"It's going to have a significant impact on the Upper Keys and Miami River fishermen," FKCFA Executive Director Bill Kelly said.
Kelly was reacting to the Fishery Management Plan, which Biscayne National Park released Tuesday after a 13-year administrative and public process.
The 180,000-acre marine park, which stretches 22 miles from just south of Key Biscayne to just north of Key Largo, says it is seeking to reverse a trend of declining fisheries. The goal of the plan is to increase by 20 percent the size and abundance of fish and invertebrates within Biscayne Park waters.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which joins the National Park Service in regulating the fisheries of Biscayne National Park, also helped author the plan.
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