Both recreational and commercial anglers plan an unusual public show of solidarity Wednesday with a noon rally in D.C. They'll be gathering in the nation's capital to stress the serious number of saltwater sportsmen, marine businesses and coastal communities being affected by unintended negative impacts of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
This federal fisheries law's provisions are reportedly based on flawed data-collection methods resulting in overly restrictive fishery quotas and seasonal closings. Black sea bass, fluke and porgies are among our locally affected species.
Area groups are making rally participation easier by scheduling round-trip buses from several departure points. Long Islanders should be making a strong showing with separate buses leaving, for example, from Captree, Point Lookout and Sheepshead Bay. Departures are at 6 a.m. with a return that evening following the three-hour rally. The cost is $40 per person.