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Freedom to Fish A Collaborative Effort in Maryland

Freedom to Fish A Collaborative Effort in Maryland. Bill Windley Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Assoc. Freedom to Fish. Management techniques such as MPA’s must be supported by science Meeting benchmarks before closing areas to public recreational fishing

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Freedom to Fish A Collaborative Effort in Maryland

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  1. Freedom to FishA Collaborative Effortin Maryland Bill Windley Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Assoc.

  2. Freedom to Fish • Management techniques such as MPA’s must be supported by science • Meeting benchmarks before closing areas to public recreational fishing • Avoiding unnecessary and unwanted closings • Avoiding unnecessary restriction of popular outdoor activity of fishing

  3. Standards and Guidelines • Clear indication of negative impact of rod and reel fishing • Consideration of less severe conservation measures first • Size, possession limits, seasonal closures • Measurable criteria to determine conservation benefit

  4. Standards and Guidelines • Timeline for periodic review • Closed area no larger than that supported by science • Provisions in place for reopening

  5. Current Regulations • State and Federal • Protection of fish stocks • Recovery of depleted stocks

  6. Freedom to Fish • Does not prevent state action • Does not inhibit protection and management • Does recognize economic impact of recreational fishing • Does recognize important tax revenues

  7. Collaboration • MSSA and RFA assembled • CCA • Trout Unlimited • Maryland Aquatic Resources Council • DNR • Chesapeake Bay Foundation • World Wildlife Fund

  8. Issues and Concerns • DNR – don’t make a law overly restrictive of their fisheries management • Environmental groups – standards should not be set so high that there would never be closed areas

  9. Process • Took almost a year • Patience, no rushing • Allowed time away from table to analyze language • Allowed time for legal review by CCA and RFA counsel • Good relationships between people at the table

  10. Agreement that all options will be considered before an area is closed • State produces a written report on necessity of closing • Relief through judicial process • Reopening timeline • Originally 3 years, but recognition that longer may be needed in some areas with scientific justification

  11. A Good Law • For Maryland • For Nation? • Science must support closures • All interested parties involved • Closures often unnecessary to achieve conservation goals, so only utilized when supported by science • Other management techniques routinely achieve conservation goals

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