A “Keep Fishermen Fishing” rally is being held at Upper Senate Park in Washington DC on March 21, 2012 beginning at noon. It has been organized in an effort by leaders from both the recreational and commercial fishing industries to unite under one shared message, to reform the Manuson-Stevens Act, the primary law governing marine fisheries management in the United States.
Similar to the 2010 event at the same location, the Keep Fishermen Fishing rally is historic in that it unites two sectors of fishermen which have traditionally been at odds. According to RFA executive director Jim Donofrio, disagreements between the recreational and commercial fishing sectors will always exist.
“I don’t expect that our groups will ever fully resolve our conflicts regarding gear type or stock allocation, but the political reality is that coastal fishermen are stronger whenever we can work together under a common goal, which in this case is in support of responsible Magnuson reform,” Donofrio said, adding that more than 30 different organizations from both the recreational and commercial fishing sectors have come together to organize the rally.
“Regardless of whether one fishes for sport, for money or simply to put food on the table, all coastal fishermen share a common danger in the form of those who would prefer to see us both off the water indefinitely,” Donofrio said. “We’re essentially crossing party lines on March 21 for the sake of open access, under the law, for all Americans, to healthy and sustainable coastal fisheries, which is exactly what we hope to see from Congress in the next few months in terms of this important coastal jobs issue,” he added.
The Gloucester Times reported that both of Massachusetts’ U.S. senators, Democrat John Kerry and Republican Scott Brown, are anxious to speak with attendees at the rally.
“We would be honored to have Sen. Kerry attend the rally in support of pragmatic Magnuson reform,” said Jim Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), a primary organizer and sponsor of the Keep Fishermen Fishing rally set for March 21 at Upper Senate Park in DC. “This is a jobs issue for U.S. recreational and commercial fishing industry folks.”
RFA and fellow organizers have said they are keeping a mostly open invitation for other Members of Congress who would like to address the fleet expected to arrive at Upper Senate Park in DC on the morning of March 21, a date picked specifically when Congress was in session. Bus efforts are currently underway in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida to transport fishermen to and from the event, which RFA expects to pick up momentum in the days ahead.
For more information about the rally including bus departure information, visit www.keepfishermenfishing.com.
“United we stand. Divided we fall.”