Mid-Atlantic Fishermen Lose Seats On Fisheries Council
Secretary of Commerce Gary Lockeannounced the appointment of four new members to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), three of whom have direct financial and/or promotional ties to environmental groups including Pew Charitable Trusts and Environmental Defense. "Through policy and appointments, the Obama Administration is advancing an anti-fishing agenda consistent with groups like Pew, Environmental Defense Fund, Ocean Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Marine Fish Conservation Network," said RFA Managing Director, Jim Hutchinson, Jr. "President Obama appointed a Pew Scholar to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which is the lead federal agency with authority over marine fisheries, and at least two other former Pew staffers have also been hired to work at NOAA on national fisheries matters. In this administration's first appointments to the fishery management councils nationwide, four environmentalists with direct ties to Pew were awarded seats within the regional councils." The new members officially begin their three-year terms in August and will be sworn in at the October 13-15 meeting in Ocean City, MD. Read Asbury Park Press article.

New England Council Allocates Cod & Haddock to Recreational Sector
After considerable debate as well as vocal opposition by a number of commercial fishermen, the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) voted on June 24 to allocate 33.7% of Gulf of Maine cod and 27.5% of haddock to the recreational fishing sector. The allocation will be part of a comprehensive new groundfish management plan known as Amendment 16.

"This is an historic vote," said Capt. Barry Gibson, New England Regional Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and chairman of the Council's Recreational Advisory Panel. Amendment 16 will be submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service for final approval this fall, and is scheduled to go into effect on May 1, 2010. Click here to view the RFA Press Release

Flexibility In Rebuilding American Fisheries Act Gains National Support
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) introduced Senate Bill 1255 that will bring much-needed science-based modernization and flexibility to the outdated federal rules currently stifling America's once thriving fishing industry. "We need better science and more flexibility in our fishing management regulations," Schumer said of S.1255, while adding "We can rebuild fishing stocks and allow for a more nuanced approach to regulations that is not overly onerous on our fishing communities." Sen. Schumer's legislation is the same as bill HR 1584 authored in the House by Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and supported by 18 fellow coastal legislators from Maine to Texas. "This legislation is the best way to rebuild our fisheries without bankrupting tackle shops, party boats and commercial fishermen," Rep. Pallone said earlier this year. "We should be using sound biology and science when deciding how best to rebuild fish stocks." Click here to see the growing list of supporters

RFA To President Obama - "Just Say No" to Catch Shares
In an official letter dated June 12, the RFA asked President Obama to maintain traditional recreational fishing access consistent with the public trust doctrine, while also allowing fishing and the rebuilding of coastal fisheries to occur simultaneously. "Although we have seen no formal position from your administration regarding recreational catch shares, we are concerned that the environmental groups are seeking to kill our open access tradition with little thought to impact such actions will have on coastal communities and individual freedoms," the letter said. RFA encourages members to download the letter and forward their own copy, respectfully, to President Obama. Click here to read full letter.

RFA & RTAngler Working to Provide Integrated Online Experience
In an effort to help strengthen online community activism while appealing to the next generation of saltwater angler, RFA and RTAngler.com have a released a Memo of Understanding to develop the first media rich community to take advantage of the web's ability to quickly and efficiently distribute information. Click here to see the release.

Legendary Sportsman Tred Barta Suffers Rare Spinal Stroke
In May, TV host, writer and internationally renowned sportsman Tred Barta was struck by a rare spinal cord stroke just before completing filming of the final episode of the Best and Worst of Tred Barta for the Versus television network. The final episode, which will be aired on the Versus Network later this year, will be an up-front and personal account of Barta's fight to regain the use of his lower extremities that were left paralyzed from the stroke and how this will now relate to his ability and desire to continue to participate in wilderness and high seas adventures. Barta is currently under the care of doctors at Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, CO. Spinal cord stroke is among the rarest forms of strokes - 1.2% of all strokes. The overall annual incidence of spinal cord strokes is estimated to be only 12 strokes in 100,000 people. On October 23, Capt. Len Belcaro of Big Game Fishing Journal will host "An Evening For Tred Barta" at five different locations simultaneously from Rhode Island to South Florida to benefit the Barta family. Learn more at Big Game Journal online.