Fish Report for 8-24-2012

Act Now To Save Fishing In California

8-24-2012
ASA

Legislation Threatens Future Fishing Rights

Now, more than any time in recent history, your right to recreationally fish in California is under attack. In a bold and brazen power-grab, anti-fishing groups that want to permanently close off public waters are pushing legislation through the California legislature that will put them in the driver's seat on fishery management in the state.

Only by acting now - RIGHT NOW - can you stop this threat!

It is imperative that you contact your state legislators today and tell them to VOTE NO on SB 1148 and AB 2402. These bills could be voted on any day so it is important that you act immediately!

Please Take Action Right Now!

If passed, these two bills will have a devastating impact on recreational fishing in California. They will allow anti-fishing groups to have unchecked influence in fisheries management, remove important checks and balances in the policy-making forum and ultimately lead to more closures of your public waters to fishing - waters that you have paid to manage!

Here's What You Need to Do
Send an email to your state legislators and Governor Brown. Once you send your letter, be sure to send the link to your family and friends and tell them to do the same.

What You Can Say
SB 1148 and AB 2402 were initially introduced into the California legislature to improve how the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) functions, but anti-fishing groups have succeeded in amending the bills to include provisions detrimental to all anglers and threaten the very foundation of how fish and wildlife in California are managed.

Among other things, these bills:

Strip the Fish and Game Commission of its authority over fishery management in marine protected areas established under the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and instead puts it in the hands of the Ocean Protection Council, a body effectively controlled by anti-fishing groups who will seek ever greater closures.

Will render all current angler community lawsuits against the MLPA useless. Authorize "nonprofit partnerships" between well-financed anti-fishing organizations and the DFG, allowing these special interest groups to further their agendas within the DFG.

Click here to take action now to protect your right to fish!


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