The Billfish Foundation objects to the goal of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to revitalize the Atlantic pelagic longline (PLL) fishery, and instead calls for options to reinvigorate the recreational billfish fishery.
NMFS’ preferential treatment of the pelagic longline fishery comes at the expense of marlin, the recreational billfish fishery, and bluefin tuna. Instead of taking a comprehensive approach with the management of highly migratory fish, which interact with both commercial fishing gear and recreational gear, the proposed options focus solely on stimulating the PLL fishery. Pelagic longline gear is, in large part, responsible for driving marlin and bluefin tuna to an overfished status. Revitalizing the U.S. pelagic longline fishery will be at the further expense of marlin and bluefin tuna.
TBF is calling for management options that revitalize the recreational billfish fishery. Read TBF’s full statement and send your own letter by May 1st.
For your convenience, below is a statement that may be used in the comments section. Simply copy and paste where the form says “Comment.”
Dear NMFS,
Thank you,
Name