Last week, as part of National Hunting and Fishing Day, President Bush signed an amendment to an earlier executive order that secured recreational fishing in federal waters, possibly even marine protected areas.

“Through my Ocean Action Plan, we are protecting fish populations and marine habitat,” said Bush. “I was pleased to amend Executive Order 12962 to recognize the value of recreational fishing as a sustainable activity in federal waters.”

The executive order was first signed by President Bill Clinton on June 7, 1995. It ensures that recreational fishing shall be managed as a sustainable activity in conservation or management areas like national marine sanctuaries or marine protected areas [consistent with applicable law], says The Billfish Foundation president Ellen Peel.

“It's all very significant," said Peel. “The [Ocean Action] Plan, which promotes responsible use for our ocean’s resources, is working to stop overfishing by 2011. Through the Magnuson-Stevens Act, now two-thirds of federal waters (about 2.3 million square nautical miles) are off-limits to harmful bottom-trawling and dredging."