"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/b...ccess_20091005

Just imagine, you pull up on a boat ramp on Lake Erie and discover a large
map of the lake that has enough shaded blocks to play checkers. Those
shaded blocks represent areas closed to fishing, and your favorite
rockpile - that you've been daydreaming about dragging a tube over for the
last month - is under one of those blocks.

Sound unlikely? Freshwater anglers have been warned that, in the
not-too-distant future, marine sanctuaries and the general protectionism
philosophies plaguing our recreational sal****er brethren were coming our
way. Well, the future has arrived, and it is time to pay attention.

"BASS members and every angler in America should be very concerned over
the dramatic implications for recreational fishing access and management
nationwide that are being proposed by the White House Council on
Environmental Quality. This policy extends into the Great Lakes and the
inland watersheds that flow into the oceans, which, of course, includes
every river, stream and most lakes and reservoirs in America," said Phil
Morlock, director of environmental affairs for Shimano Corp.

The American Sportfishing Association has similar concerns. "Anglers in
the heartland may think this is just about sal****er, but it's not. This
is a policy that will ultimately influence all our nation's bodies of
water, state and federal. Now is the time to step up and ensure that
recreational fishing has its rightful place in the policy process," said
Gordon Robertson, vice president of ASA.

Flying in under the radar screen for most anglers, sal****er or fresh,
President Obama created an Interagency Oceans Task Force with the
objective of establishing a national policy to govern the management and
use of our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes. Within this objective is the
development of a framework for setting aside blocks of water for various
uses. Never before have freshwater systems like the Great Lakes been
discussed in the context of "spatial zoning." Yet it's there in black and
white in the task force's interim report. It's the first real segue of
federal no-fishing zones into the bass angler's living room.

Despite both a face-to-face meeting between representatives of
recreational anglers and the Council on Environmental Quality (the lead
federal agency for the task force), and a follow-up with written comments
in the initial phase of the process, none of the comments from the
recreational community were incorporated in the interim report. And there
doesn't appear to be any intention of doing so. As an angler, that should
be both frustrating and alarming.

"There are over 133,600 BASS members in the states bordering the Great
Lakes. Obviously, they have a huge stake in this. Yet, as of now, the
federal government doesn't appear to be interested in what they have to
say. Unlike other administrations, this one seems to have dismissed the
angling community altogether, at least to this point. We need that to
change, and fast," said Chris Horton, conservation director for BASS.

Like all Americans, anglers want healthy oceans, estuaries and freshwater
lakes and rivers. In fact, they're often the first to raise awareness of
problems, first to pick up a shovel to help or open their wallets to fund
a solution.

Anglers were among the nation's first and foremost conservationists.
Through voluntary excise taxes on sportfishing equipment, anglers have
contributed more than $5 billon for fisheries management to date. Yet,
these contributions have yet to be acknowledged by either the CEQ or in
the task force's interim report. They most certainly aren't aware of, nor
can they possibly appreciate, the countless hours of sweat equity that
anglers have contributed through on-the-ground projects to enhance our
fisheries and habitat across the country. Without question, anglers have
earned the right to have a say in what happens with their resource and
their ability to enjoy that resource.

"Not only did the task force essentially ignore the detailed input from
the recreational fishing community in their report, they also failed to
acknowledge the significant number of jobs and the economy, which is
supported by over 60 million Americans who fish," said Morlock.

Like most federal documents, the interim report may seem overwhelming and
somewhat confusing. However, those who deal with federal agencies and
represent the angling community in Washington clearly see the warning
signals. Here are some of the most pertinent questions:

* Why does the federal government refuse to separate recreational anglers
from commercial fishing when the impacts on the resource are vastly
different?
* Why the rush to get such an overwhelming policy done in 180 days?
* The document repeatedly mentions the need for the U.S. to ratify the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. What jurisdictional
ramifications does that have for fisheries management in waters currently
managed by the U.S.?
* What implications do this policy and the UNCLOS have for all inland
fresh waters?
* Even though it was listed in the president's directive memo, why does
the interim report shy away from sustainable use objectives?
* State natural resource agencies have done a great job of managing our
fisheries resources in the Great Lakes. What justification does the
federal government have to interfere?
* Finally, why is there no congressional oversight in a process that will
obviously affect millions of Americans?

Anglers have an opportunity to change the process and ensure these
questions are addressed.

"This policy strikes at the fundamental issue that concerns all anglers
and should concern all people who enjoy time on the water, which is access
to our nation's public resources. It is crucial that anglers speak up and
let the White House and their members of Congress know that they have
serious concerns with any policy that excludes recreational fishing,
thereby ignoring the tremendous conservation legacy that anglers have on
this country's economy and culture," said Robertson.

In order to ensure that a meaningful, transparent public process will give
direction to the federal government as they determine the future of our
angling heritage, Congress will have to step in. Currently, that process
is virtually nonexistent. As one of the largest constituencies for any
member of Congress, anglers have the ability to get them involved, and
Congress will - if they hear from enough folks out there.

Go to www.keepamericafishing.org and send a message to the CEQ and
Congress that anglers have earned the right for our voices to be heard and
for our angling heritage to be preserved in perpetuity.

President John F. Kennedy once said, "One person can make a difference,
and everyone should try."

If you value fishing, take the time to read through this message and
remember, it only takes a minute to click on the link and let your voice be
heard.
--
Steve Huber
Executive Producer/Editor in Chief
OutdoorFrontiers Multi-Media LLC
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com