Begich, Rubio honored by recreational fishing community
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) were honored by the Center for Coastal Conservation at its annual legislative conference. Begich received the Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and Rubio was recognized as its Conservationist of the Year.
“These two senators are extraordinary leaders for conservation,” said Jeff Angers, president of the Center for Coastal Conservation. “Their commitment to good stewardship of America’s marine fishery resources is making a difference from coast to coast to coast.”
Begich chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard, and has long been an advocate for proper management of fishery resources. He was an original co- author of the Fishery Science Improvement Act (FSIA) in the last Congress and is proud that anglers today enjoy great salmon fishing in the heart of Anchorage thanks to the award-winning Salmon in the City program he launched while mayor there in 2007.
Begich is guiding the reauthorization process for the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the overarching federal law governing marine fisheries. He recently delivered the closing remarks at the Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries Conference in which he highlighted some of the difficulties MSA has created for recreational fisheries as well as other challenges, such as the loss of marine habitat through the removal of “Idle Iron” in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Congress has taken some major steps forward to make our marine fisheries sustainable but we have a lot more to do,” said Begich. “Sound scientific management needs to be our priority as we work toward reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act this Congress.”
Rubio, the Ranking Republican on the same Subcommittee, hails from America’s #1 state for marine recreational fishing and was also an original co-sponsor of FSIA. An avid angler himself, he sees the $17+ billion economic impact of recreational fishing in the Sunshine State.
“I am honored to be the Center’s Conservationist of the Year. Federal fisheries management is broken for recreational fishing,” said Senator Rubio. “It is vital that we address the problems faced by our recreational anglers when Congress reauthorizes the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This industry is a huge economic driver for our state and we must ensure those recreational fishermen who use the waters and precious resources surrounding Florida can continue to enjoy their favorite pastime. I look forward to working with the Center for Coastal Conservation and other stakeholders as we begin this important debate.”
The Center for Coastal Conservation is dedicated to promoting sound conservation and use of ocean resources by supporting federal legislators who support its goals. The Center is a coalition of the leading advocates for marine recreational fishing and boating. Its membership includes individuals and the major players in marine conservation and recreational boating and fishing. Non-profit members include American Sportfishing Association, Coastal Conservation Association, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, International Game Fish Association and National Marine Manufacturers Association. Corporate members include AFTCO, Brunswick, Costa, Grady White Boats, Maverick Boats, Okuma, Pure Fishing, Shimano and Yamaha Marine.