For millions of saltwater fishermen, the lesson in how to spell victory came in two letters — E-O — as in “executive order” signed by President Donald Trump 10 days ago.
The order covers a wide range of battleground topics fought between private recreational and conservation organizations and federal fisheries managers for most of the past 30 years.
Those organizations called the Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation Executive Order a landmark “in federal ocean, coastal and public land decision-making.”
For Jeff Angers of Baton Rouge, the president of the Center for Sportfishing Policy, this extensive revision in federal fisheries policies is the biggest win recreational fishermen have seen.
“This executive order is a historic recognition of what millions of American anglers and coastal communities have known for decades: marine recreational fishing deserves a management system built for the way Americans fish,” Angers said. “By prioritizing better data, stronger state partnerships and modern management approaches, President Trump’s order builds on our conservation gains creating a path to more reliable access and opportunity in America’s oceans.”
The executive order touched on a number of confrontational topics recreational fishing and fishing trade groups have battled for decades in trying to move the needle toward a more modern approach to fisheries management.
Louisiana’s offshore anglers have knowledge of these problems beginning with red snapper, then expanding into gray triggerfish and, more recently, greater amberjack. Limited days/seasons and limited catch along with the federal government’s plan to remove offshore oil and gas platforms — fish-holding reefs — from offshore waters have been burrs under their saddles.
The executive order took on those challenges to include:
- A more modern approach to collecting and disseminating recreational fisheries data and a charge to federal fisheries managers to what Angers said is “accelerating the use of reliable state data in federal management.”
- Next, because most of what federal fisheries folks managed for was managing for the commercial fisheries sector’s value to the economy, the executive order directs the U.S. Department of Commerce to account for the “economic value of recreational fishing in management decisions and harvest opportunities.”
- The order also creates a more manageable program to mimic Louisiana’s Rigs-to-Reefs Program. The wording in the new plan if a Reef-in-Place plan to eligible offshore structures.
- To offset recent federal rules implementing speed and access restrictions in certain areas, the new guidelines demand “safeguarding boater access through precision technology rather than sweeping restrictions,” and charges federal managers to remove “unnecessary barriers to fishing, boating and public access.”
- It also takes issue with increased regulations on the taking of sharks and what it calls “pinniped depredation,” covering seals and marine mammals.
- “The (executive) order also demands (federal) agencies to take the best path forward toward implementing these directives,” Angers said. “It means this is not just words on a paper for bureaucrats to slow-walk these plans. These topics are not new and it’s important for long timelines in recognizing what recreational fishing means to our country.”
The American Sportfishing Association was among the group pushing for these changes. ASA has been the leader in recognizing the economic value of recreational fishing from fishing and trade activities.
In its filing, ASA’s president and CEO Glenn Hughes said the order acknowledges recreational activities account for at least $1.2 trillion annually taking in 5.2 million jobs and that recreational fishing and boating adds $38.4 billion to the U.S. economy with recreational saltwater anglers generating $145.4 billion and near 700,000 jobs across our country.
“This is the biggest day in marine recreational fishing in history, and marks the first time in 20 years when a president has come to focus on recreational saltwater fishing,” Angers said.
Other than CSP and ASA, organizations pushing for this Executive Order included Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation, national Coastal Conservation Association, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, the International Game Fish Association, the Guy Harvey Foundation and BoatU,S.
“What is means, now, is that it’s OK to fish and recreate on our lands and waters,” Angers said.
The “lands” part including hunting acess and other provisions covered in the Executive Order. Hunting issues will be included next Sunday.
Red snapper
Louisiana’s 109-day recreational red snapper season accounted for a total estimated take of 934,367 pounds, a count exceeding our state’s annual allotment by 51,928 pounds. The weekly average was 49,177 pounds.
The near 52,000-pound overage will be deducted from the 2027 federal allocation.