Southern New Jersey fishermen
join thousands at rally in D.C.
By RICHARD DEGENER Staff Writer | Posted: Thursday, February 25, 2010
Local fishermen rally in Washington
WASHINGTON — Hundreds of recreational and commercial fishermen from southern New Jersey and thousands from across the country rallied next to the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to protest regulations they say are stifling the industry.
The fishermen chanted, “I fish, I vote,” and carried placards condemning the Obama Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal agency that regulates fishing in 3.36 million square miles of ocean.
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The rally drew people opposed to strict federal fishing regulations contained in the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The nation’s primary fishing law helped fishermen when it was enacted in 1976 by eliminating foreign fishing, but during reauthorizations in 1996 and 2006 new language called for rebuilding fish populations under strict timetables. This has led to closings of many fisheries.
The rally supported proposed House and Senate bills that would relax those regulations and allow more fish to be caught while stocks are rebuilding.
Some who came are not even in the fishing business.
“I’m a nurse at Ancora,” said Cape May Court House resident John Schuster, who held a sign that read: “I Fish, I Vote.”
Schuster said he came to make sure his sons, Ethan, 10, and Daniel, 9, are allowed to catch fish.
The rally, organized by the Galloway Township-based Recreational Fishing Alliance, drew fishermen from as far away as California and Alaska and as close as Maryland and Virginia. At least 10 busloads of anglers and commercial fishermen from the New Jersey shore were there. Buses left Barnegat Light, Cape May, Wildwood and other area towns shortly after dawn and pulled into Union Station for a short walk to a park next to the Capitol.
“We have close to 4,000 fishermen. This was better and bigger than we ever thought,” RFA Director Jim Donofrio said.
One of the themes of the rally was to unite commercial and recreational fishermen, who often fight over stocks. Combined, the two industries have more clout. Federal statistics from 2008 show recreational fishing generated $48 billion for the economy while commercial harvests were worth $26.4 billion as they moved from the docks to retailers, wholesalers and consumers.
The day included three hours of speeches by industry representatives and coastal lawmakers. U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd., drew loud applause during a short speech that took about one minute.
“I represent a district that has the fourth largest fishing port in the nation (Cape May) and the second largest on the East Coast. This is about our right to fish. The bureaucrats have to get their heads out of wherever it is they are,” LoBiondo said to cheers from the crowd.
Afterward, LoBiondo pushed a bill he sponsors, H.R. 1584, which would relax stock rebuilding schedules.
Many spoke about U.S. regulations resulting in more than 80 percent of the fish Americans eat being imported from countries such as China and Russia.
“If you’re gone, the Chinese own the fish market in North America. We can’t let that happen,” said Rep. Walter Jones, of North Carolina.
Republican Sen. Scott Brown, of Massachusetts, the newest member of the Senate, created the biggest buzz as he arrived on stage, but his Democratic colleague, Rep. Barney Frank, drew more applause when he said: “I wish the federal government had treated some of the people in the financial industry as harshly as the National Marine Fisheries Service has treated the fishermen.”
Fishermen arrived shortly before noon streaming out of Union Station with placards explaining their plight. Many condemned the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the NMFS for enforcing it using scientific data that many question. The RFA cites a government study that found recreational fishing data is “fatally flawed.”
Steve Bent, a charter-boat captain from Egg Harbor Township and retired Galloway Township science teacher, said the government closed black sea bass fishing in October and recently came across new data showing it was under-fished by almost 2 million pounds.
Signs attacked President Barack Obama and his pick to run the NMFS, Jane Lubchenko, and environmental groups such as Oceania , the Pew Environmental Group and the Marine Fish Conservation Network. A fisherman dressed as the Grim Reaper carried a sickle with the words “National Marine Fisheries Service” inscribed on it.
“Wanted Obama, For Genocide to Fishermen,” read a sign with a picture of Obama given a Hitler mustache. “Nuke NMFS,” said one with a mushroom cloud coming out of a whale.
Fred Klug, who works at Utsch’s Marina in Cape May County, said gas prices and fishing regulations are killing the business. Klug said the boats are still at the dock, but they aren’t going out.
“If they don’t use the boats, it affects bait and tackle sales, fuel. It affects the whole industry. Obama says he wants jobs, but he’s taking our jobs away from us,” Klug said.
Contact Richard Degener:
609-463-6711
RDegener@pressofac.com
Thousands of fishermen from the East Coast converged on the grounds of the Capitol for the Wednesday rally.
Recreational fisherman John Schuster, of Cape May Court House, attended the rally because he wanted to see how the future is going to effect the ability of his young son to fish.
Newly elected Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., speaks Wednesday to the fisherman gathered at the rally.
Tony Bogan, of Brielle, Ocean County, was a speaker at the rally.
Steve Spagnuola of Northstar Marine SeaTow speaks to fishermen on their bus Wednesday morning to explain rally protocol when they arrive today in Washington D.C.
