Pulled this off "The Fishing Wire" this afternoon. Something to keep in mind when talking to WDFW staff, Commissioners, and state and federal legislators when the issue of recreational saltwater fishing comes up......add in freshwater jobs and the numbers increase...


With 455,000 jobs at stake, a seasick meat-eater ought to support marine recreational fishing legislation

Recreational saltwater fishing ought to matter to every Member of Congress, even the ones that are allergic to seafood, live far from the ocean and reach for Dramamine at just the thought of getting onboard a boat.

That's because, when Congressmen and Senators vote on issues like red snapper reform and modernization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, nearly a half-million jobs are at stake.

Let that sink in for a moment: 455,000 American jobs depend on recreational saltwater fishing.

We say "jobs" nowadays -- but we ought to say "families." That's because when an individual loses a job, a whole family suffers.

Last week, we began a new feature series of articles that will introduce you to some of those jobs. At King Plastic of North Port, Florida, 145 families depend on recreational fishing -- whether any of them ever go fishing or not (sadly, even in North Port, Florida, there are some who will never experience the excitement of a catch at sea).

These are good U.S. manufacturing jobs, in a safe, clean, well-run, family-owned facility. One worker, Jean Vales, had just celebrated his 20th year with the company.

Our Congressmen and Senators will be going home this week, and they need to know about those jobs.

You may run into your Representatives and Senators at the grocery store, church, or community event.

If you do, tell them that you fish, and you vote -- and then be sure to remind them of the nearly half-million American families whose livelihoods depend on recreational fishing.

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Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

Jeff Angers
Center for Coastal Conservation