NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today highlighted the agency’s development of 6 region-specific plans to connect and collaborate with the recreational fishing community “where they live and fish” (Alaska, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species, Greater Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast). Release of the plans, which the agency calls “the latest step in NOAA Fisheries’ continued commitment to strengthening our relationship with saltwater recreational fishermen,” follows a series of public roundtable meetings in 2017 and further discussions at the 2018 National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit.
The plans include both broad-scale activities (e.g. improving online resources) and smaller-scale activities (e.g. in-person best practices workshops and youth outreach events), with each engagement action designed to establish a visible presence in the recreational fishing community, develop a mutual understanding of priorities, concerns, and challenges, and/or enhance collaboration with recreational fishermen.
