Brian E. Mullaney
12-18-2005, 03:09 AM
Here Picker Picker - its your buddy Bradley again :D
12/16/2005 For Immediate Release by Stripers Forever
Maine Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud Co-sponsor
The Striped Bass Game Fish Bill HR 2059
For Immediate Release
Stripers Forever, an internet-based advocacy group, announced today that Maine Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud have signed on as co-sponsors of HR 2059, a bill which designates the wild striped bass as a national game fish.
By co-sponsoring this bill, which was first introduced by Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Maine?s Congressmen have publicly recognized the considerable socio-economic importance of this widely distributed inshore saltwater fish to the 3,000,000-plus anglers who fish recreationally for stripers every year from Maine to North Carolina.
A study commissioned by Stripers Forever and authored by nationally recognized wildlife socio-economist Rob Southwick shows that 14,400 net new jobs and $1.74 billion in additional economic impacts would be gained by ending commercial fishing for wild striped bass. Similar benefits have already been achieved in several southern states by reserving important inshore saltwater species like redfish and snook for the benefit of recreational fishermen.
?Wild striped bass are already considered game fish in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia,? says Brad Burns, President of Stripers Forever. ?But because the conservation measures practiced by one state can simply be offset by the excesses of neighboring states, Stripers Forever thinks the only way to effectively manage the species is to give it game fish status throughout its migratory range.?
?I have supported national game fish designation for the striped bass since I entered Congress in 1997,? Representative Allen said. ?This magnificent species is a national asset. I will continue to work with others in Congress to advance this important legislation.?
?Game fishing is a critical part of our state's economy and an activity that many Mainers, including me, really enjoy,? Representative Michaud said. ?It is important that we protect this natural resource for generations to come.?
Stripers Forever thanks Rep. Michaud and Rep. Allen for their support of this very important piece of legislation. Stripers Forever volunteers in all the Atlantic coast states are contacting their Congressional representatives in an effort to build a large list of co-sponsors of HR 2059.
For more information e-mail Brad Burns at Stripers Forever stripers@whatifnet.com or go to the organization?s website www.stripersforever.org. (http://www.stripersforever.org.)
[ 12-18-2005, 08:32 AM: Message edited by: Brian E. Mullaney ]
12/16/2005 For Immediate Release by Stripers Forever
Maine Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud Co-sponsor
The Striped Bass Game Fish Bill HR 2059
For Immediate Release
Stripers Forever, an internet-based advocacy group, announced today that Maine Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud have signed on as co-sponsors of HR 2059, a bill which designates the wild striped bass as a national game fish.
By co-sponsoring this bill, which was first introduced by Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Maine?s Congressmen have publicly recognized the considerable socio-economic importance of this widely distributed inshore saltwater fish to the 3,000,000-plus anglers who fish recreationally for stripers every year from Maine to North Carolina.
A study commissioned by Stripers Forever and authored by nationally recognized wildlife socio-economist Rob Southwick shows that 14,400 net new jobs and $1.74 billion in additional economic impacts would be gained by ending commercial fishing for wild striped bass. Similar benefits have already been achieved in several southern states by reserving important inshore saltwater species like redfish and snook for the benefit of recreational fishermen.
?Wild striped bass are already considered game fish in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia,? says Brad Burns, President of Stripers Forever. ?But because the conservation measures practiced by one state can simply be offset by the excesses of neighboring states, Stripers Forever thinks the only way to effectively manage the species is to give it game fish status throughout its migratory range.?
?I have supported national game fish designation for the striped bass since I entered Congress in 1997,? Representative Allen said. ?This magnificent species is a national asset. I will continue to work with others in Congress to advance this important legislation.?
?Game fishing is a critical part of our state's economy and an activity that many Mainers, including me, really enjoy,? Representative Michaud said. ?It is important that we protect this natural resource for generations to come.?
Stripers Forever thanks Rep. Michaud and Rep. Allen for their support of this very important piece of legislation. Stripers Forever volunteers in all the Atlantic coast states are contacting their Congressional representatives in an effort to build a large list of co-sponsors of HR 2059.
For more information e-mail Brad Burns at Stripers Forever stripers@whatifnet.com or go to the organization?s website www.stripersforever.org. (http://www.stripersforever.org.)
[ 12-18-2005, 08:32 AM: Message edited by: Brian E. Mullaney ]