Rec Fishing over in Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico is on the cusp of approving new law governing fishing in the country, and it threatens to spell the end of recreational fishing.

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The bill would: Create a Fisheries Advisory Board with a super majority of eight commercial fishermen (selected from within their own ranks) and just three recreational fishermen (two marine, one freshwater, selected by government authorities). The board could reach a quorum without any recreational-fishery representation whatsoever.

Limit recreational anglers harvest no more than 30 pounds of fish per month. (This will eliminate valuable fishing tournaments, and could mean keeping a single tuna or dolphinfish would be breaking the law.)

Allow commercial fishermen to keep most of a catch when found in violation, the government confiscating only that portion of a catch deemed not in compliance.

Allow commercial fishermen to keep their vessels; no matter how serious an infraction, confiscated would be proscribed. The same sort of protection would not be extended to recreational anglers, whose vessels could be confiscated.

Allow fisheries-management measures not based in science, but requires scientific studies to classify any species as “vulnerable.” (This could take years, during which time fishing could continue)

Grant commercial fishermen a free pass by overlooking the first violation of any fishing regulation, however egregious; Grant commercial fishermen another free pass for initial infringement of by-catch regulations;

Eliminate seasonal fisheries closures

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