Bush adds rules to protect fish species
By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
President Bush is trying to encourage more recreational fishing in state waters and adding more federal rules limiting commercial fishing of two overfished species — striped bass and red drum.
"These two species were once abundant in American waters, but their stocks have been overfished," Bush said in his weekly radio address, which had been timed to coincide with a fishing trip Saturday to Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay. His text was released in advance on Friday.
Bush called his order, which he planned to sign Saturday, a conservation measure, but state officials said it has little to no practical effect and likely will inflame tensions between recreational anglers and commercial fishermen, by siding with the sports fishermen who don't fish for a living.
Bush's order will make it U.S. policy to conserve populations of the two species of fish based on "sound science." According to his order, the commerce secretary would "encourage, as appropriate" all laws for conserving striped bass and red drum "including state designation as gamefish" — for recreational rather than commercial fishing — if a state deems it appropriate.
Bush's order also would prohibit sales of striped bass and red drum caught within U.S. Exclusive Economic Zones — federal waters extending up to 200 nautical miles off the nation's coasts in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. But state officials said other federal rules already bar commercial fishing of those species.
"It's an executive order to close two fisheries that are already closed," said Louis Daniels, director of North Carolina's division of marine fisheries.
"That will definitely inflame tensions between recreational and commercial fishermen, because it's an allocation issue that's being dictated. What's the practical implications of this? Nothing," he said. "But it does remove flexibility to reopen the EEZ in the future, at least for commercial fishermen."
The red drum, prized by recreational fishermen, is the official state fish of North Carolina. The fish can grow to 40 pounds and live for 35 years, preferring warmer waters in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
The striped bass, which is the official state fish of Maryland, can weigh more than 70 pounds and live for 30 years. It is found in places such as the Chesapeake Bay and Hudson River.
By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
President Bush is trying to encourage more recreational fishing in state waters and adding more federal rules limiting commercial fishing of two overfished species — striped bass and red drum.
"These two species were once abundant in American waters, but their stocks have been overfished," Bush said in his weekly radio address, which had been timed to coincide with a fishing trip Saturday to Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay. His text was released in advance on Friday.
Bush called his order, which he planned to sign Saturday, a conservation measure, but state officials said it has little to no practical effect and likely will inflame tensions between recreational anglers and commercial fishermen, by siding with the sports fishermen who don't fish for a living.
Bush's order will make it U.S. policy to conserve populations of the two species of fish based on "sound science." According to his order, the commerce secretary would "encourage, as appropriate" all laws for conserving striped bass and red drum "including state designation as gamefish" — for recreational rather than commercial fishing — if a state deems it appropriate.
Bush's order also would prohibit sales of striped bass and red drum caught within U.S. Exclusive Economic Zones — federal waters extending up to 200 nautical miles off the nation's coasts in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. But state officials said other federal rules already bar commercial fishing of those species.
"It's an executive order to close two fisheries that are already closed," said Louis Daniels, director of North Carolina's division of marine fisheries.
"That will definitely inflame tensions between recreational and commercial fishermen, because it's an allocation issue that's being dictated. What's the practical implications of this? Nothing," he said. "But it does remove flexibility to reopen the EEZ in the future, at least for commercial fishermen."
The red drum, prized by recreational fishermen, is the official state fish of North Carolina. The fish can grow to 40 pounds and live for 35 years, preferring warmer waters in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
The striped bass, which is the official state fish of Maryland, can weigh more than 70 pounds and live for 30 years. It is found in places such as the Chesapeake Bay and Hudson River.
