The Snook Foundation is urging anyone who fishes in the state of Florida to take immediate action in regards to a proposal made by the National Park Service and Biscayne National Park.

The Park Service, in direct defiance to its own working group, which was comprised of recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, divers, scientists and environmental groups is proposing a plan that would incorporate marine reserves, or no-fishing zones, in Biscayne National Park as part of updating the park’s Fisheries Management Plan. None of the working group’s recommendations included marine reserves in its review of the park.

The proposal is also contrary to a Memorandum of Understand between the park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The FWC has repeatedly stated that marine reserves are overly restrictive and less restrictive management measures should be implemented before considering marine reserves.

The public currently has the opportunity to comment on the draft Fisheries Management Plan, through October 6. The Snook Foundation urges you to send a letter of your own and get the word out to local anglers any way you can. As we well know, once they take away one fishing zone, it’s not long before others begin to disappear as well.

Biscayne National Park experiences about 10 million angling trips per year. According to the park's Web site, the goal of the FMP is to "manage fish and shellfish within the parks to help ensure that the tradition of fishing can continue for generations to come."

There is a definite difference between managing fish and shellfish to ensure the tradition of fishing for generations and keeping all anglers out of specific areas of the park.

A sample letter can be found by clicking here.

Click here to comment.

Other parties to contact include Governor Charlie Crist, Senators Bill Nelson and George Lemieux, your local House of Representative member and the Commissioners of the FWC.

Thank you for your effort to help us to protect Florida’s anglers’ rights.
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