Marine spatial planning is a phrase that keeps getting thrown around in environmental circles. By definition on the NOAA website, marine spatial planning is the public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives athat usually have been specified through a political process. If a public process is indeed a part of marine spatial planning then why is NOAA and the Obama administration not accepting any additional public comment?
Not taking public comment when the issue is still in flux is a complete uturn from the Jane Lubchenco led NOAA that was going to engage the recreational fishing communtiy. It is also a direct reflection of the fact that environmental groups such as WWF, Greenpeace, and Pew are leading the way in the effort to ban recreational fishing in vast areas of our coast and the Great Lakes. These groups are opposed to user groups such as recreational fishers and want to continue in their efforts to cut off our access. These groups and groups like them are the ones that were responsible for the proposed lead ban here in the State of Washington. They used junk science to back their arguments and will continue to use junk science and twist the facts to fit their agenda. As a further example of the misguided actions of these groups, they like to constantly refer to overfishing and fishing abuses without any distinction between recreational and commercial fishing.
Social and economic benefits of recreational fishing are also ignored by environmental groups and NOAA as well. In the Interim Framework for a National Ocean Policy, recreational fishing wasn't even listed as a key activity. How is it possible that the activities of 60 million Americans doesn't even get listed as a key activity? Instead of promoting a policy of locking up large sections of the coast and inland waters, why can't the administration promote sustainable recreational fishing? Recreational fishing has always provided many social, family and recreational benefits and recreational fisherman have been leaders in promoting good stewardship of our resources. Is shutting us out at the 11th hour the thanks the the administration and NOAA have for us? In this economic time the administration and NOAA want to ignore the small businesses that thrive on recreational fishing. The economic impact of loosing these jobs is something that we can't afford as a country.
Sportsmen and women have to stay engaged, we can't allow them to ignore us any longer. We are one of the largest voting blocks in the country and it's time we put our politicians on notice. Represent us or we will find someone that will.
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