Diverse Coalition Supports Keeping Longlines Out of California
Reading Time 2 minutes 24 local and national recreational leaders tell the Pacific Fishery Management Council to keep longlines out of west coast ports
Next Tuesday, November 19, the Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting in Costa Mesa, CA to revisit a plan to permit a California based longline fishery. While we all support fishing, we don’t support wasteful fishing. Longline fishing is indiscriminate. Boats discard one fish for every fish they catch. That’s why 24 national and local recreational leaders sent a letter telling the Pacific Council to Keep Longlines Out of West Coast Ports. Read our letter. The Council received thousands of similar comments from a divers coalition that includes recreational fishermen, ocean conservationists and marine wildlife advocates.
The Council recently authorized a newer, smarter gear, called deep-set buoy gear. We think that’s the future of fishing, and we want the Council to continue to advance greener gear that protects our ocean and recreational fisheries. Expanding longline activity is incompatible with our collective goals of reducing bycatch and building resilient coastal fishing communities.
Join us next Tuesday at 10:30 am at the Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa, CA and ask the Pacific Council to end further consideration of authorizing a longline fishery. If you can’t make the meeting, sign our action alert, and we’ll deliver your message to the Council.
