Florida Sportfishing Access Issues

 

 

Information You Need to Know

Everglades National Park
Since 2003, Florida has been working to update the General Management Plan (GMP) for Everglades National Park which will guide Park management for the next 20 years. This is the first update since the park’s 1979 master plan was written. This update will address issues that have arisen since that time.

A critical issue for the sportfishing industry and for anglers is whether updates to the plan will restrict or prohibit fishing in the Park.

The National Park Service (NPS) recently released four preliminary alternatives as options to be included in the GMP which were released to the public for comment. These alternatives are:

  • Alternative A – No action
  • Alternative B – Closure of Cape Sable and Shark River Slough, and some closures in Florida Bay
  • Alternative C –  Significant closures in Florida Bay to boats over 24’ long
  • Alternative D – Prohibits the use of internal combustion engines in all waters less than three feet deep.

The public comment period ended July 31st, and the NPS will select one option as the Preferred Alternative to incorporate into the Draft GMP. The revised Draft GMP will be available in summer 2008 for additional public comment. Virtually all of Florida Bay would be included in Alternative D.  Alternative A, no action, is unlikely to be selected.

Recreational fishing is an historic use of the Everglades, and was in existence long before the Park was established.  However, implementation of Alternatives B, C, or D of the GMP poses serious questions regarding sportfishing’s future in the Park and presents a serious challenge to Florida sportfishing because:

  • The GMP and the various designations made under it is a complex process making it difficult for anglers and the public to understand.
  • The current public hearing process used by the NPS does not provide an opportunity for individuals with local knowledge in the planning process to help develop solutions.
  • Certain zones under the GMP, including “Management by Water Depth,” “Backcountry,” “Research” and “Management by Vessel Length” will exclude traditional access by motorized recreational fishing boats.
  • The Everglades GMP could be used as the model plan to designate and/or expand fishing closures in other national Parks.

Dry Tortugas National Park
In January 2007, a Research Natural Area (RNA) was established in the Dry Tortugas National Park. This RNA is a 46 square mile no-take no-anchor ecological preserve. The National Park Service’s implementation of such no-take reserves is a growing trend that could ultimately close many of Florida’s best sportfishing areas.


Keep America Fishing’s Goal and Purpose for Florida

At nearly $7.5 billion, Florida boasts more economic output from sportfishing than any other state. At $4.1 billion, sportfishing’s annual retail sales are a major contribution to Florida’s economy.

The goal of Florida’s sportfishing advocates and anglers is to maximize the conservation benefit to the marine environment while minimizing unwarranted closures of Florida coastal waters to sportfishing under the National Park Service’s Everglades General Management Plan (GMP) and future management plans for other Florida Parks.

The purpose of pursuing this goal is to:

  • Maintain and improve the conservation of Florida fisheries and associated resources in order to improve the overall health of the ocean and adjacent waterways.
  • Assure that any process for closing Florida’s fisheries to sportfishing takes into account both biological and economic information.
  • Increase sportfishing opportunities in Florida from their current economic and participation levels.
  • Maintain access for Florida’s recreational anglers.

Florida Saltwater Recreational Fishing Facts

  • $7.45 billion economic output
  • $4.1 million in retail sales
  • Supports nearly 80,000 Florida jobs
  • Pays nearly 2 billion in Florida salaries and wages
  • Over 2.4 million saltwater anglers

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the sportfishing industry’s trade association, is working to ensure that anglers' and boaters' voices are heard as marine and aquatic management plans are developed. Please donate to financially help ASA with this process.

Click here to view all of the Keep America Fishing action alerts.