Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, both of Florida, introduced the Florida Fisheries Improvement Act last week.
The bill would revise requirements for federal fisheries management in Florida through a series of measures, including greater flexibility in setting rebuilding timelines and increased funding for data collection.
“While our state continues to provide strong management of our freshwater and inshore fisheries, federal marine fisheries management has created many challenges for Florida’s offshore anglers and the businesses that depend on these fisheries,” Kellie Ralston, Florida fishery policy director of the American Sportfishing Association, said in a statement.
“We appreciate Senator Rubio’s and Senator Nelson’s efforts through the Florida Fisheries Improvement Act to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act in a way that benefits anglers and improves the management and conservation of federal fisheries,” Ralston said.
