America’s 15 million marine recreational anglers support 691,565 jobs and annually contribute $138 billion in sales impacts to the U.S. economy. 

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Recreational and commercial fishing are fundamentally different endeavors and should be managed differently. But for years, antiquated, one-size-fits-all federal policies have been unnecessarily limiting the public’s access to our nation’s abundant natural marine resources by forcing recreational anglers into a management model designed for commercial fishing.

Recreational anglers have led the way to maintain sustainable fish populations and protect habitats. Recreational anglers contribute to habitat restoration, and their license fees and taxes on motorboat fuel and tackle pay for management and conservation conducted by state agencies. Along with fishing equipment manufacturers, they have developed fishing tackle and best practices that reduce fish mortality.

The Center for Sportfishing Policy aims to make fishing fair by fixing marine fisheries management. Our goal is to sustain healthy fish stocks and ensure our ocean fisheries remain truly public resources available to all Americans.

Recreational fishing is a family friendly activity that connects people to nature and develops in its participants an abiding respect for natural resources.