Congress: Protect Our Fisheries!
Some of our nation's most valuable marine ecosystems are consistently overfished, and many important stocks are near collapse. To make matters worse, Congress may weaken a 30-year old management act that protects our oceans.
Right now, the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) provides scientifically sound, sustainable fishery requirements that benefit fishermen, seafood lovers, the ocean and its fragile ecosystems. Under MSA, overfished populations are given time to rebuild themselves. Unfortunately, Congress may roll back key provisions that have protected dwindling stocks.
Pressure from opponents is mounting and we need to make sure the call for a future of sustainable fishing is as loud as possible. Our oceans and all the marine ecosystems depend on us. Sign the petition and tell Congress to recommit to rebuilding our fisheries today!
Dear Congress Member [x],
I urge you to support the rebuilding of healthy fisheries, and to oppose short-sighted efforts to weaken existing law.
Healthy fisheries are essential to the ocean's ecosystem and coastal communities. Overfishing, excessive bycatch and poor fisheries management have degraded ocean health, diminished fishing opportunities and depressed coastal economies. Congress attempted to address these failures when it reauthorized the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (MSA) in 2007, strengthening provisions to rebuild depleted fish populations and the coastal communities that depend on them.
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Science-based rebuilding under MSA is already producing results. It is showing the potential to improve the health of our ocean, create new jobs and increase the value of our fisheries by billions of dollars.
We must build a sustainable future and ensure that generations to come enjoy the many benefits of abundant fisheries. I urge you to resist efforts to endanger that future and to support sound implementation of the rebuilding provisions of the MSA.
