ROFFS™ Fishy Times Newsletter – 49th Edition – Hawaiian Dangle Fishing, White House Fights Illegal Fishing & American Sportfishing Association Advocacy NEWS

Hawaiian “Dangle Fishing”  A Different Method of Commercial Harvest

Above: Here’s a quick video of last weeks catch. In Hawaii they call this dangle fishing. When they are lucky enough to get into this kind of action they can fill the boat very rapidly. On this day their 3 man crew caught 9000 lbs. Video courtesy of: Ahi Plus+ Inc | Facebook

As always, please send comments & feedback on this video and Fishy Times newsletter content directly to us at feedback@roffs.com.

A White House task force issued new recommendations Tuesday to combat the growing problem of illegal fishing and to make it easier to tell if the fish on your plate was legally caught and imported.

The recommendations are designed to block the import of illegally caught fish and to improve traceability and transparency in the $500 billion global seafood industry.

The goal is to “level the playing field for legitimate fishers and businesses in the seafood industry and increase consumer confidence in seafood sold in the United States,” the task force, which comprises a dozen federal agencies, said in issuing its Tuesday report.

A recent study found that 20 to 32 percent of wild-caught seafood imported into the U.S. is fished illegally. The U.S. seafood market is one of the world’s largest and is valued at nearly $18 billion annually. Above:  A school of Pacific yellowfin tuna is caught in a purse seine, a common type of fishing net for capturing fish that aggregate near the surface of the water. Photo by: Doc White, Nature Picture Library/Corbis. 

Each year, there are any number of federal and state policy discussions and decisions that impact the sportfishing industry with 2014 being no exception. With many challenges and opportunities still facing the industry, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) noted six key initiatives or issues that will continue to resonate in 2015 and beyond.

“One of ASA’s most important functions is advocating for our members, and for the broader recreational fishing community, when issues arise that have the potential to enhance or undermine the sportfishing industry’s prospects in the years ahead,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “Recreational fishing’s issues can almost always be grouped under three fundamental topics – clean waters, abundant fish and access to both. We saw significant progress in each of these areas in 2014, although our work is far from over.”

“By providing anglers with a voice when important issues arise that impact recreational fishing, KeepAmericaFishing, ASA’s angler advocacy arm, played an active role in these significant achievements, as well as many others,” said KeepAmericaFishing Director Liz Ogilvie. “KeepAmericaFishing is one of the most powerful tools the sportfishing industry has to ensure a vibrant future.” Key accomplishments & issues include the Atlantic striped bass fishery and a renewed effort to reestablish access at Cape Hatteras, NC.