John Chapman III is a Partner in the
Fort Lauderdale office
In July 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 200,
a bill that includes the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries
Management Act of 2017 (Modern Fish Act). The Modern Fish Act seeks
to change recreational fishing regulations and permit more
regulation on the state level. It has bipartisan support, but is
opposed by some commercial fishing interests and conservation
organizations.
More than 11 million Americans participate in recreational
saltwater fishing. Since 1976, the saltwater fishing community
– both commercial and recreational – has been regulated
by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. However in 2014, the Commission on Saltwater Recreational
Fisheries Management identified and presented to Congress a report
outlining recreational and boating priorities. Many of the 2014
commission's recommendations were incorporated into the Modern
Fish Act, which was first
