The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas authored a letter opposing a state initiative in Massachusetts known as the Salt Water Angler Buy Back Study, which would use federal dollars to pay people not to fish.
In Massachusetts, the MRAA supports the position of the Massachusetts MTA to oppose a state program which would pay up to $500 to buy back fish licenses. MRAA has long supported the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which provides federal money to states for fish hatcheries, habitat restoration, education of anglers and boaters, construction of boat access points, and boating safety.
We have called for studies of fishing and boating to validate the immense social and economic impact of the two industries and strongly support the outreach efforts to increase the exposure of fishing and boating. MRAA fully understands the where, how, and why people choose to boat and fish for family recreation, but MRAA never thought our government would actually pay Americans not to fish as part of a study method of a research project.
The Board of the Massachusetts MTA will be meeting in person with key administrators of the fishing programs in April to discuss this offer.