A Chance to Deliver a Lasting Legacy for America’s Fisheries

by Jason Schratwieser - President, International Game Fish Association

Recreational anglers nationwide have long believed we have allies in Washington, leaders who understand the value of our fisheries not just as commodities but as the backbone of coastal economies, outdoor traditions and American conservation.

Today, there is a clear opportunity to turn that understanding into something lasting for America’s waters.

President Trump has called for a renewed commitment to make America beautiful again, a vision rooted in strong natural resources, thriving wildlife and outdoor traditions that define the country. Few opportunities align more directly with that than strengthening the health and productivity of America’s fisheries, ensuring they remain a source of pride, prosperity and access for future generations of Americans.

At the center of that effort is a simple truth: healthy fisheries begin with a healthy food web.

Species like menhaden sit at the foundation of marine ecosystems. They feed iconic species such as striped bass, bluefish and tuna, fish that support a thriving recreational industry and sustain countless small businesses along our coasts, from family-owned bait shops to charter captains and coastal tourism operators.

When that system is strong, the benefits ripple outward. The Atlantic striped bass fishery generates billions of dollars in economic activity annually, supporting charter captains, tackle manufacturers, tourism and local economies from North Carolina to Maine, while also driving conservation investment and public engagement with our waters.

This is what making America beautiful again looks like in practice: abundant waters, accessible fisheries, and coastal communities that thrive because of them.

By comparison, the industrial harvest of forage fish for reduction into fishmeal and oil produces far less value for American communities. While it serves global markets, it does not come close to matching the broad economic benefits for other commercial and recreational fisheries generated by healthy predator fish populations, nor does it provide the same level of public access or widespread economic impact to the United States.

That gap presents a real opportunity.

Focusing on the long-term health of forage fish populations would strengthen the entire system from the bottom up. It would help rebuild and sustain the species Americans value most, while expanding economic opportunity across coastal regions and reinforcing the resilience of these ecosystems in the face of changing environmental conditions.

The Department of Commerce can play an important role in advancing this approach by ensuring that fisheries management reflects the full value of abundant, accessible and resilient marine ecosystems, and by helping align policy with the broader goal of maximizing long-term benefits for the American people.

Recreational anglers have already shown they are willing partners in conservation. They have backed tighter limits, shorter seasons and science-based measures to rebuild stocks. They understand that long-term abundance requires discipline today, and they have consistently supported policies that prioritize sustainability.

What is needed now is a renewed emphasis on protecting the foundation that makes that abundance possible.

Ending industrial reduction fishing and mid-water trawling for menhaden and other key forage species in the Atlantic and Gulf of America is a clear and immediate way to do that.

It would protect the base of the food web, strengthen recreational fisheries, and deliver greater economic returns to American communities. More important, it would stand as a tangible example of what it means to put America’s natural resources to work for the American people, prioritizing long-term value over short-term extraction.

This is the kind of decision that defines a legacy.

A commitment to healthier fisheries, stronger coastal economies and more abundant waters would reflect a belief that America’s natural resources should be not only used but sustained and enhanced for future generations, leaving behind something measurable and lasting.

If making America beautiful again is the goal, then safeguarding the foundation of our marine ecosystems is one of the most direct and lasting ways to achieve it.

>> https://dcjournal.com/a-chance-to-deliver-a-lasting-legacy-for-americas-fisheries/