The Connecticut legislature's environment committee recently
passed Senate 551, a bill to "protect the rights of persons
who engage in sport fishing in Connecticut." Unfortunately,
the bill has little to do with protecting anyone's rights, and everything
to do with keeping Connecticut from protecting its natural resources.
Marine ecosystems, just as important -- and just as threatened --
as terrestrial ecosystems, are a public resource that should be
managed for the public good. One crucial management tool is the
creation of fully protected marine areas, where no extractive activities
are allowed, which benefit fish populations, other marine life,
and the entire coastline by providing a refuge for marine animals.
This bill, similar to bills introduced in eleven states last year
and three more states this year, would make it almost impossible
to set up fully protected marine areas, denying states an important
conservation tool. The legislation, promoted by the Recreational
Fishing Alliance, puts the burden of proof on those who want to
protect marine resources rather than on those who are consuming
-- and potentially harming -- them before taking action. Clearly,
this is a dangerous precedent. These bills would make it impossible
for states to protect and restore ocean ecosystems by unnecessarily
restricting a state's ability to manage its coastal habitats. If
your state has a coastline, watch out for this type of bill.
Ran 4/12/2004 |