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News Release 01/12/07

States Celebrate Landmark Victory for Marine Fisheries Conservation

Washington, D.C. (January 12, 2007)The following statements were issued today by Ed Parker, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Chief of the Bureau of Natural Resources of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, following the President's signingof the Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act into law.

" The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies today applauded the President's signing of the reauthorization of the nation's primary marine fisheries law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006. The Association's member agencies and partners have waited 10 years for the reauthorization, and expect that this new legislation will play an important role in helping sustain a diverse array of marine life and their habitats, while allowing continued sustainable use of valuable aquatic resources. Throughout this reauthorization, the Association has been impressed by the work of numerous lawmakers committed to improving the science-based management of our Nation's marine fisheries. We also recognize particularly their strong interests in promoting more effective implementation and enforcement of fishery management plans"

The version of the act signed into law today had been developed through the work of the 109 th Congress. The Association now looks forward to working with NOAA Fisheries and other partners to begin implementing this legislation.

Note to writers and editors:

The Association, and the state fish and wildlife agencies it represents, are part of a coalition facilitated by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) that represents recreational anglers, the sportfishing industry and conservation groups to establish the "SALT Principles," (Science, Allocation, Licensing and Tackle) which outlined consensus-based recommendations for addressing marine fishery problems and opportunities. For additional information about the SALT Principles, go to: www.angling4oceans.org .

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The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies -the organization that represents all of North America's fish and wildlife agencies-promotes sound management and conservation, and speaks with a unified voice on important fish and wildlife issues.