Fishermen rally against federal catch limits

[February 24, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Thousands of fishermen from around the country are gathering Wednesday in front of the Capitol to demand changes to a federal fisheries law they say is killing jobs and eroding fishing communities.

Organizers of the "United We Fish" rally want to loosen federal catch restrictions they say severely damage their industry.

A rally organizer, Jim Hutchinson Jr. of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, says the 2007 Magnuson-Stevens fishery law sets unrealistic fish stock recovery goals based on flawed science, then imposes harsh cuts on fishermen once those goals aren't met.

Environmental groups say the government should allow anglers greater flexibility while still setting overall catch limits to protect vulnerable fish.

[Associated Press; By MATTHEW DALY]

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