Over a year ago, Biscayne National Park officials approved a plan that will place over 10,000 acres of prime fishing areas off limits to recreational fishermen, despite strong opposition from anglers and the state, and a total lack of scientific backing.
Fortunately, Florida's Congressional delegation has been working to rectify this poorly-conceived plan, but we're running out of time. Please take a moment to sign a petition urging Congress to stop the Biscayne marine reserve before the clock runs out at the end of the year.
Championed by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Carlos Curbelo and Mario Diaz-Balart, a bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives that would ensure the State of Florida has a say in these decisions before the federal government closes down fishing in state waters.
In the Senate, a bill sponsored by Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio would prevent fishing closures in Biscayne National Park that are not developed in coordination with the state and are not based on sound fisheries management principles.
While we've seen significant legislative progress, unless a bill gets signed into law before the end of the year, all these efforts will be in vain and we'll have to start over from scratch when the next session of Congress starts in 2017. We can't let that happen.
Please take a moment to add your name to this petition and make sure our Florida delegation knows that they need to act now to stop the Biscayne marine reserve – please share this petition with family, friends, colleagues and supporters today!
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