Fisheries Bill Complete, But Network’s Job Has Just Begun
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Marine Fish Conservation Network (Network) announced today that in order to more effectively advocate for better ocean fisheries management in the long-term, the national coalition has become an independent not-for-profit organization. To celebrate this milestone, the Network is unveiling a new Board of Directors, a new logo, new initiatives, and a new partnership with conservation-minded clothing outfitter, Patagonia.
The Network’s announcement comes on the heels of its successful campaign to improve our nation’s ocean fisheries through the passage of the newly revised Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Network will work with federal fishery managers on the development of regulations to implement the nation’s primary fisheries law to ensure that they follow the letter and spirit of what Congress mandated.
”This is an exciting time for the Network because our new status signifies our long-term commitment to improving fisheries management and allows us to build an even stronger foundation to continue our work in the future. Even though Congress passed a good fisheries law, the Network still has a crucial role to play in seeing that fishery managers fully implement it,” said Lee Crockett, executive director of the Network.
Another of the Network’s top priorities will be a new ”Forage First!” initiative in collaboration with the National Coalition for Marine Conservation. This campaign marks a first, crucial step toward ecosystem- based fisheries management by managing forage, or food, fish for the needs of the larger ocean ecosystem in addition to the demands of human consumption.
The Network is also partnering with Patagonia as part of the clothing outfitter’s ”Oceans as Wilderness” campaign. The company created a unique T-shirt design and is donating five dollars from the sale of each T-shirt to the Network. Patagonia also designed the new Network logo and gave an additional grant to the organization. (Please visit http://www.patagonia.com/oceans for information on the ”Oceans as Wilderness” campaign.)
”We’re excited to be partnering with the Marine Fish Conservation Network to raise awareness about what is under our ocean waters and how we can become better stewards of this precious and diverse environment,” said Casey Sheahan, president and CEO of Patagonia, Inc.
Editor’s Note: For additional information, visit ”The Network at a Glance” at: http://www.conservefish.org/site/mediacenter/new_network/network_glance.pdf
Marine Fish Conservation Network
CONTACT: Jo Knight of the Marine Fish Conservation Network,+1-202-543-5509, jknight@conservefish.org
Web site: http://www.conservefish.org/http://www.patagonia.com/