Washington - In an unprecedented and historic show of solidarity, recreational and commercial fishermen will protest on the steps of the Capitol over regulations that have a strangle hold on the fishing community including those here on the East End.

They will gather together in Washington, DC on February 24 from 12 noon until 3 p.m. in an organized demonstration against the unintended negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the federal fisheries law which was revised in January 2007. Coordinating the march under the flag of United We Fish, rally organizers are hoping to see a large show of force in defense of coastal communities.

"The closures keep coming and it's good to see the collective fishing communities, both recreational and commercial, calling for scientific based Magnuson reform," said Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA).

Here in New York we've seen recent closure of black sea bass, periodic closures and lower catch limits to summer flounder, blackfish, scup and weakfish. The results have been devastating to commercial and recreational anglers from Shinnecock to Montauk and along the North Fork.

The group will protest negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA). (Marines)

The groups organized through United We Fish are hoping to prove to legislators just how many American anglers and business owners are being impacted by the overly restrictive management requirements created by MSA based on non-scientific statistics and arbitrary deadlines.

This effort is being coordinated by many organizations including the RFA, United Boatmen of New York and New Jersey and New York Sportfishing Federation.

"Some people have asked 'why, it's winter'," said Donofrio who said he's gotten the required permits and expects a large crowd in DC on February 24 regardless of weather. "We can't let seasons stop the momentum, and if we wait any longer none of us will be fishing. Many members of Congress will be standing shoulder to shoulder with us."

A protest against the periodic closures and lower catch limits to weakfish, among others, brings the group to Washington.

Over the past three decades since the original Magnuson Act was established, fishermen have been gradually phased out of the fisheries management process. Scientists and conservationists have been put in charge and as the list of closures and restrictions shows, the Act has been turned into a weapon that is now being used against fishermen and fishing communities.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) has introduced the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act to provide the needed flexibility for federal fisheries management. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) has introduced a similar version of the bill to the senate.

Organizers from within the recreational fishing sector are hoping to get commitment from all user groups and across state and regional boundaries. "This is bigger than any one state issue or individual grievance," said RFA's Managing Director Jim Hutchinson, Jr. "Whether it's our restrictive fluke fishery in New York, the arbitrary closure of state waters for our anglers in California, or the shutdown of red snapper and amberjack down south, our community has been divided by preservationist tactics for too long. It's time to unit the clans in defense of our coastal heritage and traditions."

We need to let Congress and NOAA know that there is a collective voice of the recreational community that does not accept the current broken management system which wrecks havoc on business both here on the East End as well all coastal fishing communities.