U.S. ocean fish populations are a public trust which must be managed for the benefit of all Americans. From an economic perspective, fisheries are a multi-billion dollar resource and a valuable food source for millions of Americans. From an ecological standpoint, fish play an essential role in intricate food webs as predators and prey and help preserve the diversity of habitats already threatened by pollution and climate change.
Please sign the petition below, calling on congress to protect fish populations and the coastal communities they support.
We, the undersigned, call on congress to protect America's coastal communities by:
- Upholding the current deadline to end overfishing in the United States' oceans by 2011
- Ensuring that depleted fish populations are restored as soon as possible and opposing efforts to delay rebuilding
-Ensuring that fishery management decisions are based on sound independent science
-Investing in the long-term ecological and economic needs of our coasts
Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]
