The Center for Sportfishing Policy is gearing up for its annual fly-in to Washington D.C., where the group will advocate for passage of the Modern Fish Act.

CSP and the National Marine Manufacturers Association have produced a series of videos urging action on the legislation that would amend the Magnuson Stevens Act to treat recreational fishing as a separate entity from commercial fishing; to date they have been managed in the same way.

CSP’s Focus on Washington happening with the American Boating Congress this week on Capitol Hill, giving recreational boating and fishing stakeholders an opportunity to appeal to lawmakers about the bill, according to the NMMA.

“There are management approaches used in other jurisdictions that work,” says CSP president Jeff Angers in the video.

“Our No. 1 goal is passing the Modern Fish Act,” Angers told Trade Only Today. “We intend to get the legislation across the finish line and to the president’s desk before the end of the year. This happens because of the active engagement of recreational fishing and boating advocates, many of whom will be in Washington in person this week.”

Tens of thousands of anglers across the country have encouraged their Members of Congress to support the Modern Fish Act. The appropriate committees in the U.S. House and Senate have given thumbs up to the Modern Fish Act.

Action is pending on the floor of both chambers.

Angers urged all anglers and boaters to Text FISH to 50457 to engage in the nationwide effort to pass the Modern Fish Act.