RFA Joins Lawsuit to Prevent White Marlin Listing

July 7, 2004

U.S. District Court Judge Richard W. Roberts granted the RFAÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢s motion to intervene in the white marlin Endangered Species Act (ESA) lawsuit during a hearing in D.C. federal court last week.

This important decision allows the RFA to help defend the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) 2002 decision not to list the white marlin under the ESA and to represent RFA members during any settlement discussions.

The RFA is now an Intervener-Defendant in the lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Turtle Island Restoration Network against NMFS that seeks to force the agency to list the Atlantic white marlin as “threatened” or “endangered” under the ESA.

Under the language of the ESA, if white marlin are listed as “threatened” or “endangered” and “critical habitat” is established for the species, NMFS would likely prohibit recreational fishing for white marlin by regulation – even catch and release – and implement other restrictions.

“Many of our members fish for white marlin and many rely on the white marlin fishery for their economic viability,” said Herb Moore, Jr., counsel for the RFA. “If Plaintiffs prevail in this action, it would be economically and socially disastrous for many RFA members.”

The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing individual sport fishermen and the sport fishing industry. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs and ensure the long-term sustainability of U.S. saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 1-888-JOIN-RFA.

RFA Joins Lawsuit to Prevent White Marlin Listing

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