"At the same time, the fishing industry's beginning to realize there's yet another potential problem brewing with the administration. This one concerns a draft water policy industry insiders say could be used to create "user conflicts" that would be the rationale for zoning/access closures for virtually all national waters, including the Great Lakes and inland tributaries to the coasts; virtually all national waters other than watershed lakes and ponds.

The concern's fueled by the National Ocean Council's release of a series of nine draft action plans aimed at "addressing challenges facing U.S. oceans and coasts along the Great Lakes." Those nine plans will serve as the framework for the White House's new National Ocean Policy. That's an initiative set into motion last year by President Obama via an Executive Order. Executive Orders mean by decree and without oversight from the Legislative branch.

A portion of the proposals are innocuous enough, educational initiatives about relevant water resources and such, but one area that's of tremendous concern to recreational fishing interests is the practice of coastal and marine spatial planning. In it's simplest form, the proposal is government-regulated zoning of the sea.

While it's described as calling for a regional approach to marine planning, there's absolutely no doubt that there will be conflicts between recreational interests and animal rights groups wanting to create what are essentially huge tracts of off-limits waters. Granted, it's not a clear-cut situation, but fishing industry execs have told me there's real concern that this comprehensive plan has the potential to turn into the national equivalent of the California Marine Life Protection Area (MLPA). As one director of Environmental Affairs for a major tackle manufacturer told me "this could get very ugly for recreational fishing."

this topic on the forum may not be directly about fishing, but it gives me great sadness. A lot of us fishermen depend on public access for our various fishing adventures...... and by possibly closing off our access, would severely limit our ability to our favorite spots.........

Piece is from an outdoor newsletter I subscribe to...."The Outdoor Wire"