The House Natural Resources Committee has scheduled a hearing on H.R. 3668, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, SHARE Act, for September 12, at 10:00 am EDT in Room 1334 Longworth House Office Building.

Congressmen Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., and Gene Green, D-Texas, introduced the bill in the House of Representatives on September 1.  H.R. 3668 includes 16 provisions aiming to enhance hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation opportunities on federal land.

One of the provisions would require that any fishing restrictions in a National Marine Sanctuary or a National Park be developed in coordination with state management agencies.  The legislation is in response to the National Park Service’s proposed fishing restrictions in Biscayne National Park in Florida in 2011. Intense fishing pressure in some of the park’s most popular and productive fishing areas led to a proposal to establish a 16-square mile marine reserve, or no fishing zone, and restrictions on boating access.  The move raised the ire of recreational fishermen who believe marine reserves should only be considered after alternative strategies (e.g., size limits, bag limits, quotas and gear restrictions) have proven ineffective.

The SHARE Act contains some of the same provision as the HELP for Wildlife Act that was voted favorably out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee shortly before the August recess.