An edited version of an e-mail from Tom Fote from the Jersey Coast Anglers' Association on Feb. 5:

I just arrived home from four days at the (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's winter meeting).

Here is a summary of what happened prepared by ASMFC staff: Click here (pdf).

It was really disheartening to learn about the serious financial problems of all the states and that needed research is not being done because of the lack of money and staff. 

This is nothing new. In the almost 25 year that I've been doing this, there's never been good economic times in fisheries research.

When the federal and state governments were flush with money they never spent it on fisheries research, and now with this horrible environment we've gone from bad to worse.

There is not an economic stimulus package for the recreational and commercial fishing industries and the science the fisheries managers need.

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