HOUSTON — A longline management bill backed by anglers died prior to full congressional approval in the waning days of the last session, the Coastal Conservation Association reported. The bill included potential solutions to most Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic longline management problems but collapsed because of a lack of money.

The management of Gulf and Atlantic longliners and highly migratory species (billfish, sharks and tunas) will now be fought in the courts and within the National Marine Fisheries Service until the next congressional session, the CCA said.

"We all know NMFS' track record on highly migratory species management," said Fred Miller, chairman of CCA's Government Relations Committee. "With the demise of S 1911 (the longline bill), both the resource and offshore recreational anglers could lose."

NMFS issued a final regulation for longline management that could increase billfish, shark and turtle bycatch from Gulf and Atlantic longlines. With limited time and area closures and no longline permit or vessel buyout program, the CCA said, NMFS' new regulation offers no reduction in longlining effort, an increase in bycatch and longline vessel displacement to the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and mid-Atlantic.

"With the loss of S 1911, we are left with considerably less conservation benefit for our marine resources," said David Cummins, CCA's president. "We will continue to pursue a comprehensive legislative solution to problems in the management of longlining and highly migratory species and oppose any regulation that threatens to increase already excessive longliner bycatch."

CCA has filed suit in federal district court to force NMFS to comply with congressionally mandated bycatch reduction requirements.