Green Corps organizers are working to mobilize public support for protecting our oceans and fisheries.

When PEW Environmental Group wanted to mobilize public support behind strengthening regulations to protect fish populations they turned to Green Corps.

Since 1972 researchers have documented the global extinction of at least 16 species of marine fish. Much of the decline in the number of fish can be traced to overfishing and a lack of annual catch limits.

In 1996, after more than 20 years of rapidly declining fish populations, Congress took action to address declining marine communities by amending the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act (MFSA), which regulates the fishing industry. Every 10 years, the act must be renewed. This spring regional councils will be holding meetings to discuss the future of the MSFA and decide on future regulation.

The regional meetings will be held in locations with heavy fishing industry influence. In order to protect the MSFA, Green Corps is working with Pew Environmental Group and U.S. PIRG to mobilize grassroots support in these areas to help protect these natural habitats.

Green Corps organizers are working with local community groups to increase public awareness about the hearings and the risks that overfishing poses to ocean ecosystems. Organizers are building a broad base of citizen activists, including constituencies that depend on ocean ecosystems, to support the new standards at the public hearings.