Alexandria, VA – February 5, 2015 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) applauds the introduction of the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, which includes numerous legislative measures beneficial to anglers and hunters across the nation. Sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 contains provisions that will benefit our nation’s sportsmen and women by providing increased access to our public lands and waters, improving fish and wildlife management and protecting the use of traditional fishing tackle.

“This bipartisan package contains many important provisions that are largely non-controversial and that will advance fisheries conservation and recreational fishing access for the benefit of the nation’s 60 million anglers,” said American Sportfishing President and CEO Mike Nussman. “Recreational fishing supports 828,000 jobs and contributes $115 billion to the economy annually. This monumental legislative package will greatly enhance recreational fishing’s social, economic and conservation benefits to the nation.”

Previous versions of the Sportsmen’s Act failed to pass the U.S. Senate in 2012 and 2014, primarily due to partisan disputes unrelated to the merits of the bill. With strong commitments from leadership on both sides of the aisle, ASA expressed optimism about the bill being enacted in the 114th Congress.

“Our community remains dedicated to the passage of the Sportsmen’s Act, and we are hopeful that the third time will be the charm,” said Nussman. “We want to give special thanks to Senators Murkowski and Heinrich and their staffs for swift bipartisan progress, and we look forward to working with them and the other original co-sponsors as this legislation goes through the committee process and ultimately to the floor of the U.S. Senate.”

Nussman added, “We believe the Sportsmen’s Act could be greatly strengthened by the addition of theNational Fish Habitat Conservation Act. “This bipartisan bill has strong support from the sportfishing community and it would bring tremendous value to the overall package by adding a much needed fisheries habitat component. ASA will actively support inclusion of this measure into the package during the coming legislative process.”

More information on Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, as well as an action alert to contact Senators in support of the bill, can be found at www.KeepAmericaFishing.org.

These baits are biodegradable but the process takes time.  Some scientists and environmentalists argue that discarded baits are harmful to the environment and to fish that might ingest them.   This accusation was serious enough to lead to a proposed ban of the sale and use of soft plastics in Maine that could affect anglers all over the region, and the rest of the country.

At KeepAmericaFishing, we know that litter and angler education are the real issues.  As pro angler Kevin VanDam said recently in his weekly column on Bassmaster.com,

“Most anglers don’t throw trash in their fishing waters. We know better and are appalled by what litter we do see in lakes and rivers. However, we’ve all been guilty over the years of pitching a broken worm or jig trailer overboard when we’re re-rigging. I stopped doing that sometime ago, but I have seen others do it. 

There’s no excuse for throwing anything in the water that isn’t going to break down immediately. A crusty sandwich is one thing, but old plastics, fishing line or any tackle should be carried to shore at the end of the day.”

At KeepAmericaFishing, we’ve created an interactive petition called “Pledge to Pitch It.”  By signing the petition, anglers are raising their hand and pledging to pitch worn-out soft plastic lures into a trash can or appropriate recycling canister and NOT in the water.

CLICK HERE and sign the petition today!

Kevin VanDam’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter. Check out his full article at http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/pledge-pitch-plastics

As anglers, we all care about having clean water and healthy fisheries. Without them, a day on the water would simply not be possible.

In practical terms; what does that mean? I’m going to focus on the connection between clean water, corn production and increasing the amount of corn ethanol in fuel that we use in our boat engines. That connection is best encompassed in the issues surrounding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The RFS was rolled out in the 2005 Energy Policy Act and expanded in 2007. It outlines the amount of renewable fuels, including corn-based ethanol, which must be introduced into the consumer fuel supply each year through 2020. The recreational fishing and boating communities have lead a valiant fight against these measures, yet ethanol mandates are growing and that should concern all of us.

Without proper warning labels, boat owners may fill up using E10 (gas containing 10 percent corn-based ethanol by volume) or a higher concentration that is proven to cause great harm to motor boat engines. Most engines aren’t designed to tolerate ethanol, especially because it draws moisture into the engine and causes corrosion. By the way, please remember to look before you pump!  Choose E10 or less for small engines in power equipment, cars older than 2001 and marine vessels.

For more than a decade, a number of environmental and industry groups have “sold” the perception that ethanol is sustainable. But, at the scale the RFS requires, it’s not. The effects of corn ethanol production are much broader than its impact on angling and boating. Corn fertilizers – as do many fertilizers – cause serious harm to the aquatic environment and our important fisheries resources.

Here are some other impacts to consider:

• From cradle to grave, corn ethanol is more polluting than gasoline by 33 percent, according to recent research by the EPA. The use of equipment to maintain and harvest corn fields, transportation and processing are all accounted for in ethanol’s life cycle, including carbon emissions from land conversion.
• More than five million acres of wildlife habitat and counting have been cleared and planted over to grow corn in 10 years, as reported by the Associated Press.
• Ethanol contains less energy than pure gasoline, so it’s less fuel efficient. Drivers get fewer miles to the gallon with greater concentrations of it.
• A University of Colorado publication states that five gallons of water are needed to refine one gallon of gasoline compared to 170 gallons needed for one gallon of E10.
• Corn is a heavily water-dependent crop. That clean water used for irrigation is taken from drinking supplies and aquatic habitat.
• Compared to other major U.S. crops, corn is the most fertilizer-intensive. The chemical run-off from corn fields in the Midwest eventually makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico. The run-off is so concentrated in nutrients that it causes an explosion of algal growth, which strips the environment of oxygen and leaves very little for fish and other organisms to thrive.
• Using corn for fuel lowers the supply available for food, hiking up the price for many groceries, not just goods containing corn. Since 2007, FarmEcon, LLC says that meat, poultry, fish and egg prices have gone up 78 percent because corn is used for chicken and livestock feed. This is a global issue, as 570 million people in 2011 alone could be fed with the amount of corn that went to fuel, the New England Complex Systems Institute found.

The RFS was intended to steer the U.S. towards a clean energy future, but it instead has yielded questionable results and unintended impacts.

I’m a proponent of alternative sources of energy but when you see this issue for what it’s worth, it’s clear that corn ethanol is not the golden ticket.

Despite the overall positive perception of recreational fishing and recent growth in participation, there are many challenges that we as a community must be prepared to meet. Here are some of the top issues that have emerged recently that we at KeepAmericaFishing believe will be major attention-getters in 2015. 

Sportfishing Industry Anticipates New Sportsmen’s Act Introduction

Our staff, along with our partner organizations, has been working to support introduction of a Sportsmen’s Act in the new Congress that will address many of the sportfishing community’s top legislative priorities. After Congress failed in the last two sessions to move forward with a bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act, we are optimistic about our chances for success this year. Some of the key issues we hope to see addressed include the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act, preventing federal bans on lead fishing tackle, improved public access to federal lands and a solution to the failed management of Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper. As this issue progresses, KeepAmericaFishing will provide updates and opportunities to voice support for this monumental package.

Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 

Congress is revising the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the law that governs our nation’s marine resources. While the Magnuson-Stevens Act has produced many advances in the sustainability of US marine fish stocks, it has never been adapted to meet the needs of the recreational fishing community.  This has resulted in many poor management decisions that have unnecessarily limited seasons and taken anglers off the water (see Gulf red snapper, below).

In early 2014, the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, chaired by Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO John Morris and Maverick Boats President Scott Deal, released A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries. This landmark report identifies six key policies that would conserve marine fisheries resources while supporting the full range of saltwater recreational fishing’s economic, social, and conservation benefits. The commission’s priorities are supported by members of Congress and were included in draft Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization bills during the last Congress. Full reauthorization is expected during the new Congress, so the recreational fishing community must be alert and continue to make our voices heard. 

Ban on Soft Lures 

Thanks in large part to stiff opposition from anglers and the fishing industry, Maine decided not to ban soft plastic lures in 2014. Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife studied the issue and concluded that a ban on soft plastic lures wasn’t warranted, and the state’s legislature adopted those findings. Despite this significant achievement, it is anticipated that legislative proposals to restrict or ban soft baits will reemerge in 2015. We are preparing to engage with the Maine legislature to stop any bills restricting soft baits, as well as launching a proactive campaign called “Pledge to Pitch It” to educate anglers on proper disposal of worn out or unwanted soft baits. Click Here to learn more about the Pledge to Pitch It and sign the petition.

Reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration Fund 

While the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund itself is certainly not new, having existed since 1950, the program needs to be reauthorized in 2015 as part of the highway and transportation bill. The trust fund, which is primarily comprised of the taxes on fishing tackle and motorboat fuel, provides hundreds of millions of dollars annually to aquatic resource conservation and public access to our nation’s waterways. Without this program, recreational fishing opportunities across the country would suffer dramatically. Given shrinking federal budgets and appropriators looking to siphon from other revenue sources, the recreational fishing community must be diligent to ensure the trust fund is not weakened in any way during the reauthorization process. 

Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper 

Nowhere are the struggles with federal marine fisheries management more evident than in the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery. The 2014 red snapper season was an all-time low of just nine days and it is expected that the 2015 season will be a mere one day, or possibly even zero.

Significant changes are needed in red snapper management to provide greater control to the five Gulf states who have proven to be significantly better than the federal government at sustainably managing these fisheries. We will work with our partners and the 114th Congress to promote a comprehensive fix to the current broken system of red snapper management.

Conclusion

As we look ahead to 2015 and beyond, the recreational fishing community must continue to be active and engaged to address the increasing number of legislative and policy issues we will face. KeepAmericaFishing is one of the most powerful tools the sportfishing industry has to ensure a vibrant future. By providing anglers with a voice when important issues that affect recreational fishing arise, KeepAmericaFishing has played an active role in many significant achievements to improve recreational fishing access and fisheries conservation. With the continued help and support of the entire recreational fishing community, we can bring about more and greater policy victories in 2015.

why didn’t I catch more fish? 

As in years past, our combined efforts to affect fishing policy change through KeepAmericaFishing had its victories and losses. However, with the midterm elections behind us, what can we expect in 2015?

It’s no secret that Congress didn’t do much more than limp along in 2014. Most legislators were either in elections; were wary of working with anyone in an election or wary of working with anyone on the other side of the aisle – which meant nothing really got started, let alone finished.

We narrowly survived the threat of another fiscal cliff and another government shutdown.  A national newspaper stated that this Congress went out the way it came in, in complete disarray. I don’t want to jinx myself, but can it get any worse? I certainly hope not. In fact, I am, perhaps, naively hopeful. With the same majority controlling both the House and Senate maybe the rusted wheels of Congress will get a shot of WD-40 and start to move this term.

Congress runs in two-year increments, so the upcoming 114th will run for 2015 and 2016. During the next two years of the 114th Congress there are big ticket items for the recreational fishing community that need to be accomplished. One is the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act , better known as MSA, and the reauthorization of the Sport Fish and Boating Trust Fund which expires in May. We also hope that a package of sportsmen’ conservation bills will be introduced and that the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act might finally gain momentum.

If you read our blogs, you will know that these bills and ideas have been in the works for years, but one has to realize that gaining traction in Congress for any of them is a slow, grueling process.

Please remember that while bill text may be the same from year to year, bill numbers change and your support is just as important – and needed now – as it was the first time you wrote to your Congressional member. They all need to hear from you why it’s so important to support certain bills or to hear your opposition to certain bills.

Remember to stand up and voice your opinions!

The 113th Congress has ridden into the sunset, but maybe the 114th Congress will see some new light? We can only hope.

“One of ASA’s most important functions is advocating for our members, and for the broader recreational fishing community, when issues arise that have the potential to enhance or undermine the sportfishing industry’s prospects in the years ahead,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “Recreational fishing’s issues can almost always be grouped under three fundamental topics – clean waters, abundant fish and access to both. We saw significant progress in each of these areas in 2014, although our work is far from over.”

“By providing anglers with a voice when important issues arise that impact recreational fishing, KeepAmericaFishing, ASA’s angler advocacy arm, played an active role in these significant achievements, as well as many others,” said KeepAmericaFishing Director Liz Ogilvie. “KeepAmericaFishing is one of the most powerful tools the sportfishing industry has to ensure a vibrant future.”

A Landmark Vision for Saltwater Recreational Fishing
Congress is currently revising the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the law that governs our nation’s marine resources.

In early 2014, the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, co-chaired by Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO John Morris and Maverick Boats President Scott Deal, released “A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries.” This landmark report identifies six key policies that would conserve marine fishing resources while producing the full range of saltwater recreational fishing’s economic, social and conservation benefits.

The commission’s priorities are supported by members of Congress and are included in draft Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization bills. In addition, NOAA Fisheries committed to achieving the Commission’s first recommendation, to develop a national recreational fishing policy, which is expected to be released in early 2015.

Maine and the Outcry Over Banning Soft Lures
Thanks in large part to stiff opposition from anglers and industry, Maine decided not to ban soft plastic lures in 2014. Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife studied the issue and concluded that a ban on soft plastic lures wasn’t warranted which was adopted by the state’s legislature.

Despite this significant achievement, it is anticipated that legislative proposals to restrict or ban soft plastic lures will reemerge in 2015.

In 2015, ASA is preparing to engage with the Maine legislature to stop any bills from moving forward that would unnecessarily restrict anglers’ ability to fish with soft plastic lures. KeepAmericaFishing is launching a proactive campaign to educate anglers on proper disposal of unused or unwanted soft plastic lures.

The Pacific Marine Monument
Last September, President Obama signed a proclamation expanding the existing Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument to six times its current size, creating the largest marine reserve in the world.

Although the proclamation bans commercial fishing, deep-sea mining and other commercial extraction methods, recreational fishing is allowed. Acknowledging that recreational fishing is a sustainable use of a public resource, especially in one as pristine as this area of the Pacific, is a distinction for which the recreational fishing community has been advocating for many years.

Our Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery
In a move overwhelmingly supported by the recreational fishing industry, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved implementing a 25 percent striped bass harvest reduction for coastal states for both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors within one year. The Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions’ reduction percentage is set at 20.5 percent.

ASA and KeepAmericaFishing strongly advocated for this harvest reduction. The reduction will help to safeguard this very popular and economically important fishery from overfishing which could trigger drastic restrictions on recreational fishing.

Congress Steps Up to Protect Traditional Fishing Tackle
A provision to prohibit federal funds from being used to regulate lead fishing tackle and ammunition under the Toxic Substance Control Act was included in the end-of-year omnibus federal spending bill. On multiple occasions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been petitioned by anti-fishing organizations to federally ban fishing tackle containing lead based on its impact on wildlife, a position that is not based on sound science.

While the EPA has consistently rejected these petitions, ASA has advocated for a permanent fix to prevent an unnecessary ban from being approved. The temporary legislative fix provided in the federal spending bill supports and reinforces the EPA’s previous decisions and will aid ASA in its efforts toward a permanent solution, possibly through inclusion in a Sportsmen’s Package bill in the 114th Congress.

A Renewed Effort to Reestablish Access at Cape Hatteras
Legislation to restore reasonable public access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area in North Carolina, one of the premier surf fishing locations in the United States, has passed the Senate and is expected to be signed into law.

Off-road vehicle (ORV) access to the seashore is essential for surf fishing from the beaches, as well as for many other recreational activities. In December 2010, the National Park Service approved an ORV management plan that closed extensive areas of the seashore to the public and severely limited ORV access to provide protections for shorebirds and other wildlife.

The legislation requires the Secretary of the Interior to review and modify the final ORV rule, taking into account several important factors to better accommodate public access.

Nussman concluded, “None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the collective efforts of our members and the numerous partner organizations with whom we work. As we look ahead to 2015 and beyond, our industry must continue to strengthen existing partnerships and build new ones to be able to address the increasing number of legislative and policy issues that will impact American’s ability to get our on the water and enjoy a day’s fishing.”

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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 60 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through KeepAmericaFishing™, our angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate over $48 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for more than 828,000 people.

Alexandria, VA – December 15, 2014 – Legislation that will restore reasonable public access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area in North Carolina, one of the premier surf fishing locations in the United States, has passed the Senate and is expected to be signed into law.

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) applauds the passage of the Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act, which seeks to modify a management plan that unnecessarily restricts public access to the national seashore area. The measure was one of 44 public lands provisions included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which passed the U.S. Senate on December 12.

“After many years of working with local organizations, businesses and government officials to seek relief to the National Park Service’s overly restrictive closures, we are gratified that Congress recognized the problem and set in motion a plan to restore reasonable public access in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area,” said ASA’s Ocean Resource Policy Director Mike Leonard. “While this is just the beginning of the review process, this legislation should provide for some tangible changes for the community and the millions of visitors who come to the area each year.”

Off-road vehicle (ORV) access to the seashore is essential for surf fishing from the beaches, as well as for many other recreational activities. In December 2010, the National Park Service approved an ORV management plan that closed extensive areas of the seashore to the public and severely limited ORV access to provide protections for shorebirds and other wildlife.

Leonard noted, “The final ORV plan, which went into effect in February 2012, had a devastating impact on the local economy, which is largely dependent upon tourism and recreation.”

“After spending the last several years seeing and experiencing the negative impacts that the ORV rule has had on our community, it’s encouraging to know that we have an opportunity for change,” said Bob Eakes, president of Red Drum Tackle Shop, Inc., Buxton, N.C., and an ASA Government Affairs committee member. “Everyone here recognizes the importance of the area’s wildlife, but a more reasonable management approach needs to be found that better balances public access to our public beaches while still helping to ensure conservation of our wildlife resources.”

The Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to review and modify the final ORV rule to better accommodate public access, including: minimizing the size and duration of closures based on peer-reviewed science; allowing access corridors around closed areas; accommodating night-time driving; and constructing new vehicle access sites.

The full text of the Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act can be found here. More information about Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area access issues can be found on ASA’s website.

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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 60 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through KeepAmericaFishing™, our angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate over $48 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for more than 828,000 people.

Alexandria, VA – December 10, 2014 – A provision to prohibit federal funds from being used to regulate lead fishing tackle and ammunition under the Toxic Substance Control Act was included in the omnibus federal spending bill released yesterday. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), which strongly supports this action, has been working for the past several years on passage of similar legislation that will provide a permanent exemption for traditional fishing tackle.

“We applaud Congressional leadership, and House and Senate appropriators, for protecting the nation’s 60 million anglers from unjustified restrictions on fishing equipment that anglers have safely used for decades,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “On multiple occasions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been petitioned by anti-fishing organizations to federally ban fishing tackle containing lead based on its impact on wildlife, a position that is not based on sound science.”

Nussman further said, “While the EPA has consistently rejected these petitions, we have advocated all along for a permanent fix to prevent an unnecessary ban from being approved. This temporary legislative fix supports and reinforces the EPA’s previous decisions and will aid us in our efforts toward a permanent solution, hopefully through inclusion in a Sportsmen’s Package bill in the 114th Congress. Continuing efforts to set aside the EPA’s rulings through petitions and lawsuits demonstrate a clear need for a permanent, legislative solution.”

The spending bill’s text exempting lead fishing tackle and ammunition from regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act can be found here. More information on ASA’s continuing efforts against bans on lead fishing tackle can be found on ASA’s issue webpage. The omnibus spending bill, which is a short-term measure to keep the federal government operating for the near future, is expected to be signed into law in the coming days.

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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 60 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through KeepAmericaFishing™, our angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate over $48 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for more than 828,000 people.