January 2008 American Sportfishing Association Policy Watch
Policy Watch is a monthly update for the sportfishing community about the American Sportfishing Association’s Government Affairs activities.
For more information on ASA Government Affairs activities, contact Gordon Robertson, vice president and Government Affairs lead, 703.519.9691, x237, Patty Doerr, Ocean Resource Policy director, x244, or Mary Beth Charles, Policy Fellow, x230.
Marine Life Protection Act Update
In early January, ASA and the governing members of the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO), held a meeting in San Francisco to discuss the strategy for the final months of the second phase of the Marine Life Protection Act implementation and laid the groundwork for its efforts in phase three. Phase three will begin in the coming weeks and focus on waters in Southern California, from Point Conception south to the Mexico Border. The PSO consists of ASA, Coastside Fishing Club, Southern California Marine Association, Sportfishing Association of California, and United Anglers of Southern California.
Meeting of the Hatteras Negotiated Rulemaking Committee
The first official meeting of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Negotiated Rulemaking Committee was held in Buxton, North Carolina, in early January. ASA is represented on this committee by Board of Directors Member Bob Eakes, president, Red Drum Tackle Shop, Inc. Over the next year, the committee will be working to develop a consensus management plan for the use of off-road vehicles on the beaches of the Seashore. This first meeting focused on finalizing the committee ground rules and understanding the coinciding economic assessment and evaluation under the National Environmental Policy Act. The next meeting is scheduled for late February 2008, in Nags Head, North Carolina.
Farm Bill Update
With both the House and Senate versions of the 2007 Farm Bill passed, ASA is working with its partners in the Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group (AWWG) to target key Congressional members before the conference where differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill will be reconciled. The AWWG’s goal is to have the House accept some key fish and wildlife provisions in the Senate version that were not included in the House bill. The AWWG and other Farm Bill interest groups met with Department of Agriculture Secretary Chuck Connor and White House Representative Barry Jackson who both stated the Administration’s position that the President plans to veto the bill if the “tax increases, budget gimmickry and lack of reforms are not addressed.” The AWWG is pursuing a private meeting in February with the Secretary to discuss conservation-specific issues.
National Fish Habitat Action Plan
ASA has a leadership role in the legislative effort to obtain a cosponsor for the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) in the Senate. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CN) has agreed to introduce the NFHAP, but would prefer to do so with a cosponsor. The NFHAP legislative team is also seeking champions in the House, as well as perfecting the draft legislation. The legislative team met with Gary Frazer, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Acting Assistant Director for Fisheries and Habitat Conservation, to discuss funding language in the draft legislation and continues to work with the USFWS and other partners to reach consensus on the draft language.
USFWS Outlines Funding for Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
ASA met with staff from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Migratory Birds and Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs to discuss the funding process for the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The USFWS liaison to the federal tax collection agencies met with the Office of Tax Analysis and the Financial Management Service and then briefed ASA on the progression of the flow of funds through the Department of Treasury. The USFWS will evaluate this process with the IRS in March.
