September 2006 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, VP and Government Affairs lead, x237, or Carol Forthman, director, Ocean Resource Policy, x244, at 703.519.9691.
ASA Attends AFWA Annual meeting in Colorado
In September, several ASA staff members, along with staff from the FishAmerica and Future Fisherman Foundations, attended the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ annual meeting (AFWA). Hosted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, this year’s meeting was the largest in AFWA’s (formerly International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies) history with over 700 registered attendees. Attendees heard from the nation’s fish and wildlife conservation leaders, partners and management experts on issues related to agriculture conservation, oceans policy, science and research, Multi-state Conservation Grants and threatened and endangered species, fisheries and wildlife management and other topics. The meeting also includes a forum for AFWA’s committee meetings which helps direct federal and state agency policy.
ASA and Future Fisherman Foundation Receive Multi-state Grants
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has awarded ASA a $70,000 grant to update and reprint the economics of sportfishing guidebook, Sportfishing in America, which details angler demographics, expenditures and participation. The publication is used by state and federal legislators, including state governors and fishery resource managers and planners, as a resource for information about anglers and the economic contribution they make to local, state and the national economies. The information in the guidebook will be distilled from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-associated Recreation. The guidebook will be available in 2007. The Future Fisherman Foundation was awarded a $60,000 grant to continue the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs program in partnership with state agencies and community-based youth organizations.
Meeting with Interior Secretary Kempthorne
On September 12, Gordon Robertson and leaders from five other conservation organizations met with Secretary of the Interior Kempthorne to discuss energy development in western states. The meeting focused on how to proceed with development using a balanced approach that safeguards fish and wildlife habitats. This first meeting with Secretary Kempthorne on this topic, follows several meetings the group has had with ranking Interior officials on the subject of energy development. It is expected that additional meetings with the Secretary and his staff will be held on this topic.
ASA Discusses Issues with CA Fish and Game
During the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies meeting, ASA policy staff met with the Director and Deputy Director of the California Department of Fish and Game to discuss the Klamath River salmon issue and the implementation of the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA). There is an opportunity to improve the habitat and passage for all fish in the Klamath River as numerous state, federal and nonprofit organizations work with the hydropower industry regarding the license renewal process of four dams on the River. The MLPA remains a challenge to the sportfishing community as the Act will soon move to determining marine areas with varying levels of protection in southern and northern California.
2007 Farm Bill Briefings
In September, ASA attended briefings on the 2007 Farm Bill organized for the hunting and fishing community by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. The first of these briefings was held at the Department of Agriculture and featured Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner describing the administration’s positions on the bill and how the sportsmen’s community could remain involved in the process. The second was a congressional briefing held on Capitol Hill. Speakers included Congressmen Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Chairman, and Collin Peterson (D-MN), Ranking Member, of the House Agriculture Committee as well as Congressmen Adam Putnam (R-FL) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE).
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sends Letter to IRS
Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service complimenting the IRS for bringing forth the new Industry Director’s Directive. The Directive, a result of several meetings between ASA and the IRS, clarifies the interpretation of the sportfishing industry’s manufacturers’ federal excise tax law for both the industry and agents applying the federal excise tax law. Chairman Grassley urged both the industry to comply with the Directive and the IRS to “…use practical and reasonable application of the Directive in a consistent manner.” The Directive was released on July 10, 2006 and is available on ASA’s Web site under Government Affairs.
National Fish Habitat Action Plan Board Has First Meeting
The National Fish Habitat Action Plan board held its first meeting in Snowmass, Colo. on September 22, 2006 where it revised and approved the charter for the board and the plan implementation. Notable in this process is that sportfishing organizations and the sportfishing industry have dedicated seats on the board for this national habitat restoration effort. The industry is represented by ASA and BassPro Shops. Sportfishing organizations are represented by BASS/ESPN, Trout Unlimited and the Coastal Conservation Association.
ASA Participates in Capitol Hill Ocean Roundtable
In September, ASA staff participated in an ocean roundtable on the issue of ecosystem-based management for marine systems. The roundtable was composed of representatives of various industries, academia, congressional staff and non-governmental organizations. The group was also addressed by Representative Sherwood Boehlert (R- NY), Representative Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD). The Heinz Center sponsored the Capitol Hill event.
ASA Meets with Southeast Regional Director for USFWS
ASA policy staff met with Sam Hamilton, Southeast regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), concerning the proposed piping plover critical habitat designation for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. ASA expressed concern with the rush to publish the critical habitat designation before elements of the judge's order that previously rejected the designation had been fulfilled. Such a process undermines the public's ability to comment when all needed information is not included.
Interior’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Achieves new Status
A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners to restore, enhance, and manage private land to improve fish and wildlife habitats is on its way to the White House for approval. The bill statutorily establishes the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program as a Department of Interior program. This action, supported by ASA, assures the program’s existence and continuation.
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s primary program for working with landowners to accomplish voluntary, on-the-ground habitat improvement projects on private lands. Through this program, the Service provides cost-share funding for habitat improvements, as well as technical advice to landowners interested in implementing conservation projects. ASA’s FishAmerica Foundation is a major program partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through two regions in the eastern part of the United States. Matching the federal dollars provided by this program, the Foundation provides up to $275,000 for on-the-ground fish habitat projects. After matching with partners at project sites the result is approximately one-half million in fishery habitat improvements.
