November 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 Comments on Klamath River Dam License Renewal
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the proposed renewal of hydropower
licenses for the four lower dams on the Klamath River. Despite ASA’s
strong push for removal of the dams due to their impact on the Klamath salmon
populations, the FERC published a preferred alternative in the DEIS which
does not call for the removal of the dams or installation of fish passage.
The DEIS also failed to adequately address economic and water quality issues.
The proposal, rather than calling for dam removal, proposes that fishery
issues be addressed by trapping and trucking of anadromous species above
and below the dams. ASA's filed comments on the DEIS that reiterated our
stand on dam removal and criticized the report for its inadequate analysis
of economic, fishery and water quality issues.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Passage Uncertain
ASA is actively working for passage of the reauthorization of
the Magnuson-Stevens Sustainable Fisheries Act during this Congress. Given
the uncertainty of action in the post-election lame duck 109th Congress,
passage may not come this year. Nevertheless, ASA continues to press for
language favorable for recreational fishing in a final bill should it be
taken up before the end of the year. If the bill is not passed this year,
it will be up to the new Congress to undertake the reauthorization.
Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission
to Vote on Summer Flounder
Faced with a proposal by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
to limit the federal quota for summer flounder to 12.98 million pounds
for 2007, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission postponed a vote
on the summer flounder quota at its November meeting. ASA wrote to the
Commission in support of the season approved by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council earlier in 2006, which included a quota of 19.9 million pounds. That
quota was rejected by NMFS based on their analysis that the summer flounder
stock would not meet its rebuilding target by 2010. ASA has questioned this
decision in light of the healthy nature of the stock, which has more than
doubled since 1992, and the lack of peer review of the NMFS data.
ASA Meets with Coastal States Organization Executive Director
ASA met with Kacky Andrews, executive director of the Coastal States
Organization (CSO), in early November to discuss areas in which ASA and
CSO can cooperate on ocean and coastal issues. Ocean issues are expected
to be one of CSO's top priorities in the coming year, along with its traditional
interest in coastal zone management on land.
ASA Attends Wonders of Wildlife Museum Board Meeting
ASA attended the Wonders of Wildlife Museum board meeting in Springfield,
Missouri. The museum provides a forum for angler education and recruitment
and has assumed the role of spearheading activities for the National Hunting
and Fishing Day activities celebrated the last weekend of each September.
ASA Attends Sportfishing and Boating Partnership
Council Meeting
ASA attended the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council
meeting, November 7-9, in Charleston, South Carolina. The Council heard
an evaluation of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation; comments
from a National Park Service representative concerning angler and boating
access; and discussed the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Director his plans to merge that agency’s
fishery program with the endangered species program.
Search for Policy Fellow Underway
ASA is in the process of interviewing and selecting a new Policy
Fellow. The Policy Fellow works closely with ASA staff, federal and
state legislative personnel, resource management agencies and private
conservation organizations to further ASA’s goals and objectives. The position is a two year fellowship
directed towards students contemplating or completing a Master’s degree
in fisheries management, science, natural resource policy or a related
field.
ASA Attends National Fish Habitat Board
Meeting
ASA attended the second meeting of the National Fish Habitat
Board held in Washington, D.C. The Board resolved some governance issues
and heard a number of reports from technical committees and regional partners
that have established habitat improvement programs.
Robertson Speaks at Press Conference for
Release of “Revenue
Stream”
In November, ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson spoke at
a Capitol Hill press conference regarding the release of the new report “Revenue
Stream ,” which
details the economic, societal and environmental benefits of removing four dams
on the lower Snake River in Washington state. Robertson was joined at the podium
by representatives from Taxpayers for Common Sense and Republicans for Environmental
Protection.
ASA Attends Farm Bill Strategy Meeting
In November, ASA staff attended a meeting hosted by the Theodore
Roosevelt Conservation Partnership to discuss the status of conservation
programs in the 2007 Farm Bill. Among the issues discussed were strategy
changes based on the recent elections in Democrats now have a majority
in the House and Senate; the effects of alternative energy efforts (particularly
ethanol production) on current Farm Bill conservation programs; and
other possible legislative fixes needed to bolster current programs.
