April 2008 American Sportfishing Association
Member Update
Member Updates are e-mailed monthly to members of the American Sportfishing Association and our partners on issues of interest to the future of fishing. For more information, contact ASA Communications, 703.519.9691.
BELOW IS A LIST OF TOPICS IN THIS UPDATE. Please scroll down for the complete document. Previous ASA Member Updates are available in the ASA Newsroom.
Each month, ASA e-mails an update on its Government Affairs activities called Policy Watch.
These documents can be found in the Government Affairs section of ASA’s Web site.
ICAST 2008 — Follow Your Instincts
ASA Board of Directors Election
Marine Life Protection Act Update (MLPA)
Disappointing Settlement for Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rec Area
Welcome New Members
Service Provider Spotlight
Get Your Copy of Today’s Angler
Don’t Miss Out on the ICAST Buyers’ Guide Listing – Dues
Payments Due
Mark Your Calendars for the 2008 Sportfishing Summit
2008 National Casting Call
National Fishing and Boating Week 2008
RBFF Re-Launches “New” Take Me
Fishing Advertising Campaign
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
Message From ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
ICAST 2008 —Follow Your Instincts
ICAST 2008, the world’s largest showcase of innovation in sportfishing
gear and accessories under one roof, will be held July 16–18
at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Limited exhibit space still is
available, so follow your instincts and reserve your space for ICAST
2008 now. The exhibit
space contract and floor
plan are available on ASA’s
Web site along with a current list
of exhibitors and exhibitor
FAQs. More than 95 percent of the show floor has been reserved,
so companies that want to exhibit should submit an exhibit space contract
as soon as possible to ensure their business is front and center for
the thousands of buyers and 500 media representatives who attend the
show. For more information visit ICAST
on the Web or contact ICAST Associate Ken
Andres, x231.
ICAST 2008 Exhibitor and Attendee
Registration
Online registration for ICAST exhibitors and attendees is open. The
easiest and most efficient way to register is through the ICAST
Web site. When registering please review the forms carefully as
some options have changed. Pre-registration deadline is June 16, 2008.
After the deadline, onsite registration fees apply. For more information
contact Ken Andres, x231.
Exhibitor Promo Pak Is Available
One of the best resources ASA provides for its exhibitors is the Exhibitor
Promo Pak, which contains many items to help exhibitors promote their
booths and attract buyers to the show. The Promo
Pak was mailed to ICAST exhibitors in early March, and a downloadable
PDF is available on the Web
site. For more information contact Ken
Andres, x231.
ICAST 2008 Exhibitor Service Manual
Exhibitors who have paid both their booth fees and their ASA membership
dues should have received their copy of the Exhibitor Service Manual.
For more information, contact Ken
Andres, x231. Please contact Ann
Sweeney, Membership Services manager, x241, if you need assistance
regarding membership dues.
Thank You ICAST Sponsors
Sponsors help make ICAST the best show in the sportfishing industry.
ASA would like to thank this year’s sponsors. Gold Sponsors: Fishing
Tackle Retailer New Product Showcase, Crocodile
Bay Resort, Buyer Raffle Grand Prize, Plano
Molding Company, Chairman’s Industry Awards Reception
and Townsend
and Townsend and Crew, Industry Breakfast. Silver Sponsors: In-Fisherman,
Convention Lanyards and FLW Outdoors,
Convention Bags. Bronze Sponsors: Duncan McIntosh Company/FishRap,
Saltwater Sportsman, Alphatan International Inc, Pelagic, Inc., Classic
Fishing Products, Inc., Native Sun Sports-Get Reel…Get Fish!,
The Habanna Co., First Flight Net, Fishworks, Inc, Gemini Sport Marketing,
and Fishing & Hunting News.
Anglers’ Legacy Innovations
Awards
This year, the American Sportfishing Association celebrates
75 years of serving the sportfishing industry. To celebrate this momentous
event, ASA asked its members, industry experts and avid anglers to
develop a comprehensive list of the products that have changed the
way people fish over the past 75 years. Working with the Recreational
Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), ASA and RBFF sent a survey
to the foundation’s thousands of Anglers’ Legacy Ambassadors,
the country’s most avid anglers, who will vote for the top
10 innovative sportfishing products. The winners will be announced
during this year’s Industry Breakfast.
Industry Resource Center – New in 2008!
Two critical issues facing the sportfishing industry today are participation
and access. At ICAST 2008, the American Sportfishing Association
(ASA), the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) have joined forces
on the show floor to answer questions about these and other critical
issues. Representatives from the three groups will be available during
show hours to discuss ongoing policy issues about access to our resources;
conservation and habitat restoration; the state of the industry;
efforts to engage more people in fishing and boating; and how all
this affects the industry’s bottom line. The Center is located
on the show floor adjacent to the New Product Showcase. Don’t
be left standing on the dock – stop by the Industry Resource
Center at Lounge 2446.
ICAST 2008 Sponsorship Opportunities Available
ICAST 2008 sponsorships are
still available. ICAST sponsorship opportunities are a great way to
raise your company’s visibility during the world’s largest
sportfishing trade show. For more information about sponsorship opportunities
contact Ken Andres, x231.
Exhibitor Conference Calls
If it is your first time attending ICAST, or even if you have been
exhibiting for decades, you can always learn something new. ASA is
hosting a series of conference calls for exhibitors in preparation
of ICAST 2008. They are: Friday, May 16, at 2 p.m. - How to
Make the Most of ICAST and Monday, June 9 at 2 p.m. - Everything
About the New Product Showcase. To sign up, contact Ken
Andres, x231. For more information, please refer to page 25 of
the Exhibitor
Promo Pak.
Book your Hotel Room for ICAST
With ICAST just weeks away, it is time to book
your hotel room in Las Vegas if you haven’t done so already.
Please make your reservations with the hotels as soon as possible as
rooms are selling out fast at all ICAST official hotels. Contact the
hotel directly for reservations and be sure to mention that you are
attending the American Sportfishing Association’s ICAST show
to receive discounted rates.
ICAST 2008 on the Web
We regularly update the ICAST
section of ASA’s Web site with new information to ensure
that exhibitors and attendees alike have a top-notch experience at
ICAST. Please check the Web site for the latest information. TOP
ASA Board of Directors Election
Please look for your ASA Board of Directors election ballot which will
be delivered to your in-box beginning the first week of May. Members
who paid their dues by April 16 will receive a ballot. Members will
be electing six representatives to ASA's Board of Directors, with
terms beginning in October. Elections are open for three regional
and three at-large seats. Regional seats cover the Great Lakes, Northeast,
Northern Plains, and Inter-Mountain Regions. Ballots are due on or
before May 30, 2008. According to the bylaws, only members with Regular
membership status may vote. Associate members are not eligible to
vote. For more information about the ballots or the voting process,
contact Board Liaison Joyce
Anderson-Logan, x233. For questions about membership status,
contact Member Services Manager Ann
Sweeney, x241.
TOP
Marine Life Protection Act Update (MLPA)
On April 22, the California
Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF)
voted to forward the proposal supported by the American Sportfishing
Association (ASA) and the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO) – Proposal
2-XA - to the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) for its
consideration. Proposal 2-XA is one of four alternatives sent to the
Commission. Although each proposal establishes a series of marine protected
areas (MPAs) along the North Central coast as required under the MLPA,
the alternative supported by ASA and the PSO has the least economic
impact by minimizing unnecessary closures to recreational fishing while
placing a high priority on marine resources conservation. The BRTF
is expected to formally submit the four alternatives to the FGC at
a special joint meeting in June. The FGC must then hold a series of
meetings to receive public comment. The FGC has the final vote on which
set of MPAs is designated in the North Central Coast study area. ASA
staff attended the meeting along with numerous representatives from
the sportfishing community. For more information, contact Gordon
Robertson, x237, or Patty
Doerr, x244.
TOP
Disappointing Settlement for Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rec Area
On April 30, a North Carolina federal judge approved a settlement agreement
between the Department of Interior and environmental groups to regulate
the use of off-road vehicles (ORV) in Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Recreational Area. This settlement took place despite the efforts
of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, of which the American Sportfishing
Association is a member, to develop a long-term ORV management plan
acceptable to all the stakeholders. The terms of the settlement are
extensive and they put in place protections for shorebirds that far
exceed protections used at other national seashores and outlined
in species recovery plans. The settlement terms will have a negative
impact on the local businesses whose livelihoods depend on beach
access. Last October, a lawsuit was filed by the Defenders of Wildlife
and the National Audubon Society which contended that an Interim
Protected Species Management Plan, developed to protect a variety
of shorebirds until the long-term ORV management plan is finalized,
was not protective enough. The Defenders of Wildlife and the National
Audubon Society are members of the committee seeking to develop the
management plan. For more information, contact Patty
Doerr, x244.
TOP
Welcome New Members
ASA welcomes new and reinstated members 3point5.com,
Salt Lake City, UT; Amundson Outdoor
Products, Ltd., Burnaby, BC ; Angling
Technologies, Ashburn, VA; Banjo
Fishing Systems, Brooklet, GA; Barracuda’s
Bait and Tackle, Riverside, NJ; Basic
Power Industries, Inc., Harkers Island, NC; Bayou
Outdoors, Inc., Natchitoches, LA; Bio
Edge Fishing Products, LLC, Carmel, ME; BNR Ideas, LLC, Sandy,
UT; Convert-A-Ball Distributing,
Inc., Sidney, NE; Coyote Bait & Tackle,
Inc., Coyote, CA; East
End Bait & Tackle, Hampton Bays, NY; Everol
Fishing Reels, Mobile, AL; FishHawk
Threads, Charlotte, NC; FishUSA,
Inc., Erie, PA; Glowspek Industries,
Inc., Milton, NY; Hangin-On, Mansfield, PA; M & H
Enterprises, Long Beach, CA; Maxota,
Medina, MN; Mihatchii Hooks,
Norcross, GA; Ningbo Longkai Import & Export
Co., Ltd., Zhejiang, China; Omega
Media Group, Inc., Norcross, GA; ProLine Fishing, Inc., Edina,
MN; ProMariner, Portsmouth,
NH; Reactor Watch, LP, Agoura
Hills, CA; Sav-On Tackle, Santa Fe Springs, CA; Sparrowhawk,
LLC, Glenview, IL; Sperry
Top-Sider, Lexington, MA; Stick
Jacket, Woodridge, IL; TGIF
Tackle, Onalaska, WI; Tormenter
Tackle, North Palm Beach, FL; and Wishbone
Tackle Co., Erie, PA.
TOP
Service Provider Spotlight
Scott Deaton and Lincoln Financial Advisors provide ASA members access
to their own customized financial plans. Lincoln Financial Advisors
delivers an objective, strategic and prudent financial plan designed
to preserve, grow and transfer a company’s assets — a
total solution to help meet a company’s financial goals. For
more information contact Scott
Deaton, 800.903.3265, x6159, or visit www.mosaicplanners.com.
TOP
Order Your Copy of Today’s Angler
Today’s Angler is set to be released in a few weeks. Make sure
you get your copy of the most comprehensive evaluation of the economic
impact of American anglers. Today’s Angler features more than
100 pages of data on angler demographics, expenditures and target species.
We are taking pre-orders for the new edition of Today’s Anglers.
The Today’s Angler report is available to non-members on CD for
$250.00. ASA members will receive a complimentary copy by submitting
the Today’s
Angler order
form. The report is available in print and CD format. For more
information, contact Membership Director Jill
Calabria, x234.
TOP
Don’t Miss Out on the ICAST Buyers’ Guide Listing – Dues
Payments Due
The deadline for all membership dues payments, including third period
installments, is May 15. It is crucial that all members submit their
dues payments by May 15. To be listed in the ICAST 2008 Buyers’ Guide,
both exhibiting and non-exhibiting ASA members must have their 2008
membership dues paid in full by May 15. The Buyers’ Guide is
the official show directory and the source to which the industry looks
to for contact information year round. To pay your membership dues,
contact Ann Sweeney, x241.
TOP
Mark Your Calendars for the 2008 Sportfishing Summit
ASA invites its members and partners to the 2008 Sportfishing Summit,
October 29–31, at the San
Luis Resort on Galveston Island, Texas. ASA’s staff and
Board of Directors met immediately after the 2007 Summit to jump-start
the planning process for 2008. ASA plans to have a program in place
and information distributed before ICAST 2008. For more information
contact Mary Jane Williamson,
x227.
TOP
2008 National Casting Call
ASA and the Future Fisherman Foundation were active participants in
this year’s National
Casting Call, held April 27-28 in Washington, D.C. Sponsored
by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, ASA and foundation
staff along with other representatives from various fishery organizations
volunteered during Sunday’s Family and Youth Casting Call,
where local children and their families learned about fisheries and
tried their hand at fishing. During Monday’s National Casting
Call, a status report on the National Fish Habitat Action Plan was
given, and America’s 10 Waters to Watch were highlighted.
TOP
National Fishing and Boating Week 2008
National Fishing and Boating Week (NFBW) will be held June 1–8,
2008. Thousands of sites across the country will be hosting events
to promote fishing and boating. On Tuesday, June 3, ASA will host a
reception on Capitol Hill for Members of Congress and other guests
in the Senate Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building. For
more information about ASA’s NFBW activities, contact ASA Policy
Fellow Mary Beth Charles,
x230.
TOP
RBFF Re-Launches New “Take Me Fishing” Advertising
Campaign
The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation has re-launched its “Take
Me Fishing,” advertising campaign, complete with a new state-of-the-art
Web site. The new campaign will encourage boating and fishing with
a stronger call to action than the original “Take Me Fishing,” campaign.
Make sure you take at the look at the new Take
Me Fishing campaign.
TOP
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
To help FishAmerica keep our nation’s fish and waters healthy,
contact Executive Director Johanna
Laderman, x245, or Grants Manager Erica
George, x247. Donate
to FishAmerica online!
Federal Employees Pledge nearly $20,000 to FishAmerica
During FishAmerica’s first year as a Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC) non-profit agency, federal employees pledged nearly $20,000 to
the foundation to support its mission to keep our nation’s fish
and waters healthy. The Annual Workplace Giving Season, which annually
runs from September 1 through December 15, allows federal employees
to make donations to their favorite charity through single time or
bi-weekly payroll deductions. The CFC is the federal government’s
annual workplace charity campaign, raising millions of dollars each
year for qualifying non-profit organizations. During the 2006 campaign
season, Federal civilian, postal and military donors pledged a record-setting
$271 million to eligible non–profit organizations. FishAmerica’s
CFC Code is 12295.
ASA Member Contributions
FishAmerica thanks the following ASA members for their donations to
the foundation: AFTCO Bluewater; American Premier Corporation; American
Rod & Gun; Angler's Choice/Suncoast of America; BLS Consultants;
Bountyfishing; Carrera-Werner Sales Company; Citti Sales; Corporate
Products, LLC (Corpro); Creek Company, Ltd.; Do-It Corporation/Component
Systems Paint; Evolution Products, Inc.; Flex Products; FLW Outdoors;
Frank and Fran's Fisherman's Friend, Inc.; GAMMA Technologies; James
Monroe Associates, Inc.; Jeros Tackle Company; Johnson Outdoors;
Kanji International, Inc.; Lamiglas, Inc.; Leisure Sales, Inc.; Ludwikoski
and Associates, Inc.; NETGRA; Omega Media Group, Inc.; Outdoor Pro
Shop, Inc.; Pro Line Manufacturing; Quest Compelling Communications;
Real Sports; Reel E Good Products, Inc.; Sportco Marketing, Inc.;
Strike King Lure Company; Thomas Spinning Lures, Inc.; Tormenter
Tackle; Triangle Manufacturing Company, Inc.; Wishbone Tackle; and
Zebco/WCBradley Company. As of October 1, these 36 ASA Members have
donated nearly $46,000 to FishAmerica through their ASA member dues,
memorial donations, licensed product sales, tournament partnerships
and endowment donations.
TOP
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
For more information on Future Fisherman activities, contact Executive
Director Anne Danielski,
x254, or Education Manager Teresa
Rodriguez, x224.
Physh Ed Program Continues to Engage New Audiences
The Future Fisherman Foundation’s Physh Ed program provides funding
to educators to teach fishing and boating as part of their curriculum.
The 2008/2009 grant awards were given to 78 schools representing 38
states and serving nearly 80,000 youth. Additionally 10 previous grant
recipients were given mini grants to continue with their programs.
As part of the grant, each school will send one teacher to Physh Ed
grant training this July. If you are interested in helping to support
the Physh Ed training program, contact Anne Danielski, adanielski@asafishing.org,
x254.
Foundation Welcomes New Staff Member
The Future Fisherman Foundation is pleased to welcome Teresa Rodriguez
as the new Education Manager. Teresa comes to the Foundation from
the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) where she served
as the National Partnership Department's Senior Manager. Teresa has
extensive background and expertise in aquatic management from her
experience working in the parks and recreation arena in the Washington,
D.C. Metro area. At NRPA, Teresa oversaw the NFL Youth Football Project,
Outdoor Industry Foundation Partnership and the National Boating
and Fishing Initiative with the Recreational Boating and Fishing
Foundation. Teresa’s contact information is trodriguez@asafishing.org,
x224.
Equipment Needed for Boys & Girls Club Fishing Tournament
As part of the Department of Justice Boys & Girls Club Hooked On
Fishing - Not On Drugs Initiative, two youth from each of the 20 participating
clubs in 2008 will have the opportunity to participate in a mini youth
tournament. The tournament will be in conjunction with the Bassmaster
Elite series Empire Chase in Buffalo, New York, July 31- August 3,
2008. The 2007 Bassmaster Elite series, Capital Clash, youth tournament
with the club members was a very successful and very visible event.
The Foundation is in need of fishing items including rod & reel
combos, hats, sunglasses, tackle and tackle boxes. If you are interested
in donating equipment or have an interest in supporting the youth involved
in this initiative in other ways, contact Anne Danielski at adanielski@asafishing.org,
x254.
TOP
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
In 2008, the American Sportfishing Association is celebrating 75 years
of serving the interests of the sportfishing industry. In 1933, industry
leaders made the decision to come together to collectively grapple
with the economic and social issues affecting sportfishing. Although
many things have changed over the years, transcripts from Board meetings
held 30, 40 and 50 years ago show that when it comes to our industry,
many issues remain the same.
Increasing participation in the sport; access to fishing and abundant
resources; creating innovative new products to meet the customers’ needs;
and expanding business opportunities have been topics of conversation
and debate since the beginning. However, over the past 75 years we
have had many successes in all those areas – the Sport Fish Restoration
Act and its reauthorizations, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act, establishing the Recreational Boating and Fishing
Foundation and many more.
What did it take to achieve these many outstanding accomplishments?
It took the collective knowledge and experience that exists across
our industry and within the sportfishing community. Without the support
and involvement of our members, we would never be able to achieve our
goals. We’ve all heard the phrase the whole is greater than the
sum of its parts. Certainly that would apply to our association. Individually,
we have our own opinions, ideas and body of knowledge and we’re
all capable of making good decisions. But when we come together for
a common purpose and share our knowledge and experience, our decisions,
our association and our industry are the better for it.
Two recent examples of this are California’s Marine Life Protection
Act (MLPA) and the summer flounder issue. In both these areas, with
the support, input and deliberation of our members, we are seeking
to move forward in a thoughtful and constructive way. In California,
as the state seeks to establish a series of no-take zones all along
the coast, we, along with our partners in this effort, have been very
clear in our purpose. We want to ensure that the final network of marine
protected areas (MPAs) will have the least economic impact on California’s
sportfishing and boating communities by minimizing unnecessary closures
to recreational fishing while placing a high priority on marine resources
conservation. As a result of our collective efforts, the Blue Ribbon
Task Force voted to include our proposal as one of the four that will
be forwarded to the California Fish & Commission for consideration.
Although we have a long way to go until this MLPA process is over;
that is a positive sign for everyone involved. We never could have
achieved this without everyone working together for a common purpose.
The other issue is summer flounder. Our Government Affairs committee
recently met to deliberate a number of issues including summer flounder.
For those who may not know, the federal government is threatening to
close the summer flounder fishery in 2009 in federal waters (three
miles to 200 miles offshore) if recreational anglers continue to take
more summer flounder than is allocated. Clearly such an action would
reduce recreational fishing opportunity and have a negative impact
on the sportfishing businesses which depend greatly on the summer flounder
fishery. The irony of this threat is that the total pounds of summer
flounder in the Atlantic are at a 40 year high. After extensive deliberation,
the committee members recommended a six-point plan of action to maintain
summer flounder fishing along the mid-Atlantic coast which encourages
better management practices, a more balanced allocation and improved
data. In fact, we support the efforts of the Save the Summer Flounder
Fund which is seeking to raise money for an independent scientific
data review.
Like most complicated issues, there is no one answer or quick fix for
the challenges facing the summer flounder fishery. We had been asked
specifically to support H.R. 5425, a bill introduced in the House of
Representatives in an attempt to solve the problem. ASA neither supports
nor opposes HR 5425. We just don’t believe it solves the problem.
ASA is committed to finding solutions for the MLPA and summer flounder
challenges. It will take collaborative and coordinated efforts among
industry members and individual angler organizations to solve not just
these problems but the many others facing our industry.
ASA takes the challenges facing our industry and our members very
seriously. As an association, we deliberate and debate each issue thoroughly
before making a decision. This open and honest means of decision making
is time tested and has been used to meet the industry’s challenges
since the beginning of this association. With staff and industry members
working together, this reasoned approach has served the industry well
and it’s one we will continue to follow.
