A periodic information source for members of the American
Sportfishing Association and partners on issues of interest to the future
of fishing.
February 2005
ASA March Board Meeting
The schedule for the ASA Board of Directors meeting and committees
is:
- Show Committee - Thursday, March 3, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
- Nominating Committee – Friday, March 4, 9:00 – 11:00
a.m.
- ASA Board meeting – Friday, March 4, 11:30 a.m. – 4:30
p.m.
The Show, Nominating and Board of Directors meetings will be held
in Room 301, Long Beach Convention Center. Board books were mailed
on Wednesday, February 16. For more information, contact Joyce
Anderson,
x233.
ASA/Fred Hall Long Beach Show
The ASA/Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show, scheduled for
March 2-6 at the Long Beach Convention Center, features all types of
outdoor recreation for the largest audience in the western United States
in one of the newest facilities in the country. Go to the Fred
Hall Web site for
more information.
Extending Angler Advocacy at the Long Beach Show
United Anglers of Southern Calif. is once again coordinating
a Sportfish Leadership lunch briefing on Thursday, March 3, for anglers
and other guests. This is another major step in aligning the interests
of the recreational fishing community in California. Dave Pfeiffer,
executive vice president, Shimano American Corporation and ASA Board
Chairman, and Mike Nussman are scheduled to address the attendees.
Rebecca Lent, deputy assistant administrator, NOAA Fisheries, will
speak about the new NOAA Recreational Fisheries Strategic Plan. Representatives
from other agencies and organizations are also on the agenda.
ASA Staff Visit Japan
ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman and ICAST Director Maria
del Valle traveled to Japan with ASA members Tom Bedell, Pure Fishing,
Mark Masterson, Yakima Bait Company, and Toshio Nishioka, Fuji-Toki
California, Inc., to attend the Japan International Sportfishing Show
and meet with members of the Japan Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association
and the Japanese Sportfishing Association. Nussman reported on current
ASA activities, including ICAST, as well updated the association members
on current Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) activities.
What’s in it for us? Reaching out to Independent Retailers
Gary Zurn, executive vice president, Big Rock Sports, and ASA
Board member discusses the advantages of ASA membership for independent
retailers in the upcoming March issue of Fishing Tackle Retailer.
In the February issue, ASA looks at the overall work of the association,
focusing on advocacy and the ASA mission of improved fishing, more
anglers and expanding business opportunities.
Policy Watch—Government Affairs Update
For more information on ASA Government Affairs activities,
contact Gordon Robertson, VP and Government Affairs, x237
ASA Government Affairs Committee Plans Strategy
In January,
ASA’s Government Affairs Committee met in conjunction
with the San Francisco Boat Show to prioritize ASA needs for the 109th
Congress – reauthorization of the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund;
equity under IRS interpretation and application of the manufacturers’ excise
tax; and reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Management
Act. ASA also organized a meeting of the marine sportfishing community
to identify key points for the upcoming reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act.
ASA Supports Legislation to Restructure the Aquatic Resources
Trust Fund
On Feb. 18, ASA issued a statement supporting legislation
introduced by Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Trent Lott (R-MS) to restructure
the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which distributes federal funds to
state fish and wildlife agencies for boating and fishing programs. ASA’s
statement regarding the reauthorization of the Aquatic Resources Trust
Fund can be found on the ASA
Web site.
Federal Fish Hatchery System
Outsourcing of the federal fish hatchery system now appears to have
been taken out of consideration. ASA lead the effort to address this
issue by first sending a letter to James
L. Connaughton, chair, White House Office of the Council on Environmental
Quality and then arranging a meeting with the Council to explain the
negative impact of outsourcing on fisheries. ASA requested that the
proposal be withdrawn and other alternatives be explored. As background,
in early December, ASA hosted an emergency FishNet meeting after learning
of the Department of Interior outsourcing proposal for the Federal
Fish Hatchery System. FishNet partners met with the White House Council
on Environmental Quality officials in early January to discuss the
issue.
USFS Fisheries Program
In January, ASA and two other fishery groups meet with Forest Service
Chief Dale Bosworth to discuss the progress made in improving the USFS
fisheries program. The implementation team for these improvements is
expected to have its work completed by June 2005. ASA played a key
role in the development and work of the Rise to the Future Task
Force 2003 which submitted its final
report to the USFS in April
2004. The improvements address programmatic and strategic objectives,
accountability and staffing within the USFS Fisheries and Watershed
Program.
ICAST-ing in 2005—Exhibitor Registration is Open
As of February 18, 289 exhibitors have reserved 1,056 booths
for ICAST. The floor is now 91 percent reserved. Online exhibitor
registration is now open on the ASA
Web site.
Attendee registration is scheduled to open in early March. ICAST
host hotels are already taking housing reservations. A “Save
the Date” postcard was mailed to thousands of potential attendees
the week of Feb. 7. ICAST is scheduled for July 20-22 at the Las Vegas
Convention Center. Visit www.asafishing.org to
find the latest information about ICAST or contact Maria
del Valle,
x240.
ICAST Sponsorships—Just Ask!
Interest in ICAST sponsorships is up over previous years. Many
of last year’s sponsors have renewed their contracts while new
inquiries continue to come into the ICAST office. For a full list of
ICAST sponsorship opportunities, go to the ASA
Web site and click on
the Sponsorship Opportunities icon.
Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members who joined the association in
January: ACK Fishing & Tackle, LLC; Albright Tackle LLC; Al's Goldfish
Lure Company; Amazin Dot Inc.; B & F Rod & Reel; CB's Saltwater
Outfitters; Hanlong International, Inc.; Hi's Tackle Box; Holley's
Printing Company; ICEUS, Inc.; Jacob Ash Holdings, Inc.; JBS Fishing
Line; Kappler, Inc.; Katie Dids Originals; Original Products Industries;
Saba Productions.com; South Florida Sport Fishing Magazine; Viaadi
International; X.P.O. Eyewear (A Division of De'Vons Optics, Inc.)
Member Services—On the Road
During January, Mike Nussman and Ric Ice, Membership Director,
visited Maurice Sporting Goods and Plano Molding Company. Membership
staff also attended or visited: Big Rock West, Henry’s LLC, Tri-City
Sporting Goods, Reed’s Sport Shop, Armanino’s, Outdoor
World, West Marine, Sports Authority and Hi’s Tackle Box and
Outdoor Pro Shop. For more information about ASA membership, contact
Ric Ice,
x234.
Employment Screening Added to ASA Member Benefits
Background screening of employees or future employees is the
newest member benefit provided by Castle Branch Screening Services.
Information is available on the ASA Web site under Member
Services.
Conservation and Education
FishAmerica Foundation–for more information, contact
Johanna Laderman, x245,
or Jeff Bloem,
x274.
Looking at the Landscape—or is it Fishscape?
In January, FishAmerica conducted three site visits in northern Calif.
The first two visits were projects to restore salmon and steelhead
spawning habitat and water quality in the San Francisco Bay watershed
funded with $70,000 through the partnership with the NOAA Restoration
Center. The second site visit was to the City of Novato’s 59-acre
urban fishing pond and marsh area restoration project which received
$10,000 for two aerators. Pro Line Manufacturing was a partner in
the project.
Contributions to FishAmerica
As of February 11, 26 members of the American Sportfishing Association
donated nearly $70,000 through membership dues donations, endowment
pledges, and FishAmerica-licensed product sales - Angler's Choice/Suncoast
of America, LLC; Aqua-Scent; Boone Bait; Captain Hook Enterprises,
LLC; Do-It Corporation; Emmrod Fishing Gear; Frank & Fran's
Fisherman's Friend, Inc.; Gudebrod, Inc.; HMT Marketing, Inc.; JBS
Fishing Line; Kanji International Inc.; Lamiglas, Inc.; Lucky Craft,
Inc.; Ludwikoski and Associates, Inc.; Mercury Marine; NETGRA; O. Mustad & Son
(USA) Inc.; Outdoor Cap; Outdoor Pro Shop; Pro Line Manufacturing;
Reel E Good Products; Shimano American Corporation; Sphere Group Inc./Pro
Baiter; Sportco Marketing, Inc.; Water Gremlin Company; and Yakima
Bait Company. FishAmerica also received a $20,000 grant from the
Brunswick Public Foundation.
Future Fisherman Foundation—for more information about
the PE grants program, contact Jesse
Graytock,
x224.
Thirteen of the 44 2004/05 PE grant recipients have started or completed
their programs. The applications for 2005/06 are due March 4. The Future
Fisherman Foundation has $200,000 available to physical education teachers
throughout the United States who incorporate fishing and boating education
into their curricula, offering up to $5,000 grants to help foster active
leisure lifestyles and ethical attitudes about the outdoors.
Free Seminar for Boat Owners
Minimizing tax obligations is the primary theme of this free,
public-service seminar, titled "Tax and Estate Issues for Boat Owners," that is
now offered to members of selected yacht clubs, fishing clubs and
marinas. Endorsed and established under the auspices of both
the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and ASA, the seminar was
developed in consultation with attorneys and members of the boating industry.
The seminar, which premiered at the 2004 Miami International Boat Show,
is offered at locations throughout the U.S.A. For additional information
contact John Bryan, chief philanthropy officer,
x 246.
Message from the President
On behalf of Maria del Valle and myself, I want to thank our
gracious hosts from the Japan Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association
(JFTMA) and the Japan Sportfishing Association for their hospitality
during our recent trip to Japan. And I especially want to thank Toshio
Nishioka, of Fuji-Toki California, Inc., who is also the U.S.A. liaison
for JFTMA, for being the consummate host. He took great care to ensure
that we had what we needed. His explanations and guidance made the
trip both fascinating and very successful for us and I thank him. Joining
us during the meetings were ASA members Tom Bedell, Pure Fishing, and
Mark Masterson, Yakima Bait Company, as well as Janet Doyle, general
manager of the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association Limited, our
European counterpart.
Maria and I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Japan Sportfishing
Show. Although in some ways this show is different from ICAST, for
instance, the general public can attend this show, both shows have
the same mission—to showcase the very best in the sportfishing
industry. And both shows do an excellent of job of doing just that.
In 2005, ICAST will, once again, be a sell-out show and we are looking
forward to hosting ASA’s world-wide members of the sportfishing
community.
The success—and power—of this trip lies in everyone’s
efforts to bring the international members of the sportfishing industry
together to discuss areas of common interest and concern. As the boundaries
of international commerce continue to be less and less defined, it’s
vitally important that we, as members of the global sportfishing community,
work together to solve common problems and support continued growth.
