January 2006 American Sportfishing Association Member Update
Member Updates are periodic information sources for members of the
American Sportfishing Association and partners on issues of interest
to the future of fishing. For more information, contact ASA
Communications, 703.519.9691.
This is a partial list of the topics covered in this update. Please
scroll down for the complete document. ASA Member Updates are available
in the ASA
Newsroom.
ASA Partners with Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition, LLC
Federal Manufacturers’ Excise Tax Update
FishAmerica Gulf Fund Charity Auction in Full Swing
Upcoming ASA Board Meeting
Northern CA Anglers Meet during San Fran Show
ICAST 2006—95 Percent Sold!
Keepin’ Up With ASA
2006 Sportfishing Summit—Mark Your Calendars for Sunny San Diego
Welcome New Members!
National Fishing and Boating Week 2006
Nominations for ASA National Awards Due in May
NOAA Award Nominations Due in January
Policy Watch—Government Affairs Update
Future
Fisherman Foundation Updates
FishAmerica
Foundation Updates
Message
from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
ASA Partners with Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition
With the full support of the Board of Directors, on January 3, ASA
and Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition, LLC, announced a new partnership
merging the resources of the association with the expertise and strong traditions
of Eastern Fishing’s fishing, hunting and marine consumer shows. For
30 years, under the leadership of founder, Paul Fuller, Eastern Fishing & Outdoor
Exposition, LLC, has been the leader in sportsmen’s show management in
the eastern United States. Fuller will remain as show manager for the 2006
season. The shows are located in Worchester and Wilmington, Mass., Suffern,
N.Y., and, new in 2006, Somerset, N.J. For more information, contact
Mike Nussman, x233.
Federal Manufacturers’ Excise Tax Update
ASA understands that the IRS has completed a new, draft document based on
its revised essential terms scenario document that was distributed during a
November 1, 2005 meeting. ASA members did provide comment on this document.
The IRS will distribute this new document to ASA’s Excise Tax Committee
and archery industry representatives during a meeting scheduled for January
31, 2006. The IRS has indicated this document, once finalized, will be available
to taxpayers and agents via the IRS Web site. On January 4, 2006, the IRS provided
ASA with a new, separate draft document titled Archery and Sportfishing FET
Quick Reference Guide. This draft publication is essentially a glossary defining
terms associated with the excise tax. For more information, contact ASA President
and CEO Mike
Nussman, x233, or ASA VP Gordon
Robertson, x237.
Gulf Fund Charity Auction in Full Swing
This is your last chance to bid on great items from Bassmaster Classic
Champions Davy Hite, Mike Iaconelli, Takahiro Omori and Kevin VanDam.
The Classic Angler Charity Auction, to benefit the FishAmerica Gulf
Fund, ends January 26. Place your bid now at www.ebay.com/classicangler for
one of 14 items including personal bass boats, VIP tackle boxes, a
day on the water with the angler and a year of corporate sponsorship.
For more information, visit www.fishamerica.org or
contact John Bryan.
Upcoming ASA Board Meeting
The ASA Board of Directors is scheduled to meet Friday, March 3, 2005,
in conjunction with the ASA/Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show in Long
Beach, Calif. The Show Committee meets Saturday morning, March 4. The Nominating
Committee meets the morning of March 3, prior to the Board meeting. Please
contact Joyce Anderson, 703.519.9691,
x233, for more information or to confirm attendance.
Northern CA Anglers Meet During San Fran Show
Once again, anglers and their families got their first taste of what’s
new in fishing and boating in 2006 at San Francisco’s Fred Hall Fishing
Tackle & Boat Show held January 4-8, at the Cow Palace. Over 300 anglers
met for a breakfast briefing on Saturday, January 7, during the show.
ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman, Congressman George Miller (D-CA),
Backy Curtis, deputy director, Calif. Department of Fish and Game; Phil Eisenberg,
chair, Blue Ribbon Task Force (CA/MLPA); Calif. state Assemblyman David
Cogdill; Michael Kelly, NOAA; Darryl Ticehurst, Pacific Fisheries Management
Council; Ed Inman, Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation; Roger Thomas, Golden Gate
Fishermen’s
Association; Chris Hall, Coastside Fishing Club; Tom Raftican, United
Anglers of Southern Calif., members of the Calif. Fish and Game Commission;
and representatives from other state agencies and anglers groups briefed the
breakfast attendees. The major topics of discussion were: maintaining and improving
fish habitat; the angler advocacy efforts of United Anglers of So. Calif. and
Coastside Fishing Club; and the status of Calif. trout, including funding for
state hatcheries. A second anglers’ caucus will meet for a lunch briefing
on Thursday, March 2 during the Fred Hall show at the Long Beach Convention
Center, March 1-5, in Long Beach, Calif. The third show is March 15–19
at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego. For more information, contact Bart
Hall, 805.389.3339.
ICAST 2006—95 Percent Sold!
ICAST 2006 is rapidly on its way to becoming the sixth consecutive sell
out show with 95 percent of the show floor already reserved. ICAST booth
sales continue to be the hottest ticket going and sales are well ahead of last
year’s pace. Booth space is extremely limited so submit your booth
space contract now to guarantee your spot and avoid being wait-listed. This
year, the New Product Showcase, the show’s flagship feature, is expected
to draw crowds and turn heads as competition for the "Best of Show" awards
intensifies. Look for new information on the Showcase in the coming weeks.
Look to February for sponsorship opportunities and the annual Exhibitor
Promo Pak. Once again, ICAST will coincide with the National Marine Manufacturers
Association’s Marine After Market and Accessories Trade Show (MAATS).
ICAST 2007 is scheduled for July 11-13 in Las Vegas. For a booth space contract
or to get the most current ICAST information, contact ICAST coordinator Kelly
Camirand, x231.
Keepin’ Up With ASA
The December/January 2006 ASA newsletter is in the mail. An online version
can be viewed and downloaded from the ASA Web site in the Newsroom.
2006 Sportfishing Summit—Mark Your Calendars for Sunny San Diego
ASA invites its members and partners to join us for the 2006 Sportfishing
Summit scheduled for October 18–20 at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa
in San Diego, Calif. ASA plans to have a program in place and information distributed
before ICAST 2006. For more information, contact Mary
Jane Williamson, x227.
National Fishing and Boating Week 2006
ASA’s 2006 National Fishing and Boating Week events will be held on June
5–7, 2006 in the Washington, D.C. area. Highlights of the event include
a members and guests reception and boat cruise on the Potomac River;
various ASA committee meetings; a luncheon with a briefing from a Member
of Congress, a Capitol Hill reception and meetings with Members of Congress
and federal agency administrators. Please plan to attend and make your voice
heard on important sportfishing issues. For more information, contact Patrick
O’Rouke,
x230.
Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members or members who reinstated their membership
in December: Glory Bag; Newitems Trading Shenyang Company; Opti-Tackle Company;
Swift Cast; and PlugCaster Lures, LLC.
Nominations for ASA National Awards Due in May
During National Fishing and Boating Week, ASA shines the spotlight on
those who have gone above and beyond to promote recreational fishing
and boating. The nominations for the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement
and Future of Fishing Awards are due to ASA by May 5. For more information,
contact Policy Fellow Patrick O’Rouke,
x230.
NOAA to Survey Saltwater Anglers in 2006
In 2006, NOAA Fisheries will survey saltwater anglers nationwide to measure
their spending and estimate the economic impacts of sportfishing as part of
a special add-on to the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistical Survey (MRFSS).
Every dollar spent at the tackle shop, the grocery store or the gas station
goes a long way in supporting local economies. NOAA’s 2000 survey showed
that Americans spent more than $22 billion on bait, tackle, charters, and other
saltwater fishing related activities generating an economic impact of over
$30 billion. Results of the 2000 expenditure survey are available at http://spo.nwr.noaa.gov/pp2.pdf.
For more information, contact Brad Gentner at
NOAA.
Policy Watch—Government Affairs Update
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.
ASA Opposes Opening Areas of Chesapeake Bay to Yellow Perch Commercial
Harvest
In January, ASA submitted comments to Maryland’s Governor
Ehrlich expressing concern over the proposal to open additional areas
of the Chesapeake Bay to commercial take of yellow perch. The yellow
perch is the subject of a long term rebuilding plan and has only recently
been showing signs of improvement in the stock. The commercial harvesters
are currently not subject to catch limits, but certain areas are closed
to harvesting. Recreational anglers have a five fish bag limit which
will remain in effect.
ASA Supports Ratification of the Reduction Harvest Cap for Chesapeake
Menhaden
In 2005, ASA joined with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)
and a number of other recreational interest groups in a successful
push to have the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission place a cap on
the menhaden harvest in Chesapeake Bay. The cap must now be implemented
by the Virginia Legislature. Bills have been introduced in both chambers
of the legislature and ASA has voiced its support for approval of those
bills and will continue to work for passage of the legislation.
Pacific Northwest Spring Chinook Recreational Allocation
Recreational
interests were surprised and upset by the action of the Oregon Fish
and Wildlife Commission when this January it reduced the potential
recreational allocation for harvest of spring Chinook (hatchery raised)
in the Columbia River by five percent, transferring the five percent
to commercial harvesters. The Commission also gave the state director
authority to increase or decrease allocations by 5 percent. The river
is managed cooperatively by both Oregon and Washington State. ASA,
in coordination with the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Alliance,
submitted written comments to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
(WDWC) urging them to keep or increase the recreational allocation.
The WFWC voted January 14to retain the previously adopted 60 percent
recreational allocation. The two state directors will meet to resolve
the disparity.
ASA Hosts NOAA Recreational Fishery Staff
Washington-based
and regional office NOAA recreational fishery staff met in January
to become more familiar with recreational issues. NOAA staff met with
ASA and Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation staff in order
to establish better ties between the agency and recreational interests.
The day of meetings provided an opportunity for discussion of ideas
and concerns over NOAA’s management of recreational
fishing.
Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture Meets in West Virginia
In
January, ASA attended a three-day meeting of the Eastern Brook Trout
Joint Venture which included representatives from all 17 states in
the venture, multiple federal agencies and various NGOs. The meeting’s
goal was to establish agreement between the partners on how to move
forward in the future. This year, a small number of brook trout restoration
pilot projects will be launched throughout the historical range of
the fish.
NRCS Year in Review
In January, ASA attended a meeting hosted
by Bruce Knight, chief, USDA National Resources Conservation Service
where NRCS staff updated its partners on the agency’s work over the past year and its
direction for 2006 and beyond. ASA attended this meeting to gather
information to develop strategies for the 2007 Farm Bill. ASA
looks forward to working with Chief Knight in the coming year to further
enhance the inclusion of fisheries in Farm Bill programs.
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
For more information on Future Fisherman
activities contact Acting Executive Director Laura Jerome, x254 or Program Coordinator Jesse
Graytock, x224.
New Director for Future Fisherman Foundation
The Future Fisherman
Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Bolinder,
Arlington, Virg., as the foundation’s new
Executive Director. Bolinder comes to the position with an extensive
background in strategic planning, partner relations and government
affairs. Bolinder will join the foundation at the end of January. For
more information, contact Gordon
Robertson,
x237.
RBFF Renews Funding for National PE Grants Initiative
The Future Fisherman Foundation (F3) has received a $470,000 grant
from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to implement
the 2006/2007 National PE (Physical Education) Grants program. Entering
its fourth year, the program provides funding of up to $5,000 to public,
private and charter schools to teach fishing and boating to children
in grades K-12. To date, programs have been implemented in 111 schools
in 37 states.
PE Grants Initiative Grant Requests Due
The Future Fisherman Foundation, in partnership with the Recreational
Boating and Fishing Foundation, the American Association for Leisure
and Recreation and the National Association for Sport and Physical
Education, is accepting applications for the 2006/2007 National Physical
Education Grants Initiative. Final applications are due on March 31,
2006, for the 2006/2007 school year. The grant application and other
grant information is available at www.futurefisherman.org.
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
For more information about FishAmerica
activities, contact Managing Director Johanna
Laderman, x245 or Grants Coordinator Jeff
Bloem, x247. For more information about the Gulf Fund, contact Philanthropy
Officer John Bryan.
Habitat Restoration Proposals due January 27
FishAmerica Foundation
is accepting proposals for grassroots, community-based projects that
seek to restore habitat important to marine and anadromous fish species
(salmon and striped bass) along coastal America and the Great Lakes.
Up to $800,000 may be available for grants up to $50,000 through the
foundations’ partnership
with the NOAA Restoration Center. This eight-year partnership has awarded
more than $3.5 million for community projects to restore sportfish habitat
in 25 states. The grants will be awarded by June 30after approval by
FishAmerica’s
Conservation Committee.
Gulf Fund Receives Largest Donation to Date
The Shimano American
Corporation recently donated $10,000 to the FishAmerica Gulf Fund to
support the restoration of fisheries and fishing facilities devastated
by the 2005 hurricane season. The Gulf Fund will provide
funding to local sportfishing clubs and conservation organizations
to help restore sportfish populations, their habitat and fishing facilities
in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. To donate or for
more information, go to www.fishamerica.org.
Support Operation F.I.S.H and the Gulf Fund
ASA members and
other organizations can support the Gulf Fund initiative by purchasing
and donating Operation F.I.S.H hats (initiated by Zebco/WCB) to FishAmerica.
Operation F.I.S.H. hats have no branding other than the project name,
however, participating donors can benefit from their own publicity efforts
in support of the project and through FishAmerica’s
announcements. To obtain information on how to purchase and donate
hats, contact John Bryan.
Primedia Gulf Fund Subscription Offer
Primedia is offering discounted subscription rates to In-Fisherman, Fly
Fisherman, and Walleye In-Sider in support of the FishAmerica
Gulf Fund. Half of each $10 subscription to these magazines
will go to the fund. To order your subscription, or for more
information, go to www.fishamerica.org.
FishAmerica Contributors
Since October 1, 31 members of the American Sportfishing
Association have donated more than $27,700 through
direct donations, FishAmerica Gulf Fund donations, licensed-product
sales, tournament partnerships and endowment donations. These
members include:American Rod & Gun; Angler's Choice
by Suncoast; Calderone & Associates; Captain Hook Enterprises,
LLC; Carrera-Werner Sales Company; Citti Sales; Emmrod
Fishing Gear, LLC; E-Tackle, Inc.; Ferguson-Keller & Associates,
Inc.; Fishing and Hunting News; FLW Outdoors; Frank
and Fran's Fisherman's Friend; G.Loomis; KFM & Associates; Kureha
America Inc.; Lamiglas, Inc.; Lipper Tools, Inc.; LJS Endeavors,
Inc.; Ludwikoski and Associates, Inc.; Magic Products, Inc.;
NETGRA; Pacific Products; Pro Line Manufacturing; Reel E Good Products,
Inc.; Shimano American Corporation; Sportco Marketing,
Inc.; Sports, Inc.; Tormenter Fishing Products; TTI-Blakemore
Fishing Group; Yakima Bait Company ; and Zebco/WC Bradley. Names
in bold are new since the December 2005 update.
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that 2006 is less than a month old,
but I believe this year is the beginning of many years of growth for
the American Sportfishing Association. When I became president a little
over four years ago, it was pretty daunting to think about all the things
we needed to do to be the kind of professional, credible trade association
you wanted us to be. We’ve
come a long way to be sure, but there’s still a lot we can and will do.
This is going to be a pivotal year, and with some shared optimism and
perseverance, I’m confident this association will continue to grow and
prosper.
Part of my optimism is based on our newest partnership with
Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition, LLC. After much deliberation
and discussion, and with the full support of ASA’s Board of Directors,
on January 3, ASA announced a new partnership with Eastern Fishing.
Paul Fuller, founder of Eastern Fishing, has been producing these successful
shows for the past 30 years and ASA has every intention of doing the
same. To contact Eastern Fishing, call 603.431.4315 or go to
www.sportshows.com.
We believe that partnering with consumer shows is an important way
to support the sportfishing industry and provide a way for anglers,
boaters and outdoor enthusiasts to support the vital work of the association.
Roughly seven years ago, ASA entered the consumer show market through
a partnership with Bart Hall and the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat
Shows. Our partnership with the Halls has increased our association’s
visibility while providing an avenue for association growth. We expect
our new partnership with Eastern Fishing to accomplish the same.
I’m also optimistic about the direction of our Future Fisherman
Foundation. We’ve hired a new Executive Director, Michael Bolinder, who begins work
at the end of this month. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation
has renewed its funding of the foundation’s National PE Grants
Initiative which, I believe, has the potential to have a significant
impact on creating life-long anglers and boaters. I would like to see
the industry get solidly behind this initiative.
In the December/January 2006 of our association newsletter, American
Sportfishing, we asked four of our members representing outdoor
media, manufacturing, retail and wholesale, what’s on the horizon
for 2006. Optimism is there, albeit guarded optimism. Certainly the
horrific 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons had their impact on our
industry and no one wants to see a repeat of that in 2006, however,
Glenn Hughes, publisher of several national saltwater fishing publications,
summed it up this way: “It’s really not about how big
you are as much about your profitability – and whether you’re
taking care of your employees, your industry, your customers and
the environment—not necessarily in that order. As for me,
I hope to get out and fish more.”
I don’t think I could say it any better than that. Here’s
to a successful and profitable 2006. And let’s all get out there
and fish more!
