A periodic information source for members of the American
Sportfishing Association and partners on issues of interest to the future
of fishing.
March 2005
ASA March Board of Directors Meeting
The ASA’s Board of Directors met on March 4, 2005, during
the ASA/Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show in Long Beach, Calif.
The Board discussed a variety of issues including marine protected
areas; future ICAST shows; Board nominations and the nominating process;
ASA member dues structure; and the excise tax on fishing tackle. ASA
issued a press release regarding the
board’s response to a report issued in January by the staff of the Joint Committee
on Taxation regarding the excise tax. For
more information, contact Mike
Nussman, x252.
Board of Directors Election
Keep an eye out for ballots for the election of six members
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 West, South Central and Southeast regions. Ballots are
due by May 31, 2005. For more information, contact Board Liaison Joyce
Anderson-Logan, x233.
ICAST 2005: Registration Open—Exhibitor Info Coming Soon
ICAST 2005 is on its way to being a sell-out show. As
of March 18, 339 exhibitors have reserved 1,125 booths for ICAST. The
floor is now 97 percent reserved. Online
exhibitor registration is now open.
Attendee registration materials will be in mailboxes in early April
with online registration also available. ICAST host hotels are already
taking housing reservations. Exhibitors will receive their ICAST Promo
Paks in early April with Exhibitor Service Kits coming in mid-April.
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 and new
sponsors have signed on in 2005. For a full list of ICAST sponsorship
opportunities, go to the ASA
Web site and click on the Sponsorship Opportunities icon. Contact
Maria del Valle,
x240 for more information.
ASA Events for National Fishing & Boating Week
Please let us know if you’re planning to take part in ASA-sponsored
activities (June 6-8) during National
Fishing and Boating Week. During our Congressional Reception, June
7, we’ll celebrate with partners and Members of Congress and honor
sportfishing champions with our annual Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement
Award and the Future of Fishing Award. On June 9, we’re co-sponsoring
a Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Breakfast with the Congressional
Sportsmen’s Foundation. We’ve also scheduled ASA committee
meetings and visits with Members of Congress. For more information, contact
Policy Fellow Patrick O’Rouke,
x230, or Brad Fisher, assistant
director, Communications, x222. Award nomination forms are available
on the ASA Web site.
ASA Award Nominations Due on May 2
Nominations for the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement and
Future of Fishing Awards are due on May 2, 2005. The criteria for the
awards and the nomination form are located on ASA’s Web site under
Shows and Events > National
Fishing and Boating Week 2005. Additional information about the awards is also in the February/March
2005 issue of ASA’s newsletter, American Sportfishing.
Sportfishing Community Unites Against Blame for Dwindling U.S. Fish Stocks
In its March 11 issue, Science Magazine printed the letter-to-the-editor
that ASA, along with eighteen other sportfishing organizations, submitted
to refute allegations that recreational anglers are to blame for the
decline of United States fish populations. The letter stems from a 2004
study titled, “The Impact of United States Recreational
Fishers on Marine Fish Populations,” (Science Express,
26 August, 2004, Science, Volume 305, 24 September, 2004, p.
1958, F. C. Coleman et al.) in which the authors suggest that the overfished
condition of marine fish stocks rests on the shoulders of the recreational
angler.
Angler Advocacy at the Long Beach Show
Tom Raftican, president, United Anglers of Southern Calif., and
Bart Hall, once again, coordinated a Sportfish Leadership lunch briefing
on Thursday, March 3, for more than 300 anglers and other guests. This
is another major step in aligning the interests of the recreational fishing
community in California. This briefing mirrored the one held in January
during the ASA/Fred Hall San Francisco show. ASA Board Chairman Dave
Pfeiffer, Shimano American Corporation; ASA Government Affairs chairman
Bill Shedd, AFTCO, and Mike Nussman ASA president and CEO, along with
Rebecca Lent, deputy assistant administrator, NOAA Fisheries, and representatives
from 8 other agencies and organizations spoke on key issues affecting
recreational sportfishing.
Business Outlook Survey and Business Stats
On March 21, ASA manufacturer members received a fax survey for
the second quarter of 2005 (April/May/June) related to industry sales
trends which we call Business Indices. Since 2004, we’ve been tabulating
the results and making them available on our Web
site and in the ASA
newsletter. For more information, contact Communications Director
Mary Jane Williamson,
x227.
Robertson Honored for Aquatic Conservation
Gordon Robertson, ASA VP and lead for Government Affairs, received
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services’ Assistant Director’s
Conservation Award for his outstanding contributions to the conservation
of aquatic habitats at the Service’s second annual “Hook
and Cook” Festival. The award was presented during the Capitol
Hill event.
Policy Watch—Government Affairs Update
For more information on ASA Government Affairs activities,
contact Gordon Robertson,
VP and Government Affairs, x237 or Carol
Forthman, director, Ocean
Resource Policy,
x244
Federal Budget Briefings
During February, ASA attended the federal budget briefings held
at the offices of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies. ASA also coordinated a FishNet budget hot button list for federal
agencies appropriation needs for the fishery community to use.
Excise Tax and the IRS
ASA continues to lead the way in getting the IRS to be fair and
responsive to ASA member needs regarding the excise tax. In February,
Gordon Robertson, along with several industry representatives, attended
the second IRS excise tax workshop for the IRS regional excise tax specialists
to provide industry input on the issue. ASA also attended the February
meeting of the excise tax working group.
Aquatic Resources Trust Fund
ASA worked with House and Senate members for introduction of legislation
to increase the amount of the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund by $110 million
by capturing all of the federal fuel tax attributable to motor boats
and small engines. ASA issued a press release in support of this legislation.
ASA Welcomes New Staff
Brad Fisher joins ASA as the new Assistant Director for Communications.
Fisher has spent the last five years in public affairs and public relations
in Washington, D.C., including work for the Department of Homeland
Security. Patrick O’Rouke, a recent graduate of the University
of Georgia with a degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture is ASA’s
new Government Affairs Policy Fellow.
ASA Annual Audit Complete
The FY04 annual audit is complete and was submitted in draft
to the ASA Board of Directors at their March meeting. The final report
is due to ASA by early April.
Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members, and former members who have
reinstated their memberships in February: Adventure Products; Assateague
Mobile Sport Fishermen's Association, Inc.; Captain Hook Enterprises,
LLC; Carp Tackle Imports and Wholesale; CorbCo; Crowder Rods, Inc.;
Danny King's Catfish Punch Bait; Drifter Tackle, Inc.; Engel USA; Fishin'
with Red, LLC; Gotcha Fishing Stuff; Grand Slam Group; Louisiana Fish
Fry Products; Mazzaferro Produtos Para Pesca Ltda.; Neoptx; Pelagix;
Perfect Image of South Florida Inc.; Qianxi Fishing Tackle Company,
Ltd.; Spanyid; Spirit River, Inc.; Sportfishingreport.com; Tamer Products,
Inc.; Topper.
FishAmerica Receives Record Number of Restoration Proposals
The FishAmerica Foundation has received nearly 70 proposals
requesting more than $2.6 million from the foundation through its partnership
with the NOAA Restoration Center to restore marine and anadromous fish
habitat along the coastal US and in the Great Lakes Basin. With
only $600,000 in grant funds, the decision making process is going
to be difficult with many good projects going unfunded. Approved projects
will be awarded their grants in June 2005. For more information, contact
Managing Director, Johanna
Laderman,
x245.
FishAmerica Contributors
As of the end of February, 32 members of the American Sportfishing
Association have donated more than $72,000 to FishAmerica through direct
donations, licensed product sales, and endowment donations: Angler's
Choice/Suncoast of America, LLC; Aqua-Scent; Boone Bait ; Captain Hook
Enterprises, LLC; Creek Company; Do-It Corporation; Emmrod Fishing
Gear; Frank & Fran's Fisherman's Friend, Inc.; Gudebrod, Inc.;
HMT Marketing, Inc.; JBS Fishing Line; Kanji International Inc.; Kreha
Corporation of America; 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.; Thomas Spinning Lures, Inc.; Water
Gremlin Company; Wright and McGill Company; and the Yakima Bait Company.
FishAmerica Expands Site Visits
FishAmerica visited project sites in Calif. and Fla. The St.
Lucie County, Fla. project restored fish access and tidal flow to spawning
and rearing areas in the Indian River Lagoon. The potential project
site involves restoring an area of the Indian River Lagoon devastated
by the 2004 hurricanes by planting mangroves to stabilize the shoreline
and provide habitat for sportfish such as snook and redfish. The
Calif. projects, in Carlsbad and San Diego, restored fisheries habitat
in the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon (home to a white sea bass grow-out center)
and at the mouth of the San Diego River. Both projects were funded
through FishAmerica’s partnership with the NOAA Restoration Center. For
more information, contact Managing Director, Johanna
Laderman,
x245.
FishAmerica and "It’s Your World” Raise Project Funds
FishAmerica, in partnership with FLW Outdoors and BP Castrol, launched
the “It’s Your World” at the Wal-Mart FLW Tournament Louisiana
to raise awareness and funds for the foundation. The blue and green wristbands,
funded by BP Castrol, are a thank you to those who donate $1 or more to FishAmerica. The
wristbands are available at the remaining five Wal-Mart FLW Tournaments and other
events. For more information, contact Managing Director, Johanna
Laderman, x245.
Future Fisherman Foundation Board of Directors Meets in Long Beach
The Future Fisherman Foundation’s Board of Directors met in conjunction
with the ASA/Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show in Long Beach, Calif. Dave
Burkhardt, president of Triple Fish International, Fla., will serve on the Future
Fisherman Foundation’s Board of Directors as the representative for the
American Sportfishing Association’s Board. The “Turn Never Anglers
into Forever Anglers” marketing and promotional campaign was unveiled for
use by ASA members. For more information about the campaign and materials, contact
Anne Glick, executive director,
x238.
National Fishing and Boating Education Grants Initiative
Forty-one grant applications to incorporate fishing and boating in physical
education classes were received from 21 different states. Grants are currently
being reviewed and schools will be notified of funding decisions by April 8,
2005. For more information, contact PE Grants Coordinator Jesse
Graytock, x224.
HOFNOD Coordinators Meet
In February, 31 participants from 22 states, territories and the District
of Columbia were represented at the annual Hooked On Fishing–Not On Drugs®Coordinators
meeting. Participants focused on increasing the number of anglers in urban environments.
For more information, contact foundation Assistant Director Laura
Jerome,
x254.
HOFNOD Program Evaluation Available
The results of year one of a multi-year evaluation of the Hooked On Fishing–Not
On Drugs®program are available. Evaluation results
indicate that longer-term angling programs create a substantial increase in fishing
skills, concern for the environment, and interest in choosing fishing as an activity.
For copies of the evaluation, contact foundation assistant director Laura
Jerome,
x254.
Message from the President
Spring is in the air here in Washington and we're getting enough
days of temperatures in the 50s to remind us that fishing season in
many parts of the country is about to take off. It's been great
hearing about the strong sales at the major distributor shows and the
optimistic outlook for fishing this spring and summer. Our 2005 first-quarter
business outlook survey showed a strong sense of optimism among manufacturers.
ICAST 2005 will, once again, be a sellout show and we’re expecting
a double-digit increase in attendance. In other words, “take
me fishing!”
This brings me to the recent announcement by the Recreational Boating
and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) of a new branding direction and expanded
target audience to enhance its ongoing marketing efforts to grow fishing
and boating participation nationwide. The Water Works Wonders™ brand
is now “Take me fishing.” The RBFF board of directors made
the decision this past January in response to findings from a 2004
advertising awareness study and other campaign evaluation considerations.
”Take me fishing” is a loud and clear call to action, and leaves
no doubt as to what we are asking the American public to do. With “take
me fishing” as the message and the brand, I’m confident that more
industry members than ever will jump on board to help grow participation. The
board’s other major decision was to broaden the RBFF target audience to
include women, ages 25–54. That change also comes as a result of the
RBFF consumer surveys and evaluations. In fact, the 2004 advertising awareness
study revealed that the creative scored as high, and in some cases higher, with
women than it did men. With “Take me fishing” scoring so well among
women, RBFF sees the findings to be a real bonus for the program and for every
stakeholder who uses the campaign’s new “take me fishing” branded
materials.
In the end, it's all about making the most judicious use of Wallop-Breaux
investments that fund the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation
and the “Take me fishing” campaign.
