March 2006 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.
This is a partial list of the topics covered in this update. Please
scroll down for the complete document. Previous ASA Member Updates
are available in the ASA
Newsroom.
ASA Actively Involved in West Coast Salmon Season Issue
Federal Manufacturers’ Excise Tax Update
Victory for Manufacturers: New Law Strikes Major Blow Against $500
Billion Counterfeiting Racket
ASA Staff Attend 71st North American Conference
Future Fisherman Foundation goes Extreme!
Exhibiting at ICAST 2006
ICAST 2006 Exhibitor Conference Call Schedule
ICAST 2006 Exhibitors—We Want to Help You!
ICAST Attendee Registration
MAATS Co-locates with ICAST
New Product Showcase Expands for 2006
Reelin’ & Dealin’—A Guide to ICAST-Only Show Specials
ICAST on the Web
Consumer Shows Going Strong
National Fishing and Boating Week 2006
Nominations for ASA National Awards Due in May
Update—ASA Member Survey Coming in April
2006 Sportfishing Summit—Mark Your Calendars for Sunny San Diego
Welcome New Members!
ASA to Co-Host Congressional Casting Call on April 24
National Fish Habitat Action Plan
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
ASA Actively Involved in West Coast Salmon Season Issue
The decision regarding the closure of the 2006 ocean salmon season
is fast approaching. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC)
will meet April 3-5 to vote on passing an emergency rule and to subsequently
accept one of three options for the season. The National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) has indicated it will override any Council decision
that would allow for a limited 2006 season. ASA has been working closely
with West coast members on this issue and is supporting grassroots
efforts to maintain a 2006 season. Gordon Robertson, ASA VP, attended
a March PFMC meeting and public hearing in California where he presented
remarks in favor of keeping the season open. ASA is also working on
the state and federal levels to address the issue. At its March meeting,
the Pacific Fishery Management Council presented three options for
the harvest of salmon off of California and part of the Oregon coasts.
The options are: closing the 2006 season, repeating the reduced harvest
of 2005 and a compromise between the two. This decision was triggered
by a lower projected number of spawning salmon returning to the Klamath
River in 2006. To prevent closure of the 2006 ocean salmon fishery
based on weak stocks from one river source, ASA urges its members and
partners to contact the Secretary of Commerce, the White House, the
Pacific Fishery Management Council and their members
of Congress asking
them to direct NMFS to work with the Council to pass an emergency rule
to forestall complete closure, and instead provide for a season that
will address population concerns without the severe economic impact
of closure. For more information, contact Gordon
Robertson,
x237.
Federal Manufacturers’ Excise Tax Update
ASA is still waiting for the final version of the IRS Director's Industry
Directive concerning scenarios and factors determining how excise taxes
should be paid by sportfishing manufacturers. As of March 31, 2006,
the document is still being reviewed by the IRS counsel. ASA members
will be notified when the document is available. For more information,
contact Gordon
Robertson,
x237.
Victory for Manufacturers: New Law Strikes Major Blow Against $500
Billion Counterfeiting Racket
On March 16, President Bush signed the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured
Goods Act (H.R. 32). For the first time, the federal government is armed with
much-needed tools to dismantle portions of the $500 billion global trade in
fake products. On Wednesday, July 19, during CAST 2006, there will be a seminar
on counterfeiting open to all ICAST attendees.
ASA Staff Attend 71st North American Conference
ASA and FishAmerica and Future Fisherman Foundation staff attended
the 71st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in
Columbus, Ohio held March 14-17. The "North American" is
one of the largest gatherings of fishery and wildlife officials and
other fish and wildlife interest groups held each year. ASA participated
in a number of committee meetings including Ocean Resources, Education,
Outreach and Diversity, National Grants, Angling and Boating Participation,
Agricultural Conservation, Trust Funds, Legislative and Budget, Federal
and Tribal Relations, Fisheries and Water Resources Policy and Energy
Policy.
Future Fisherman Foundation goes Extreme!
The Future Fisherman Foundation played a significant role in a recent
taping of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Details are top
secret, but please tune in to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Sunday
night, April 2, at 7:00 p.m., EST, on ABC. For more information,
contact Foundation Executive Director Mike
Bolinder, x238.
Exhibiting at ICAST 2006
With the show floor completely sold out, ICAST 2006 is without a doubt
the hottest sportfishing ticket in town. Booth space contracts continue
to come in, but with 100 percent sold, remaining space is available
on a wait list only. Exhibitor
registration is
open and all exhibitors are encouraged to register as soon as possible.
ICAST 2006
sponsorship opportunities are available for exhibitors and
all ASA members. The Exhibitor Promo Pak was mailed in early March.
The Promo Pak is produced by ASA for ICAST exhibitors to assist them
in building a successful show presence for their companies. Exhibitors
who have paid both their booth fees and their ASA membership dues should
expect to receive their Exhibitor Service Manual in the mail beginning
the first week of April. Please contact Ann
Sweeney,
Membership assistant, x241 if you need assistance regarding membership
dues.
ICAST 2006 Exhibitor Conference Call Schedule
To ensure that exhibitors
have as much information as possible, ASA has arranged three conference
calls in the months leading up tot ICAST. The first call was held on
Monday, March 27. The next two calls are scheduled for Thursday, April
20 and Monday, May 22. More details are available in the Exhibitor
Promo Pak. For more information on any and all things ICAST, please
contact Kelly
Camirand, x231.
ICAST 2006 Exhibitors—We Want to Help You!
Every Monday, beginning
with Monday, April 3, ASA will be sending a weekly e-mail to ICAST
exhibitors with “important to know” information.
Please watch your “in” boxes for these important e-mails
from Kelly Camirand, ICAST coordinator. In addition, all important
ICAST deadlines are listed on page 31 of the Promo Pak. Please check
to make sure you aren’t missing important deadlines for Show
Specials and the Buyers’ Guide.
ICAST Attendee Registration
ICAST attendee
registration is open on ASA’s Web site. ICAST 2006
attendee registration brochures were mailed in early March. If you didn’t
receive a hard-copy registration brochure, please feel free to register
on the Web site. It’s easy to register online with the step by
step instructions.
MAATS Co-locates with ICAST
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 more information on any and all things ICAST,
please contact Kelly
Camirand, x231.
New Product Showcase Expands for 2006
This year, the New Product Showcase, the show’s flagship
feature, is expected to draw even bigger crowds and turn heads as competition
for the "Best of Show" awards intensifies. In order
to accommodate more equitable product voting, we’ve expanded
our product categories for 2006. The Rod and Reel categories have both
been split into freshwater and saltwater and we’ve added a new
category for the growing Eyewear industry. Additionally, Electronics
is its own category while Boating Accessories and Giftware have been
consolidated into one category. Exhibitors will now have the opportunity
to compete in a total of 16 product categories as well as the overall
Best of Show. The Exhibitor Promo Pak contains all the information
and official rules of the New Product Showcase. The Promo
Pak is available
in hard-copy and on the Web site.
Questions concerning the New Product Showcase should be directed to Kelly
Camirand, x231.
Reelin’ & Dealin’—A Guide to ICAST-Only
Show Specials
Special product discounts—exclusive to ICAST—have been
a popular draw for both domestic and international buyers for years.
One of ASA’s latest endeavors, debuting in 2006, will give buyers
a better opportunity to save money on product orders placed during
the show. The new “Reelin’ & Dealin’: A
Guide to ICAST-Only Show Specials” will be distributed to
registered buyers before and during the show. The deadline for a listing
in the show special guide is May 1. For more information, please contact Kelly
Camirand, x231.
ICAST on the Web
We continually 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 continue to check the Web site
for the latest information and updates.
ASA Consumer Show Updates
Both the West coast-based Fred Hall Fishing Tackle & Boat Shows
and East coast-based Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition, LLC,
partners with ASA in the consumer show arena, report increased attendance
at this year’s shows. Beginning with the Fred Hall show this
past January in San Francisco and the concluding at the end of March
with the Saltwater Fishing Exposition, new in 2006, in Somerset, New
Jersey; both organizations report the best retail sales in recent years.
Sportfishing manufacturers have increased their presence at the West
coast shows offering a broader line of products for consumers. The
debut of the Saltwater Expo provides a new venue for anglers and outdoor
enthusiasts in the mid-Atlantic. The 2007 show dates for the Fred Hall
shows are: San Francisco, February 14-18, 2007; Long Beach, March 7-11,
2007 and San Diego, March 21-25, 2007. The 2007 dates for the Eastern
Fishing & Outdoor Exposition shows are: February 8-11, Worcester,
Mass.; March 1-4, Suffern, New York; March 10-11, Wilmington, Mass.;
and March 16-18, Somerset, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.fredhall.com or www.sportshows.com.
Registration for 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;
a luncheon with federal and state agency representatives; various ASA
committee meetings; 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.
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.
Update—ASA Member Survey Coming in April
A lot has happened in the sportfishing industry and in the
association since the 2004 Member Survey—new staff, new members
and new programs—and we want to know how we’re doing as
your association. The distribution of the 2006 ASA Member Survey will
occur in early April. For more information, contact Mary
Jane Williamson, x227.
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.
Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members or members who reinstated their
membership in March: Advanced Graphics, Inc.; Cascade Crest Tools;
Cel-Pak, Inc.; CM International, Inc.; East Cape Resorts; eCommerce
Outdoors/Tackle Direct; Flex Products; Harrington Graphics & Screenprinting;
Kowa American Corporation; Lims Tackle Enterprise Company; Liquid Fence
Company, Inc.; Meiho Chemical Industry Company, Ltd.; Musky Innovations
LLC; The Outdoor Channel; Pawn Palace, LLC; Reel Grip, Ltd.; Revolution
Sales & Marketing; Sasame Hooks, Ltd.; Shenzhen Shenzing Technology
Development Co., Ltd.; Southwick Associates, Inc.; and Xiamen Powdee
Fishing Tackle Co., Ltd.
ASA to Co-Host Congressional Casting Call on April 24
On April 24, ASA, along with the American Fly Fishing Trade
Association, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will welcome Members of Congress
to the 7th annual Congressional Casting Call event on the Potomac River,
Washington, D.C. The highlight of the event is fishing for American
and Hickory Shad during their annual run up the Potomac. This year’s
Casting Call will also serve as the official roll-out for the National
Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP).
For more information, visit the Casting
Call Web site or contact Patrick
O’Rouke, x230.
National Fish Habitat Action Plan
Supported by a nationwide coalition of federal and state agencies,
conservation groups and industry, the National
Fish Habitat Action Plan is aimed at restoring fisheries habitat
across the country. This unprecedented plan, modeled after the North
American Waterfowl Management Plan, promises to enhance cooperation
of governmental agencies and stakeholders and begin managing fisheries
in new, innovative ways. Add
your organization to the growing list
of partners getting involved to improve fish habitat.
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
For more information on Future Fisherman activities contact Mike
Bolinder, x238, Laura Jerome,
x254 or Jesse Graytock, x224.
HOFNOD Program Evaluations
The second-year results of the
ongoing Hooked On Fishing–Not
On Drugs® multi-year evaluation shows a clear advantage in utilizing
longer-term HOFNOD programs over short-term or one-day HOFNOD programs.
The results show that the main benefit of one day programs is to increase
participants’ interest in fishing but there is no significant
improvement in increasing fishing skills or concern for the aquatic
resources in one day programs. Long-term use of HOFNOD curriculum increases
both. For an executive summary or the complete evaluation, please contact
Laura Jerome,
x254.
PE Grants Applications Due in April
The Future Fisherman Foundation
announces its official partnerships with the Recreational Fishing and
Boating Foundation (RBFF) and the National Association of Sport and
Physical Educators (NASPE). The
foundation, RBFF and NASPE are working collaboratively on the national
fishing and boating education grants initiative. The program makes
grants of up to $5,000 available to schools across the nation to create
in-school fishing and boating education programs. Together, the
foundation, RBFF and NASPE will continue to grow a new generation of
anglers and boaters. Grant applications are due April 14.
The grant application and other grant information is available at www.futurefisherman.org.
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
For more information about FishAmerica activities, contact Johanna
Laderman, x245 or Jeff Bloem,
x247. For more information about the Gulf Fund, contact John Bryan.
FishAmerica Gulf Fund
Through the Gulf Fund, the FishAmerica
Foundation continues to raise money to restore sportfish habitat and
facilities devastated by Gulf Coast hurricanes. Funds have come
from direct donations and many partnerships. Everyone can show
their support for restring Gulf Coast sportfishing by purchasing an
Operation F.I.S.H ball cap or ordering a discounted subscription to In-Fisherman, Fly
Fisherman,
and Walleye In-Sider. A special thanks to Zebco/WCB
and Primedia for their help with these partnerships. For more
information, please visit www.fishamerica.org or
contact John Bryan.
Family Fishing Waters Improved
FishAmerica has awarded nearly
$32,000, funded in part by Pro Line Manufacturing, for three family
fishing waters improvement projects. These
projects will help restore more than 13 acres of habitat in Montgomery,
Alabama, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Cascade, Idaho. More than
175 volunteers will spend approximately 3,125 hours improving habitat
for a variety of sportfish. The grant recipients will provide
nearly $60,000 for a three for one match to foundation funds. Since
2001, Pro Line Manufacturing has donated nearly $350,000 to FishAmerica.
For more information about Pro Line Manufacturing, please visit www.prolineboots.com.
Freshwater Fish Habitat Restored
FishAmerica has awarded $17,500
for two projects to help restore more than 19 miles of fisheries habitat
and water quality in Oconee County, South Carolina and Chilliwack,
British Columbia. Sixteen volunteers
will spend 500 hours improving habitat for a variety of sportfishing
species. The grant recipients will provide $31,500 in match—nearly
a two-to-one match for each FishAmerica grant dollar.
Wal-Mart FLW Tournament
FishAmerica staff attended the Wal-Mart
FLW Tournament on Pickwick Lake, Florence, Alabama. A total grant
award of $6,844, including proceeds from “It’s
My World” wristband
sales, a $1,500 donation on behalf of the National Guard and each day’s
leading pro angler, and a $5,000 donation from FLW Outdoors will be
awarded to the Northwest Alabama Natural Resource and Conservation
District to restore water quality and stabilize streambanks on a Pickwick
Lake tributary.
FishAmerica Contributors
Since October 1, 2005, 41 members of the American
Sportfishing Association have donated nearly $39,000 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;
Bass Pro Shops; Calderone & Associates; Captain Hook Enterprises,
LLC; Carrera-Werner Sales Company; Citti Sales; Cixi City Boyang Fishing
Tackle Co., Ltd.; Creek Company; Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle; Emmrod
Fishing Gear, LLC; E-Tackle, Inc.; Ferguson-Keller & Associates,
Inc.; Fishing and Hunting News; Flex Products; FLW
Outdoors; Frank and Fran's Fisherman's Friend; GAMMA Technologies; G.Loomis;
KFM & Associates; Kowa American Corp.; Kureha
America Inc.; Lamiglas, Inc.; Lipper Tools, Inc.; LJS Endeavors, Inc.;
Ludwikoski and Associates, Inc.; Magic Products, Inc.; NETGRA; Pacific
Products; Pelagic, LLC; Pro Line Manufacturing; Reel E Good Products,
Inc.; Shimano American Corporation; Sportco Marketing, Inc.; Sports,
Inc.; Tackle Tech; Thomas Spinning Lures, Inc.; Tormenter
Fishing Products; TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group; Yakima Bait Company
; and Zebco/WC Bradley. Names in bold are new since the February
2006 update. ASA thanks everyone for their support.
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
Of all the things we do as an association, uniting our members
on behalf of key issues is at the top of the list.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) will meet next week
to vote on the 2006 ocean salmon fishing season. The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) has indicated it will push for the entire
California and part of Oregon’s coasts to be closed to ocean
salmon fishing because of a weak salmon stock in the Klamath River.This
is unacceptable. Many communities in these coastal states depend on
sportfishing to support their local economies, and are the hardest
hit by management decisions such as the one NMFS is proposing.
This is a time when we need to pull together. ASA is playing an active
role in the ocean salmon season issue, supporting the grassroots efforts
of our West Coast members and California anglers groups such as the
Coastside Fishing Club. We’ve been in contact with the Secretary
of Commerce, Members of Congress, the White House and other members
of the administration and NMFS and NOAA staff asking them to support
continuing the salmon season.
Toward that end, wherever you are, whatever your interests, I encourage
you to take action. I know you aren’t in the Government Affairs
business, but we know that numbers talk and your voice is needed now.
Please go to ASA’ s Web site, under Government Affairs, and send
a message to the Secretary of Commerce, the White House, the Pacific
Fishery Management Council and Members
of Congress that you oppose the closing of the 2006 ocean salmon
fishing season.
Your voice is needed now! Thank you!
