February 2010 American Sportfishing Association Policy Watch
Policy Watch is a monthly update for the sportfishing community about the American Sportfishing Association’s Government Affairs activities.
For more information on ASA Government Affairs activities, contact Gordon Robertson, vice president and Government Affairs lead, 703.519.9691, x237, Patty Doerr, Ocean Resource Policy director, x244, or Mike Leonard, Policy Fellow, x230.
Sportfishing Community Mourns the Passing of Sam Hamilton
Community Calls for Major Marine Fisheries Management Changes
Marine Spatial Planning Interim Framework Comments Submitted
NOAA Appoints New Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Service
Voice Your Opposition to a Premature Ocean Policy Executive Order
Update on National Park Service Proposed Lead Ban
California Marine Life Protection Act Planning Update
Proposed Lead Fishing Tackle Ban in Washington State Update
Oregon Marine Reserves Update
Send a Letter to Support the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act
Federal Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Holds Meeting
Sportfishing Community Mourns the Passing of Sam Hamilton
On behalf of the sportfishing community, ASA extends its sincere condolences to the family of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Sam Hamilton who unexpectedly passed away on February 20, 2010. Prior to his appointment as director, from 1997 – 2009, Hamilton served as Director of the agency’s Southeast Region in Atlanta. A friend of anglers and hunters, Hamilton was skillful at negotiating solutions to difficult problems; his presence will be missed.
Community Calls for Major Marine Fisheries Management Changes
A coalition of marine recreational fishing, boating, and conservation organizations and businesses have called on the Obama administration to take immediate action to address a crisis within the federal fisheries management system. In a February 24 letter to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the American Sportfishing Association, The Billfish Foundation , the Center for Coastal Conservation , the Coastal Conservation Association , the International Game Fish Association , and the National Marine Manufacturers Association laid out an initial framework to immediately address serious and escalating problems resulting from inadequate implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the chronic problems that exist within the federal marine fisheries management system. The coalition emphasizes that there are available administrative actions that can be taken immediately to address the concerns of the sportfishing and boating industries and the nation’s 13 million saltwater anglers who depend on well managed, healthy marine fisheries. Read the full letter sent to Dr. Lubchenco here .
Marine Spatial Planning Interim Framework Comments Submitted
ASA, along with nine other partner recreational fishing and boating organizations, submitted joint comments on the White House Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force’s Interim Framework for Effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning. The coalition stressed that the national ocean policy acknowledge the economic, conservation and social contributions of recreational fishing and boating by encouraging and promoting recreational activities in marine and freshwater environments. The coalition expressed its support for increasing coordination among the federal and state agencies that manage or regulate the oceans and coasts, but also expressed concerns about creating new bureaucracies that would impose top-down regulations, which would impinge on state agencies which have primary jurisdiction for resident fish and wildlife. ASA and other representatives of the recreational fishing community met with the Council on Environmental Quality, which chairs the Ocean Policy Task Force, to further discuss these concerns. The Interim Framework follows on the task force’s first document which drafted a national policy and implementation strategy for conserving and managing the oceans, the Great Lakes, and the coasts of the United States.
NOAA Appoints New Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Service
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the appointment of Eric Schwaab as NOAA’s Assistant Administrator for Fisheries. In this position, Schwaab will oversee management and conservation of marine fisheries and marine mammals, sea turtles and coastal fisheries habitat within the U.S. economic zone. Schwaab most recently served as Deputy Secretary for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. ASA looks forward to working with Schwaab in his new role to improve the focus and recognition of recreational fishing within NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service.
Voice Your Opposition to a Premature Ocean Policy Executive Order
Despite the complexity of establishing a national ocean policy and no final recommendations document, pressure is being placed on the President to use an executive order to establish sweeping ocean management polices. An executive order would bypass the oversight process, including Congressional review. To send a letter to President Obama, Members of Congress, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Chair of the Ocean Policy Task Force click here or visit www.keepamericafishing.org urging them follow appropriate Congressional review and oversight before a new ocean policy is put in place that would affect recreational fishing and boating along the nation’s coasts, in the ocean and the Great Lakes. Please act now to protect fresh and saltwater recreational fishing opportunities.
Update on National Park Service Proposed Lead Ban
On January 27, ASA and representatives from the shooting sports community met with Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland along with Department of Interior and National Park Service (NPS) staff to discuss the NPS’ intention to ban fishing tackle with lead components in national parks. Strickland confirmed the ban only pertains to NPS operations and that any regulations that would extend to the public must follow the appropriate rulemaking process. ASA has stressed that any change in federal policy that would affect the sportfishing industry needs to follow appropriate rulemaking guidelines, including evaluating relevant science and an open public process.
California Marine Life Protection Act Planning Update
ASA and the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO), which represents the recreational fishing and boating community in California, continue to be engaged in the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) South Coast Planning Process. The PSO recently called upon the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) to keep the MLPA process in Southern California on an “even keel,” demanding that all marine protected area (MPA) proposals be given fair and equal consideration by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) as clearly stated during the December 9, 2009, FGC meeting. During its February meeting held in Sacramento, Calif., the FGC indicated that it was possible that only the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA), the Blue Ribbon Task Force’s proposal, would have regulations proposed by the DFG, thus effectively ending consideration for Proposal 2 and the other Regional Stakeholder Group proposals. The PSO supports Proposal 2 because it provides significant conservation measures for California’s ocean resources while minimizing the economic impact of lost recreational fishing and boating opportunity.
Proposed Lead Fishing Tackle Ban in Washington State Update
During its February 4 – 6, 2010, meeting in Olympia, Wash., the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission (WFWC) decided not to adopt a ban on the use of small lead fishing tackle at 13 lakes in Washington. The commission agreed to schedule additional public input during the next several months on this and another proposal before acting on any proposed changes. ASA had previously submitted written comment and spoke at the December WFWC meeting in opposition to the ban.
Oregon Marine Reserves Update
ASA and its Oregon representative continue to work with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials, state legislators and angler groups to refine Oregon’s process for establishing marine reserves. In a recent visit to Oregon, ASA staff met with legislators, agency staff and angler groups to discuss the economic contributions of sportfishing, including job retention; the progress of community groups in Oregon in their deliberations on study areas; and how to ensure a transparent funding and implementation process. Community groups for each study area began meeting in January 2010. Industry interests were represented at these meetings.
Send a Letter to Support the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act
ASA continues to work with other members of the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (NFHCA) legislative team to advocate with Members of Congress for their support of the bill and to seek additional sponsorship. To ensure this bill is passed, please send a letter to your House of Representatives member today asking for him or her to support the NFHCA. Additional co-sponsors are needed for this bill to succeed. The foundation for the NFHCA is the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP).
Federal Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Holds Meeting
The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), a federal committee that advises the Secretary of Commerce on marine resource issues met in February in Hawaii. The agenda included discussions on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Draft Catch Share Policy; updates on NOAA's proposed 2011 budget; and recommendations for nominees to the Recreational Fishing Working Group. The next meeting will be held June 29-July 1, 2010. ASA Ocean Resource Policy Director Patty Doerr attended the February 23-25 meeting.
