March 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.
Urge the White House to Safeguard Recreational Fishing
California Marine Life Protection Act Planning Update
NOAA Appoints New National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries
National Fish Habitat Conservation Act Update
Keep America Fishing Takes Another Step Forward
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area Update
Conservation Groups Release “Beyond Season’s End
Oregon Marine Reserves Update
ASA Calls on Congress to Restore Funding for National Wildlife Refuges
ASA Comments on “Let’s Move” Campaign
Alaska Board of Fisheries Allows Electric Reels for Sport Fishing
ASA Staff Attends Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Reception
FishNet Federal Agency Budget Briefing Meeting
ASA Attends North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference
Urge the White House to Safeguard Recreational Fishing
Within the next few weeks, the Obama Administration is planning to issue a final report, and possibly other policy guidance, outlining the administration’s plans to manage the nation's oceans, coastal areas and Great Lakes. The plan started with a presidential memo released in June 2009 that ordered the development of a national ocean policy through the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force.The task force, led by the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, was charged with developing a national policy for conserving and managing the United States ocean territory and the Great Lakes.The White House is in the final stages of developing the final report, which must balance sustainable uses with ocean and Great Lakes conservation. Go to www.keepamericafishing.org to send a letter to President Obama and other key policy makers urging the task force to recognize and promote recreational fishing and boating in the national policy.
California Marine Life Protection Act Planning Update
As part of the South Coast region's Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process, the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) voted on March 3, to move forward with the regulation development process for only one marine protected areas alternative that was created by the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF).The commission's action removes equal consideration for the three other proposals created by the citizen stakeholders selected to participate in the process, including Proposal 2. The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO), which represents the recreational fishing and boating communities, supports Proposal 2 as the preferred alternative for the South Coast. Proposal 2 places MPAs in locations with a high level of conservation while minimizing the economic impact on local communities and recreational anglers and boaters. Please go to www.keepamericafishing.org/california.html to send a letter to the FGC urging them to support Proposal 2 and allow it to receive fair and equal consideration in the regulation process.
NOAA Appoints New National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries
Russell Dunn, a former branch chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Highly Migratory Species Management Division, has been appointed as NOAA’s National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries. As National Advisor, Dunn will serve as the coordinating liaison between the recreational fishing community and NOAA’s federal marine fisheries management system. Dunn will report directly to NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eric Schwaab.
National Fish Habitat Conservation Act Update
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. On March 16, ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson spoke at a Congressional briefing on the NFHCA, presented by the American Fisheries Society. 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). At the March 3-4, Fish Habitat board meeting held in Memphis, Tenn., the Board approved the applications of two candidate Fish Habitat Partnerships for full recognition as a Fish Habitat Partnership. The newly approved Partnerships are the California Fish Passage Forum (CFPF) and the Fishers & Farmers Partnership (FFP).With the approval of the CFPF and FFP, 17 Fish Habitat Partnerships are now recognized by the Board and are actively implementing the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
Keep America Fishing Takes Another Step Forward
In March, with the approval of the board of directors, ASA contracted with advocacy and development agency First Degree of Gainesville, Va., to develop a multi-faceted plan to expand the branding, advocacy and fundraising campaign for Keep America Fishing, ASA’s angler advocacy effort. After considering numerous applications and interviewing two potential firms, ASA’s Advocacy Working Group recommended First Degree to the Board of Directors, who heard and approved First Degree’s presentation at the March Board meeting in Long Beach. Meetings between ASA staff and First Degree began this month.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area Update
On March 5, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan. The DEIS evaluates the impacts of several alternatives for regulations and procedures that would manage the park’s wildlife and provide reasonableaccess to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. To view the DEIS and for information on how to submit comments, due May 11, 2010, please go to www.preservebeachaccess.org/landingnew/deis.html. For more information, visit www.keepamericafishing.org.
Conservation Groups Release Beyond Season’s End
ASA, along with ten of the nation’s leading hunting and fishing organizations, recently released a report – Beyond Seasons' End - A Path Forward for Fish and Wildlife in the Era of Climate Change –that identifies the challenges and solutions to the predicted impact of climate change on fish and wildlife habitat in the United States. Expanding on the 2008 book Season’s End, Beyond Season’s End describes practical adaptive management strategies and projects that can be implemented to resolve the climatic challenge if fish and wildlife managers get the necessary funding and support. ASA provided information on the forecasted impacts global warming will have on saltwater habitats and species. The report is funded by the Bipartisan Policy Center. More information can be found at www.beyondseasonsend.org.
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. Community groups for the study areas already underway have conducted at least one meeting within their area. While these have been mostly organizational in nature, the groups’ next meetings will focus on available data for the areas and the question of whether further areas are in the best interests of the marine resources and the citizens of the state. Industry interests are represented at these meetings.
ASA Calls on Congress to Restore Funding for National Wildlife Refuges
ASA joined 21 other groups to senda report to Congress asking that funding for the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System be restored. The Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement(CARE) report warns that unless Congress acts to restore funding for the Refuge System, the economic benefits that refuges provide could be in jeopardy at the very time they are needed most. The report also says that the lands, waters, fish, wildlife and recreation opportunities found in the 150-million-acre Refuge System are at risk without additional funding. A news release, fact sheet, photos and links to the full report can be found atwww.prweb.com/releases/CARE_Report2010/Wildlife_Refuge_Funding/prweb3693394.htm
ASA Comments on “Let’s Move” Campaign
ASA submitted public comments about First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign and urged the newly created Task Force on Childhood Obesity to consider outdoor recreation, especially recreational fishing, as a key tool in addressing the obesity epidemic. On February 9, 2010, President Obama signed a Presidential Memo establishing the task force and directing federal agencies to create a comprehensive interagency national action plan to solve the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation. In its comments, ASA suggested that the task force promote outdoor recreation, including recreational fishing, as a component in the campaign’s objective of increasing physical activity in schools and communities, and collaborate with organizations such as the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and the Future Fisherman Foundation to develop partnerships to promote the mutual interest of getting youth active in the outdoors.
Alaska Board of Fisheries Allows Electric Reels for Sport Fishing
The Alaska Board of Fisheries recently accepted a rule that defines power assisted fishing reels and will allow electric reels to be used in Alaska's sportfisheries. The rule will also prohibit the use of commercial jigging machines for deep water species. ASA staff and members provided information necessary for the board to make a decision distinguishing sportfishing reels from commercial power assisted reels.
ASA Staff Attends Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Reception
On March 2, ASA staff attended the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s annual reception honoring the commitment of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to hunting and fishing access. More than twenty Members of Congress attended the annual reception along with fishing, hunting and conservation leaders, policy makers, and industry representatives to recognize the Caucus’ support of sportsmen and women and to focus on current legislative issues affecting hunters and anglers.
FishNet Federal Agency Budget Briefing Meeting
In March, ASA hosted a meeting where federal agencies provided briefings on their FY 2011 fisheries program budgets to FishNet members. Presentations were given by representatives from the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, NOAA Fisheries, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Geological Survey. The information provided helps FishNet members to develop appropriate recommendations for the 111th Congress. FishNet is a coalition comprised of Washington D.C.-area fishery conservation groups.
ASA Attends North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference
ASA and FishAmerica Foundation staff attended the 75th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference held March 22-27, in Milwaukee, Wis. The conference is one of the largest gatherings of fishery and wildlife officials and other fish and wildlife interest groups held each year. ASA attended and participated in a variety of committee meetings including marine fisheries; legislative and federal budget appropriations; public access; energy and wildlife policy; fish and wildlife health; angler and boating participation; fisheries and water resources policy; and fish and wildlife trust funds.
