May 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.
Government Affairs Staff Changes
Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Urge the White House to Safeguard Recreational Fishing
California Marine Life Protection Act Planning Update
Support the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area Update
Senator Kerry Discusses Natural Resources Adaptation Funding with ASA
Oregon Marine Reserves Update
ASA Attends Center for Coastal Conservation Annual Conference
ASA Attends 2010 American Boating Congress
Government Affairs Staff Changes
After three years as ASA’s Ocean Resource Policy Director Patty Doerr is leaving the association to accept the position as Director of Conservation Projects for The Nature Conservancy’s New Jersey chapter. While this is a great job move and career opportunity for Patty, ASA will miss her dedicated good work on behalf of the industry. We wish her well in her new job. ASA didn’t have to look far, or long, to find the new Ocean Resource Policy Director. Effective June 21, Mike Leonard, ASA’s current Policy Fellow, will take on the responsibilities of that position. Mike earned his Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science from Virginia Tech and his Master’s degree in Fisheries Science from Auburn University. Please welcome Mike to his new position with ASA and wish Patty well in her new endeavors.
Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
In response to the Gulf of Mexico oil leak disaster, ASA is working with Congress and the Department of Commerce to ensure that economic relief efforts include recreational fishing-dependent businesses and are as efficient and effective as possible. On May 24, 2010, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke declared a fishery disaster in the Gulf of Mexico because of the economic impact of the oil spill on recreational and commercial fisheries in the region. The declaration permits the federal government to direct additional resources to Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi due to the ongoing oil leak. ASA also continues to stress that while the oil spill is causing significant harm to much of the Gulf, it is important to note that approximately 70 percent of Gulf waters are still open to recreational fishing, including all state waters in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and in parts of Louisiana. For up-to-date information on the Gulf of Mexico oil leak, please go to www.KeepAmericaFishing.org. ASA updates this site every day with information about the oil leak response including links to federal and state websites and the BP site.
Urge the White House to Safeguard Recreational Fishing
The Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster has slowed the Obama Administration’s expected issuance of a final report, and possibly other policy guidance, outlining the administration’s plans to manage the nation's oceans, coastal areas and the 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. Three states – Missouri, South Carolina and Michigan – have introduced state resolutions urging President Obama to ensure that recreational fishing and boating are national priorities in the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force's final report. 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
On May 3, the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO) sent a letter to the California Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture supporting public testimony provided during an April 2010 hearing, which provided data on the health of California fisheries and concern over the lack of ability the state has to scientifically monitor and enforce any new marine protected areas (MPAs.) In addition, California’s anglers are encouraged to send a letter to the Senate Rules Committee expressing their concerns over the confirmation of Don Benninghoven as a new Fish and Game Commission (FGC) member. Benninghoven was appointed last August and must be confirmed by the Senate during June to continue his term. Regarding the MLPA process, the FGC is awaiting the publication of proposed regulations for MPAs in the South Coast Phase of the MLPA process. The FGC is scheduled to receive public comment at its August and October meetings.
Support the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act
While most eyes are focused on the Gulf, 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 legislation and to seek additional sponsorship. The NFHCA provides funding for crucial fisheries conservation and habitat restoration across the United States. To ensure this bill is passed, please send a letter to your members of Congress today urging them 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.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area Update
ASA has submitted comments on the National Park Service’s (NPS) Draft Cape Hatteras National Seashore Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) stressing the industry’s serious concerns with the NPS preferred alternative which is the most restrictive management option to date. The statement evaluates the impacts of several alternatives for regulations and procedures that would manage the park’s wildlife and regulate access to the park. Because of the highly unbalanced nature of the preferred alternative and that important socio-economic information is missing or incomplete, ASA urged the NPS to make significant changes to the preferred alternative in order to provide for both reasonable resource protection and reasonable public access to public lands. The comment period on the DEIS ended on May 11. The park will next review comments, make revisions to the DEIS and release a final Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement by the end of 2010.
ASA Meets with Senator Kerry to Discuss Natural Resources Adaptation Funding
ASA staff recently met with Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff to discuss dedicated funding for natural resources adaptation in draft energy and climate legislation. Similar to H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which passed in the House in June 2009, Senator Kerry’s bill would provide for dedicated federal and state natural resource agency funding to plan and implement on-the-ground projects to help fish and wildlife adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change and to foster resilient habitats. The need for such funding is outlined in Beyond Seasons’ End, a recently released report about game species’ adaptation to climate change and its effects on hunting and fishing.
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 are conducting meetings within their areas. Industry interests are represented at these meetings. ASA recently traveled to Oregon and met with the recreational fishing representatives of three statewide angling groups to discuss how the recreational fishing community can better coordinate their efforts to have an impact on the Oregon process. In addition, ASA staff also met with the two deputy directors of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to discuss the reserve study process. ASA also met with a statewide environmental group who is involved in the process and attended a community group meeting for the Cape Falcon study area.
ASA Attends Center for Coastal Conservation Annual Conference
On May 5, the Center for Coastal Conservation (CCC) held its annual conference in Washington, D.C. At the conference, ASA and other leaders in the marine recreational fishing and boating community met with several members of Congress, as well as staff from National Marine Fisheries Service and the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, to discuss a variety of issues important to the community, including national ocean policy, catch shares and problems with implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The CCC is a coalition of the leading advocates for marine recreational fishing and boating, dedicated to promoting sound conservation and use of ocean resources by supporting federal legislators who support its goals. ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman serves on the CCC Board of Directors.
ASA Attends 2010 American Boating Congress
On May 6, ASA staff attended the American Boating Congress (ABA) in Washington, D.C. The ABC is the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s annual legislative conference that brings together recreational boating industry leaders to formulate public policy and present a unified front on issues that impact marine businesses.
Learn More
