June 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, or Mike Leonard, Ocean Resource Policy Director, x230.
ICAST 2010 – July 14 – 16 – Las Vegas Convention Center
Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
South Atlantic Bottom Fishing Closure
Urge the White House to Safeguard Recreational Fishing
California Marine Life Protection Act Planning Update
Oregon Marine Reserves Update
ASA Attends Senate Outreach Meeting with Sportsmen’s Organizations
National Fish Habitat Action Plan Board Meeting
ASA Attends European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition
2010 National Fishing and Boating Week
ICAST 2010 – July 14 – 16 – Las Vegas Convention Center
The American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) premier event, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades - better known as ICAST - is being held July 14-16, 2010, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The Government Affairs staff will be at ICAST July 12 – July 16.
Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
ASA continues to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure that economic relief efforts in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster include recreational fishing-dependent businesses and are as efficient and effective as possible. On May 27, the Senate approved its 2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill which included an amendment submitted by Sen. Richard Shelby that provides $15 million for fishery-dependent businesses harmed by the spill. ASA worked with Shelby’s office to include language in the amendment recognizing the disaster’s impact on recreational fishing-dependent businesses and the need for baseline information about the fisheries status and the impact on the Gulf eco-system. ASA is working to ensure that the language is included in the final measure reconciled with the House. 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 66 percent of Gulf waters are still open to recreational fishing. 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 disaster response and on filing claims for damages resulting from the oil spill.
South Atlantic Bottom Fishing Closure
On June 10, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) voted to close all bottom fishing in nearly 5,000 square miles off Georgia and Florida, effective January 2011. The amendment to continue the closure of the red snapper fishery for both commercial and recreational fishermen in federal waters in the South Atlantic also included a new area closure off of northeastern Florida and southern Georgia, where fishing for all snapper grouper species in water depths of 98 - 240 feet would be prohibited. Prior to the decision, ASA and Big Rock Sports, LLC, provided the SAFMC with an economic study that highlighted the significant economic impact the closures would cause to the southeast recreational fishing retail market - $78 million in the first year alone. ASA and others in the marine recreational fishing community are currently working with interested members of Congress to seek a legislative fix to provide the National Marine Fisheries Service additional time to improve recreational fishery management and, and avoid “crisis management” by closure.
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. 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
During its June 23-24, meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) agreed to schedule one scoping meeting for the South Coast phase of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) which is being held July 23, at the Port of Long Beach Administration Building – 6th Floor, 925 Harbor Way, Long Beach, Calif. The decision to hold the meeting came in response to requests made by the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO), United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) and the city of Redondo Beach, all of which made the request after learning that the FGC initially intended to bypass the scoping meeting process for the South Coast region. However, given the complexity, magnitude and scope of the MLPA process in the South Coast, a single meeting is not sufficient for the region. Anglers are encouraged to visit http://capwiz.com/keepamericafishing/issues/alert/?alertid=15177801 and send a letter to the FGC urging them to hold more than one scoping meeting in the South Coast. Scoping meetings provide the public, stakeholder organizations, governmental agencies and other interested parties the chance to weigh in on issues related to the potential environmental effects of marine protected area proposals. The meeting(s) will take place prior to publication of proposed regulations the proposals in the South Coast Phase of the MLPA process.
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 June, ASA traveled to Oregon and met with the recreational fishing representatives from each of the three marine reserve study community groups to discuss how the recreational fishing community can better coordinate in the Oregon process. ASA’s Oregon representative is now part of a weekly conference call with key legislators, Department of Fish and Wildlife leadership and two Oregon angler members groups.
ASA Attends Senate Outreach Meeting with Sportsmen’s Organizations
On June 23, ASA joined other leading organizations in the hunting and fishing community to discuss current conservation issues with leaders of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. Discussions centered on sportsmen’s accesses issues, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act, and the effects of the Gulf oil leak on the environment and recreational fishing-dependent businesses. The meetings are held periodically as part of outreach efforts to discuss pending legislative issues of primary importance to the nation’s sportsmen.
National Fish Habitat Action Plan Board Meeting
On June 9-10, ASA attended the National Fish Habitat Action Plan Board Meeting in Silver Spring, Md. At the meeting, the board discussed strategies to promote passage of the Action Plan’s enabling legislation, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (NFHCA). ASA also continues to work with other members of the 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.
ASA Attends European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition
ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson and ICAST Director Maria del Valle Hamilton attended the 2010 European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition (EFTTEX) on June 11-13 in Valencia, Spain. EFTTEX, which is run by the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association, is the largest European fishing tackle trade show, held annually since 1982.
2010 National Fishing and Boating Week
The 2010 National Fishing and Boating Week was celebrated June 5-13. The annual national celebration recognizes the importance of fishing and boating and highlights the many boating and fishing opportunities available to all Americans. In Washington, D.C., the week was marked with an event on the National Mall, which included a day of fishing at Constitution Gardens Pond for the metropolitan area’s school children.
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