2008 Sportfishing Summit Brings Industry Leaders
Together
ASA adopts position on reauthorization of the fisheries management
trust fund
Alexandria, VA – November
5, 2008 – Despite the unstable economy and last minute changes
to the venue, more than 100 sportfishing industry leaders representing
66 companies and organizations from the United States and Canada gathered
October 28 – 30, at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colo.,
for the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) 2008 Sportfishing
Summit. During the association’s annual business meeting, the
members focused their efforts on the issues facing the sportfishing
industry.
“It’s a tough business environment, but that’s the
perfect time for our industry to pull together and look for opportunities
to help ensure our future. As ASA’s new Chairman of the Board of
Directors, I’m looking forward to leading our association over
the next two years,” said Jeff Pontius, president, ZEBCO Brands. “Our
industry has seen tough times before and I know we’re up to the
challenge.”
A new Executive Committee was also appointed during the Summit. The
association’s officers, who will serve a two-year term, are: Chairman
of the Board Jeff Pontius, president, ZEBCO Brands; Immediate Past Chairman
Randy Lemcke, vice president, Plano Molding Co.; Vice Chairman Jeff Marble,
CEO, Frabill, Inc.; Secretary Gregg Wollner, executive vice president,
Rapala; Treasurer Peter Foley, president, Boone Bait Company; and At-Large
Gary Zurn, senior vice president, Big Rock Sports.
“I want to thank our members and guests who took the time out
from their busy schedules to attend the 2008 Summit. As we look to 2009
and beyond, it’s imperative that our members take an active role
in the industry’s future,” Nussman said. “In fact,
we have quite a few members who have been with the association for five
years or less who volunteered to serve on one or more of our committees.
That bodes very well for our industry.”
After several days of meetings and discussions, ASA’s Board of
Directors approved a number of motions including that ASA take the lead
in assembling a coalition of angling and boating organizations to meet
the challenge of fishing closures and fishery management issues at a
meeting to be held in the near future.
The Board also adopted a formal position on the Sport Fish Restoration
and Boating Trust Fund (Wallop-Breaux) reauthorization which will come
before the new 111th Congress. A key point in ASA’s position is
that language should be included in the reauthorization that reduces
a state’s apportionment by the percentage of waters closed to recreational
fishing for reasons based on other than fisheries science, excluding
national security. The fund is the main source of funding for state wildlife
and natural resource agencies in the United States and is used for fisheries
management and other angling and boating programs. Funds are appropriated
to the states based on license sales and water area.
ASA will also strongly support a national reservoir partnership within
the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. The President’s recent Executive
Order ensuring that federal agencies must maintain recreational fishing
on federal lands and waters, including marine protected areas (MPAs),
was also discussed.
On the recommendation of the Show Committee, the Board of Directors
also approved several changes related to ICAST and the New Product Showcase.
New language regarding copyright and patent infringement and intellectual
property theft concerns will be included in the ICAST Exhibitor Service
Manual. Beginning in 2009, exhibiting personnel are not permitted in
the NPS during the voting period which begins at the Tuesday night New
Product Showcase Preview Reception until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday when
voting closes. In addition, voting buyers and media are permitted only
one ballot per buying entity or media outlet.
“The New Product Showcase generated a lot of discussion this year
both at the show and after. The concerns of our exhibitors and attendees
were shared with the Show Committee members, who are also buyers, media
members and exhibitors,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “The
changes we are making this year are intended to help ensure an even and
fair playing field for everyone involved in the New Product Showcase.”
ASA would especially like to thank its Summit sponsors FishAmerica Foundation,
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Townsend and Townsend and Crew
LLP, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and ZEBCO Brands for helping to make
this year’s membership meeting a great success.
The 2009 Sportfishing Summit is scheduled for October 27 - 29, at the
Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, Calif.
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The American
Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s
trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the
entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice,
speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state
and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations,
angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and
policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing
itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will
remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring
economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also
represents the interests of America’s 40 million anglers who
generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact
on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one
million people.
