December
2008 American Sportfishing Association Member Update
Member
Updates are e-mailed monthly to members of the American Sportfishing
Association and our partners on issues of interest to the future
of fishing. For more information, contact ASA
Communications, 703.519.9691.
BELOW
IS A LIST OF TOPICS IN THIS UPDATE. Please scroll down for the
complete document. Previous ASA Member Updates are available in
the ASA
Newsroom.
Each
month ASA e-mails an update on its Government Affairs activities
called Policy Watch.
These documents can be found in the Government Affairs section of ASA’s
Web site.
Bush Creates Three New Marine National Monuments
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Proposes Snapper/Grouper MPAs
2008 ASA Communications Survey
Take Advantage of ICAST 2009 and Orlando
Thank You ICAST 2009 Sponsors
ASA Consumer Shows Begin in February
ASA Board to Meet in March
ASA Member Benefit Helps With Increase Shipping Costs
Welcome New Members
Take an Active Role in New Member Recruitment
Renew Your Membership Dues for 2009
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
Bush Creates Three New Marine National Monuments
On January 6, 2009, under the Antiquities Act, President George W. Bush created three new marine national monuments in federal waters in the Pacific Ocean: the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, Rose Atoll Marine National Monument and Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. According to the proclamations, recreational fishing out to 50 nautical miles is prohibited within the monuments until the federal government develops a management plan for each one. Although each proclamation states that provisions for recreational fishing must be consistent with the Recreational Fishing Executive Order (EO 13474, September 26, 2008) which states that recreational fishing should be managed as a sustainable activity in federal waters, at this point, recreational fishing is prohibited. President Bush said, “the monuments will prohibit resource destruction or extraction, waste dumping, and commercial fishing. They will allow for research, free passage, and recreation - including the possibility of recreational fishing one day.” The American Sportfishing Association along with other members of the sportfishing community held a series of meetings with the White House over the past several months to highlight the conservation, economic and social benefits of recreational fishing and boating and voice our significant concerns with using the Antiquities Act to establish marine protected areas in the Pacific Ocean. Under the Antiquities Act process, no proposal was available for public review, bypassing established rule-making processes. However, unlike the proclamations which had no proposal for public review, the agencies with the monuments’ oversight (Departments of the Interior and Commerce) have two years to prepare management plans which are expected to be submitted for public review. These proclamations are vastly different from the 2006 Hawaiian Islands marine monument declaration which prohibited almost all activity within the monument, including recreational fishing. ASA and its partners will work with Interior, Commerce and the new administration to help ensure that all appropriate review and rule-making processes are followed.
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Proposes Snapper/Grouper MPAs
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is expected to announce the establishment of eight deepwater marine protected areas (MPAs) in the South Atlantic. These eight discreet areas were established to rebuild the snapper/group fishery of the southeastern coast of the U.S. In these areas, fishing for and possession of snapper/grouper complex species would be prohibited, but recreational anglers would be allowed to troll for pelagic species such as tuna, mackerel and billfish.The decision-making process took several years to complete and included public hearings and draft plans issued for public review and comment. The MPAs follow the guidelines outlined in ASA’s MPA position statement : they are the result of an open, transparent public process; they are based on valid scientific evidence which deemed the MPAs necessary for the future of the fishery; and they will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis.
2008 ASA Communications Survey
Thank you to all our members who completed the Communications survey that was distributed in December. Your input is invaluable as we strive to better serve our members by providing pertinent information about the industry and the broader issues affecting sportfishing.
Take Advantage of ICAST 2009 and Orlando
In 2009, ICAST , the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, will be held July 15 – 17, at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla. Orlando is an exciting venue for our industry. Inquires from European, Asian and South American exhibitors and attendees has increased substantially over the past several years. More than 40 percent of the nation’s sportfishing retail sales are realized in the southeastern United States. More than 70 percent of the show floor is already sold out, so now is the time to make plans to exhibit at ICAST 2009. For more questions about exhibiting at ICAST 2009 , contact Kenneth Andres , ICAST Associate, x231.
Thank You ICAST 2009 Sponsors
ASA would like to thank the members who have already signed on as an ICAST 2009 sponsor. These sponsors are: Fishing Tackle Retailer; Crocodile Bay ; In-Fisherman ; and Classic Fishing Products, Inc. Sponsorship opportunities are available. An ICAST sponsorship provides you with an effective way to highlight your company’s name in from of the global sportfishing community. By becoming an ICAST sponsor, your company will benefit from stand-alone recognition for your company and/or products and also help increase sales by leveraging your exhibit space. Sign up for sponsorship today and have your companies name in front of 7,000 industry leaders. For more information on sponsorships, please contact Kenneth Andres , x231.
ASA Consumer Shows Begin in February
The Fred Hall’s Fishing Tackle and Boat Shows on the West Coast and the ASA/Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition shows on the East Coast are gearing up for their consumer shows which begin in February. Exhibit space is still available. Take advantage of the West Coast’s largest consumer shows by exhibiting at the Long Beach Convention Center, March 4-8, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds show, March 25-29. For more information, contact Bart Hall or Mike Lum , 805-389-3339. Exhibit space is still available for the East Coast shows at: The Toyota Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expo , Worcester, Mass.,Feb. 5-8, The Toyota World Fishing & Outdoor Expo , Suffern, N.Y., Mar. 5-8, and TheToyota Saltwater Fishing Expo , Somerset, N.J., Mar. 20-22. For more information on exhibiting at these shows, contact Jonathan Sauers , 603-431-4315.
ASA Board to Meet in March
ASA’s Board of Directors, Finance Committee, Show Committee and Nominating Committee will meet March 5 and 6 in Long Beach, Calif., in conjunction with the ASA/Fred Hall’s Fishing Tackle & Boat Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. The Board of Directors will meet March 6 from 9:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the Nominating Committee will meet March 6 from 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. The Show Committee will meet March 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A time for the Finance Committee meeting on March 6 has not yet been determined. For more information, please contact Joyce Anderson-Logan , x233.
ASA Member Benefit Helps With Increase Shipping Costs
In December, both UPS and FedEx announced that they would be increasing their shipping rates beginning in January. UPS and FedEx have increased their ground rates by nearly six percent. However, PartnerShip LLC, which administers the ASA Discount Shipping Program, offers ASA members discounts of up to 29 percent on FedEx shipping, and 58 percent on UPS Freight. For more information on upcoming rate changes, shipping questions, or to enroll in this free ASA member benefit, visit www.partnership.com/25ASA or call 800-599-2902.
Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members or members who reinstated their membership in December: Big Pond Products, LLC, Tallahassee, FL; Fishin' Shack, Daytona Beach, FL; Hogy Lure Company, LLC, Falmouth, MA; JS Products, Las Vegas, NV.
Take an Active Role in New Member Recruitment
New ASA recruitment efforts have made it easier for current members to refer new members for ASA membership. If you would like to help ASA recruit new members, please:
- Include www.asafishing.org/tellmemore in your e-mail signature line, your e-mails to business colleagues or include the link on your Web site.
- Distribute ASA’s membership brochure at tradeshows and during presentations or include them in your company mailings.
- Run ASA’s member recruitment advertising in your publication(s), Web site or electronic communications. Please contact Jill Calabria for more information or to obtain copies of the member brochure or ad.
Renew Your 2009 Membership Dues
If you have already renewed your 2009 ASA dues, we thank you for your continued commitment to ASA. If you have yet to renew and wish to do so using a credit card or have questions about membership, please call Membership Director Jill Calabria, x234. Also, in an effort to ensure you and your staff is receiving ASA’s member benefits such as Policy Watch and Member Update, please send your staff roster to Jill Calabria.
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
To help FishAmerica keep our nation’s fish and waters healthy, visit FishAmerica online at www.fishamerica.org or contact Executive Director Johanna Laderman, x245 or Grants Manager Erica George, x247.
FishAmerica Receives Proposals for Habitat Restoration in Chesapeake Bay Watershed
FishAmerica, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, received a record number of requests for community-based fisheries habitat restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of Maryland. Eight non-profit conservation organizations requested more than $240,000 for their projects to restore in-stream habitat, create living shorelines, enhance oyster habitat and improve fish passage. This partnership is designed to promote the restoration of living resources of the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers, and its streams.Up to $100,000 in grants will be awarded to selected projects in February 2009. Visit www.fishamerica.org, for further details.
Future Fisherman Foundation UpdatesFor more information on Future Fisherman activities, contact Executive Director Anne Danielski, x254, or Manager of Education Teresa Rodriguez, x224.
Fishing for Funding
The Future Fisherman Foundation is embracing the challenge of finding additional funding to support operations into 2009. The Foundation has received numerous inquiries from program participants, educators and industry partners seeking guidance on how to provide support and donations. Those wishing to assist the foundation can make a tax deductible, charitable donation online, or by mail to Future Fisherman Foundation, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 420, Alexandria, Va., 22209. You may also request a donor letter to distribute to your network by contacting Anne Danielski or Teresa Rodriguez. Donors also have the option of sponsoring staff outreach and development, or by donating items to raffle at upcoming fundraising projects. We appreciate your support to educate the youth of today so that they may develop into the anglers of tomorrow.
2009/2010 Physh Ed Grant Application Announcement
Since 2003, the Future Fisherman Foundation has awarded over a million dollars in grants to over 300 schools in 48 states to incorporate aquatic education, angling and boating instruction as a part of their educational curriculum. Educators can learn about the criteria for grant selection, program parameters and application process online. Applications for the 2009/2010 school year must be received by February 9, 2009, at 5 p.m., Eastern time. For more information, contact Teresa Rodriguez, manager of Education, x224.
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
On January 6, with the stroke of his pen, President Bush declared Rose Atoll, the Mariana Trench and the Pacific Remote Island Area (PRIA) as the United States’ new Marine National Monuments. The proclamation effectively prohibits recreational fishing out to 50 nautical miles within the monuments for an undetermined period of time until federal agencies can complete their management plans.
It will be up to the Departments of the Interior and Commerce to determine how, when and if recreational fishing will be allowed to occur in the future. In fact, to quote the President, “the monuments will prohibit resource destruction or extraction, waste dumping, and commercial fishing. They will allow for research, free passage, and recreation - including the possibility of recreational fishing one day.”
In 2006, President Bush first used the Antiquities Act to create the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument. The Hawaiian Islands monument encompasses 140,000 square miles where all recreational fishing, even catch-and-release, is banned – forever. That is not the case with the new marine monuments. In this case, we’re out until we’re back in.
The American Sportfishing Association along with other members of the sportfishing community held a series of meetings with the White House over the past several months to highlight the conservation, economic and social benefits of recreational fishing and boating and voiced our significant concerns with using the Antiquities Act to establish marine protected areas in the Pacific Ocean. Unlike with the Hawaiian Islands designations, our collective voice was heard. It will be our task to ensure that the new administration understands these benefits as well.
To those who say that these new marine monuments are too remote to ever attract people, I say Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite were once very remote areas when they were established as national parks. Now millions of Americans enjoy them and fish there. In fact, the national park system was developed to invite people to enjoy our natural areas, not to wall people off from them. It’s the walling off of our public resources to people without due process, such as the three new marine monuments, that I believe sets an unacceptable precedent.
Are we opposed to protecting our marine environment? Of course we aren’t. The new marine monuments encompass special areas and we need to protect them. What we oppose is the lack of process that preceded these designations. What you may not realize is that this designation process took approximately 60 days to complete. There was no proposal or scientific information available for public review and comment. We in the sportfishing community have significant issues with any process where the outcome unduly prohibits people from accessing public resources, particularly when there is no open, transparent process to do so.
What’s the reasonable approach to establishing marine protected areas where recreational fishing is prohibited? Certainly, first and foremost, we must question the need for these designations. Does the science support them? Have other management measures been given time to succeed? Have the economic, social and biological impacts been fully studied? If the need to close a fishery or an area to recreational fishing is determined to be prudent, is there a clear process by which the area will be reopened for public recreation?
In interviews and on the campaign trail, President-elect Barack Obama has said that his agenda regarding access to public lands is going to be one that ensures the outdoors is available to the next generation. More specifically he said that, and I quote, “the decision to establish marine reserves should be made as a result of a transparent, science-based process and be the least intrusive possible to get the job done.” Our work to re-establish recreational fishing in the three new marine monuments is a top priority. I assure you, we will work with the Obama administration on this important issue and other issues of key importance to the sportfishing community.
