2009 Sportfishing Summit Brings Industry Leaders Together
Thank you 2009 Sportfishing Summit Sponsors for your generous support!
More than 130 sportfishing industry leaders representing 81 companies and organizations from the United States and Canada gathered October 28–30, at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, Calif., for the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) 2009 Sportfishing Summit. During the association’s annual business meeting, the Summit focused on the domestic and economic markets, fisheries resource management, advocacy and the political forces impacting the industry.
“The Summit is our premier networking and business management event,” said Mike Nussman, ASA president and CEO. “I want to thank all of our Summit attendees and especially thank our board of directors and committee members for their dedication to the industry and their work during the ASA Board of Directors and ASA Committee meetings.”
NOAA Administrator Addresses Summit Attendees
ASA Presents Its Two Highest Awards
Sportfishing Summit Presentations Available Online
Board of Directors and Committee Meetings Report Highlights
March 2010 ASA Board of Directors Meeting
Save the Date for the 2010 Sportfishing Summit
NOAA Administrator Addresses Summit Attendees
During the Tuesday, October 27, networking lunch, in her remarks Summit guest speaker Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator, voiced her commitment to recreational fishing.
“As NOAA’s Administrator, I am committed to adopting policies that will ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful activity,” Lubchenco said during her remarks. “We are responding to the concerns expressed by your leaders that we don’t pay enough attention to recreational fishing. I’m here to tell you that we do think you are important, that we will pay attention and that we will work with you. It is my intention to improve our relationship.” Lubchenco further added, “I will be your champion.”
In September the Obama administration issued a draft policy, the Interim Report of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force. ASA has significant concerns with the direction the Obama administration is going in managing the United States’ marine and freshwater public resources, choosing a tone of preservation over conservation. At the Summit, Lubchenco spoke to the sportfishing industry’s concerns.
“As an active participant in the task force process, I want to assure the recreational fishing community that this concern has been heard. The task force has now received significant input from anglers across the country. I am confident that when the task force releases its final report, your interests will be recognized,” Lubchenco said. “I believe that recreational fishing is both an important pastime, which brings families and friends together, and an important economic activity. I am personally committed to a national policy which recognizes the importance of recreational fishing and ensures that it can continue to thrive.”
ASA Presents Its Two Highest Awards
On October 28, ASA presented its two highest awards, the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award and the Future of Fishing Award, to recognize significant contributions to recreational fishing.
The Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award
The Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award, named after the American Sportfishing Association’s former vice president for Government Affairs, is presented to an individual who has shown extraordinary leadership throughout his or her career in promoting the values of sportfishing and advancing cooperative approaches to conservation and recreation.
Dick Pool, president of Pro-Troll Inc., member of the ASA board of directors, was presented the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award, ASA’s highest honor, for his lifelong dedication to the sportfishing industry. Pool has served on the ASA board of directors three times previously, is a long time member of the government affairs committee and has worked towards the conservation and restoration of salmon and steelhead in California.
“I am deeply appreciative on being selected to receive the American Sportfishing Association’s Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award for conservation and the advancement of sportfishing. In my career I have received a number of awards but nothing is as special as receiving an award from your peers and colleagues,” Pool said. “Where we have made progress, I have had lots of help. I thank the hundreds of partners, dedicated groups and individuals I have worked with for many years. I give a special thanks to the ASA staff for their steadfast dedication and support. I also give a very special thanks to the state and federal fishery agencies and the political leaders who have been willing to support and partner with us for progress.”
The Future of Fishing Award
This award is presented to an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to advancing fishing participation and recognizes their efforts to foster new anglers, encourage family fishing and promote community involvement in fishing events.
The late Robert Ditton, Ph.D., former professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University, received the Future of Fishing Award. Dr. Ditton passed away on Oct. 30 after a two-year battle with cancer.
“Dr. Bob Ditton served with distinction on the faculty of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University.Throughout his career, Dr. Ditton had avital role both in fisheries research and education.He madean indelibleintellectual mark on many of today's top fisheries professionals in academia,governmental agenciesand nongovernmental organizations. This was accomplishednot onlyby way of one-on-one engagement in his on-campus graduate program, but also far beyond the campus via distance education,in whichDr. Dittonwas a Texas A&M leader,” said the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences faculty in a group statement.
2009 Sportfishing Summit Session Highlights
The PowerPoint presentations are available here in PDF format. If you would like a copy in PowerPoint format, please e-mail ASA Communications Director Mary Jane Williamson, or call 703-519-961, x227.
Surviving the Recovery – What Should You Be Doing in the New Economy?
The Domestic and International Markets: An Industry Outlook Panel
Jean-Claude Bel, CEO, European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA); Thom Dammrich, president, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA); and Jeff Pontius, president, ZEBCO Brands and ASA board of directors chairman, addressed our industry’s changing business environment from both the domestic and international perspectives.
It's Contentious Times for California’s Marine Fisheries Management
California’s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), passed into law in 1999, presents many challenges for the recreational fishing and boating industries. Dan Wolford, Science director, Coastside Fishing Club; California’s Natural Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman; and Vern Goehring, Coalition manager, California Fisheries Coalition, discussed the planning and implementation process, illustrating the complexity and contentious nature of establishing marine protected areas along California’s coastline.
Advocating to Keep America Fishing
Doug Painter, senior advisor for the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Chris Marek, chief officer, Development and Communications, for the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross presented their viewpoints on how the sportfishing industry and the association could meet the ever increasing need to find a rallying point to address access issues and raise funds for our advocacy efforts.
Board of Directors and Committee Meetings Report Highlights
After several days of meetings and discussions, ASA’s Board of Directors approved a number of motions at the Summit. The board approved 2010 fiscal year budget. The board announced that ASA would support Congressional restoration of funding for lamprey control programs in Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes.
The board also approved an ASA position statement on aquaculture in the Exclusive Economic Zone. Subject to staff review and approval, ASA will support California Senate bill SB7X1, a bill to reorganize the governance of state waters.
The board also approved the study of an expanded advocacy effort lead by ASA through www.KeepAmericaFishing.org.
The Show committee extended the New Product Showcase voting hours to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14. Manufacturers will be permitted to include additional information about their product in the showcase.
ASA staff was asked to implement social media and other means of digital communication to expand ASA’s reach with members and the broader sportfishing community. ASA will continue engage with all sectors of the sportfishing industry for member recruitment and advocacy support activities.
2009 Sportfishing Summit Sponsors
ASA would especially like to thank the Summit sponsors: Gold - NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Silver – Take Me Fishing™ Campaign and the U.S. Geological Survey,; and Bronze – ZEBCO Brands, Southwick Associates, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for helping to make this year’s membership meeting a success.
March 2010 Board of Directors Meeting
The next ASA board of directors meeting will be held March 5, 2010, in Long Beach, Calif., in conjunction with the ASA/Fred Hall Shows.
