The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the trade association for the sportfishing industry, along with 16 conservation partners, released a roadmap for the next Administration and Congress to support the interests of the sportfishing industry and the entire recreational fishing community.
The Future Of Sportfishing, Policy Recommendations from the Recreational Fishing Community was a collaborative effort aimed at guiding science-based conservation, growth in trade in commerce, increasing access and education, and advocating for the rights of the American angler. The policy guide was coordinated by a group of recreational fishing industry, conservation, and community stakeholders, which according to ASA collectively represent thousands of businesses and 57.7 million American anglers.
“Each year, one out of six Americans go fishing – contributing $148 billion to the U.S. economy,” said Mike Leonard, Vice President of Government Affairs at ASA. “The next Administration and Congress should clearly understand what issues our constituency cares about, and this report gives them a roadmap on how they can best support our community’s needs.”
The recommendations are divided into three categories: federal funding requests, marine policy proposals, and freshwater policy proposals:
- National Conservation Funding
- Adequate and dedicated funding for federal land management agencies
- Reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
- Enhanced funding for state-led collaborative conservation
- Marine Fisheries Policy Proposals
- Improve data and access
- Investments in marine technologies
- Effective fisheries management
- Species habitat and recovery
- Freshwater Fisheries Policy Proposals
- Legislation to protect habitat and support restoration
- Strengthen interstate partnerships
- Conserve waterways and protect public access
- Invasive species management and removal
“We’re proud to stand alongside so many influential voices in the sportfishing community to make our voice heard and we look forward to working with the next Administration and Congress to support these critical initiatives,” added Leonard.
With continued support from Congress and the White House, ASA hopes to continue to grow the economic contributions of America’s angling community, while also protecting our fisheries and restoring our cherished waterways. Learn more about ASA at asafishing.org.
