Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Recreational Fishing and Boating Community Opposes Vessel Speed Restrictions In The Gulf of Mexico, Calls for Collaboration in Conserving Rice's Whales The leading organizations representing recreational fishing and boating in the United States have urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to reject a petition to establish a year-round 10-knot (11 mph) vessel speed limit and other vessel-related measures in the Rice's whale "core" habitat area in the Gulf of Mexico. The... Full story
Industry leaders bring experience and perspective to address issues that impact the recreational fishing industry and fisheries conservation Alexandria, VA – June 23, 2023 – Four members of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) were elected to fill two At-Large seats and two regional seats on the board of directors. Their three-year terms begin October 1, 2023. ASA is the national trade association that represents the sportfishing industry. The association has six regions: West, South Cen... Full story
New industry award lets fishing fans weigh-in on the best of the new products. Alexandria, VA – August 8, 2022 – With the advent of social media, anglers around the globe now know about the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades – better known as ICAST – the world's largest recreational fishing industry trade show. Even though it's still an industry only trade show, this August, anglers everywhere are invited to join in the excitement that defines ICAST and pick their favorit... 
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Recently the U.S. House of Representatives passed without objection H.R. 5126, the Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2020 (DESCEND Act). The bill requires recreational (including charter boats) and commercial fishermen to have on board a venting tool or descending device that is rigged and ready for use while fishing for reef fish in Gulf of Mexico federal waters. The recreational fishing and boating community strongly supports the DESCEND... Full story
The National Fish Habitat Through Partnership Act Was Included In This Conservation Legislation Alexandria, Va. – December 17, 2019 – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) passed bipartisan conservation legislation that includes several wins for the recreational fishing industry, such as authorization of key national and regional fisheries programs and protections for traditional fishing tackle. America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act (S. 3051) was intro... Full story
With President Trump's December 31 signing of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 (Modern Fish Act), saltwater recreational anglers just got a big leg up when it comes to the federal management of the nation's fish stocks. "The Modern Fish Act is a big step forward in recognizing the value of today's recreational fishing," said Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. "It will help improve public access to... Full story
Alexandria, VA – October 16, 2018 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) appointed a new Executive Committee as well as ex-officio members to the board of directors during the 2018 Sportfishing Summit, the recreational fishing industry's annual business meeting held October 9-12, just outside Charleston, S.C. This annual fall business meeting brought together more than 200 fishing and boating industry and community leaders to provide a venue to discuss the issues impacting rec... Full story
New Report Highlights Recreational Fishing’s Broad Economic and Conservation Impact Alexandria, VA – September 4, 2018 – For millions of Americans, recreational fishing is more than just a pleasant getaway; it’s a way of life. As an industry, it provides a living for countless other people in businesses ranging from fishing tackle and boating manufacturing to travel and hospitality to publications, magazines and much more. Based on numbers in the new 2018 Sportfishing in America: An Economic For... Full story
Alexandria, VA – September 4, 2018 – The California legislature voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill to end commercial drift gillnet fishing and sent it to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk for his signature. Senate Bill (SB) 1017 phases out the use of mile-long nets that drift in the open ocean, compensates drift gillnet fishermen and encourages a transition to innovative new swordfishing gear. Wild Oceans, the International Game Fish Association, Coastal Conservation Association of Calif... Full story
Policy Veteran Will Focus On State And Federal Policies That Affect Freshwater Fisheries Alexandria, Va. – August 22, 2018 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is pleased to announce that Clay Crabtree, most recently a Legislative Analyst with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has joined the ASA staff as Policy Director. Crabtree’s tenure began on Monday, August 20, 2018. He will be based in ASA’s Alexandria, Va. offices. “As ASA’s membership grows and diversifies... Full story
Alexandria, VA – July 11, 2018 – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 200, a bipartisan bill that includes the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017 (Modern Fish Act). This historic vote marks the first time the priorities of the recreational fishing sector are included in the reauthorization of our nation’s primary marine fisheries law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The provisions of the Modern Fish Act (H.R. 2023) were inclu... Full story
Alexandria, VA – May 1, 2018 – Leading recreational fishing organizations applauded Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) for introducing S. 2773, the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act, to phase out the use of mile-long drift gillnets in the eastern Pacific by 2020 and bring California swordfish fishing in-line with all other U.S. and international swordfish fisheries. “This bill changes the tide from indiscriminate indus... Full story
Alexandria, VA – February 28, 2018 – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation overwhelmingly approved S. 1520, the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017 (Modern Fish Act). This legislation calls for critically important updates to the oversight of federal fisheries, including adding more tools to the management toolbox, improving data collection techniques, and examining some fishery allocations that are based on decades-old decisions. The... Full story
Washington, D.C. – June 28, 2017 – Today, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the 2017 Regional Fishery Management Council (RFMC) appointments and has shown that recreational fishing and boating are important to the Trump Administration. The appointments of Steve Heins of New York to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Chester Brewer of Florida to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; and Phil Dyskow of Florida, Dr. Bob Shipp of Alabama, and Dr. Greg Stunz of Texas to the... Full story
A controversial two-year pilot program could lead to a private recreational limited access program for red snapper. Alexandria, VA – May 26, 2017 – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recently announced a controversial two-year pilot program for Gulf of Mexico red snapper management. Expected to begin in 2018, the program will allow 150 randomly-selected offshore anglers in the state access to 25,000 pounds of Gulf of Mexico red snapper. These anglers must agree to take part in... Full story
Alexandria, VA - April 25, 2017 - Senior recreation industry corporate and trade association officials met with Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Monday, April 24, capping a full and encouraging day of discussions with administration officials. The meetings were organized by the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable (ORIR) and began in Shenandoah National Park. Twelve hours later, the day’s discussions concluded in Zinke’s offices in downtown Washington, D.C. The eve... Full story
New U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy on lead fishing tackle blindsides recreational fishing community. On the day before President Obama left office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued an edict to phase out the use of traditional fishing tackle on the hundreds of thousands of square miles of public lands under its management. Director's Order No. 219 will, "require the use of nontoxic ammunition and fishing tackle to the fullest extent practicable for all activities on Service... Full story
BoatUS, the nation's advocate for boat owners, applauds passage of a bipartisan bill signed on December 16 that will provide critical funds for water-resource infrastructure projects at emerging harbors, channels, locks and dams. The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WINN), which encompasses the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation of 2016, authorizes the needed investment in the maritime and waterways transportation system and provides flood protection for... Full story
January 23, 2017 – Alexandria, VA – On the day before President Obama left office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued an edict to phase out the use of traditional fishing tackle on the hundreds of thousands of square miles of public lands under its management. Director’s Order No. 219 will, “require the use of nontoxic ammunition and fishing tackle to the fullest extent practicable for all activities on Service lands, waters and facilities by January 2022, except as needed for law enforce... Full story
Alexandria, VA – December 15, 2016 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) www.asafishing.org, along with other associations in the outdoor recreation industry, expressed support today for the nomination of Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) to be the next Secretary of the Interior. “In Rep. Zinke, President-Elect Trump has tapped a true leader and a sportsman to run the agency that oversees much of America’s natural resources and public parks and lands that are so important to fishing and hunting... Full story
Alexandria, VA – December 1, 2016 - On November 28, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 4665, the Outdoor REC Act, which would instruct the Department of Commerce and federal land management agencies to provide statistics on how the outdoor industry, including recreational fishing and boating, contributes to the U.S. economy. The legislation, which the House passed earlier this month, now goes to the president's desk for signature. "The outdoor recreation industry - including fishing and boating - c... Full story
Alexandria, VA – December 9, 2016 – In a significant step forward for the outdoor recreation industry and the sportfishing community, yesterday, President Obama signed into law the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016. The bill, known as the Outdoor REC Act, passed the House of Representatives and the Senate in November. This new piece of legislation requires the Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agr... Full story
Alexandria, VA – December 12, 2016 – Over the weekend, the U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive maritime infrastructure bill that drew a mixed reaction from the recreational fishing industry. By a 78-21 vote, the Senate passed the “Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN),” which had been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier last week. The WIIN Act now heads to the President’s desk for his signature. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA - http://ww... Full story
Alexandria, VA – December 13, 2016 – Several regional and national recreational fishing organizations submitted official comments to NOAA Fisheries opposing listing Pacific bluefin tuna as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The letter was in response to a petition filed earlier this year to ban all fishing, including recreational fishing, for Pacific bluefin tuna in U.S. waters. In the letter, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA - http://www.asafishing.org ), the Coa... Full story
Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2016 A coalition of recreational fishing and boating organizations praised the introduction of a bill, S.2807, that will safeguard the role of state fisheries management agencies and help prevent unwarranted fishing closures like what recently occurred at Biscayne National Park. Led by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the " http://act.keepameric... Full story
