ASA Co-Hosts Hatchery Tour for California Lawmakers
Last week, ASA and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) hosted a group of California lawmakers to tour the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and the American River Hatchery. The trip allowed state lawmakers to have a behind-the-scenes look at California’s world class fish hatchery operations, including the successful installation of equipment recently funded by the Legislature. It also gave legislators the opportunity to learn more about California’s sportfishing economy, which generates more than $7.9 billion dollars each year.
ASA thanks the lawmakers who attended for their commitment to learning more about our industry, and we appreciate CDFW’s partnership in helping to make the event a success.
Urge Maryland DNR to Support Increased Recreational Access to Striped Bass
Maryland is proposing a revised striped bass recreational season baseline that would increase angler access from 83% to 92% of the year, restore access in April when catch-and-release survival is high, and maintain protection of spawning grounds.
This approach creates more predictable seasons that will provide critical revenue to Maryland’s charter operations, tackle shops, and tourism businesses, while maintaining responsible conservation limits. A strong show of support now will help ensure fair access, a healthy fishery, and a vibrant Maryland sportfishing economy.
Click here to tell the Maryland DNR to adopt the baseline season adjustment for striped bass.
Bipartisan Whale CHARTS Act Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives
On February 3rd, a group of bipartisan lawmakers led by Reps. Matsui (D-CA), Malliotakis (R-NY), Dexter (D-OR), Buchanan (R-FL), Elfreth (D-MD), and Carter (R-GA) introduced the Whale CHARTS (Conservation Habitat Analysis, Research, and Technical Strategies) Act. This bill will take meaningful action to better monitor whale movements, reduce vessel strikes, and improve access to our oceans.
The Whale CHARTS Act takes an innovative and constructive approach to mitigating risk of vessel strikes by investing in improved data and supporting the development and deployment of whale detection and awareness technologies. It would also authorize a grant program that supports the development, testing, and scaling of innovative whale detection technologies. This bill has broad support from marine industry and conservation groups as it focuses on filling critical data gaps and facilitating practical solutions.
Click here to read ASA’s Press Release.
Alabama Creel Survey to Begin Reaching Out to Saltwater Anglers
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is partnering with the University of Southern Alabama to conduct a creel survey among saltwater license holders in the state. Following the methodology of Louisiana’s successful creel survey, this survey aims to receive NOAA accreditation, allowing it to replace MRIP as the acceptable recreational data for the state of Alabama.Â
Alabama’s creel survey promises to be significantly more thorough than the federally managed MRIP study. Not only will it contact anglers by phone and at publicly accessible boat ramps, but it solves the questionnaire errors that caused MRIP to overestimate recreational harvest by up to 40%. Having improved data will benefit Alabama’s anglers by leading to better informed management decisions, more sustainable fish populations, and improved access for anglers.Â
Click here to read more about the Alabama creel survey.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation: As Menhaden Stress Mounts, Virginia Legislators Face Key Decision
NOAA Fisheries: Habitat Restoration Helps Put Anglers Back on the Pier, Hikers Back on the Trail
BayNews9: Researchers test device designed to keep sharks off anglers’ lines
