Celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week 2026
From June 6-14, anglers and boaters across the country are celebrating National Fishing and Boating Week. Whether fishing in local ponds or secluded waters, more than 57 million anglers take to the water each year, generating $230 billion in economic output and supporting 1.1 million jobs.
New this year as part of the celebration, ASA launched the Million Pound Challenge, an industry-wide effort to clean up 1 million pounds of trash on rivers, lakes and beaches to improve our nation’s fisheries and make fishing and boating more enjoyable for everyone.
Additionally, many states are also offering free fishing opportunities and workshops this week as part of the celebration. Click the link below or consult your state fisheries management agency’s website to learn more.
Louisiana Governor Signs 3 Menhaden Bills into Law
Three bills to improve menhaden management and limit the damage caused by industrial menhaden fishing in the Gulf were just signed into law, thanks in part to overwhelming support from recreational fishing and conservation advocacy organizations.
While these new laws will not significantly change the menhaden fleet’s allowable operations on the water, they will add accountability by increasing fines for nearshore fishing violations, enhancing vessel tracking capabilities, and improving fishery oversight by publicizing menhaden harvest reports. These updates are another step toward modernizing Louisiana’s menhaden fishery into a more sustainable, ecosystem-based fishery through clear legislative action.
Click the link below to read the full recap from TRCP.
USTR Announces New Tariff Actions Affecting Global Trade
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) recently announced two significant trade actions that could affect a wide range of imported products, including goods used throughout the sportfishing supply chain.
First, USTR found that 60 countries have failed to impose or effectively enforce prohibitions on imports made with forced labor. As a result, USTR is recommending additional tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on products from those countries, with comments due July 6 and action expected shortly after. This timing is especially important because existing Section 122 tariffs are set to expire on July 24.
USTR is also seeking public input on potential tariff modifications for non-sensitive goods subject to Chinese tariffs that could be restored to most-favored-nation rates. This process will be carried out through the newly announced U.S.-China Board of Trade, a government-to-government mechanism intended to manage bilateral trade between the two countries.
Taken together with other expected Section 301 announcements, these actions could significantly reshape tariff policy in the coming months. ASA will continue to engage and share information about these developments.
House of Representatives Passes Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025
Last week, the U.S. House passed the bipartisan Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 (H.R. 3831), led by Representatives Webster (R-FL) and Soto (D-FL). The bill would ban shark feeding in federal waters off Florida. Shark feeding is already banned in Florida state waters, Hawaii and much of the Western Pacific.
Often employed by divers, shark feeding can condition sharks to associate humans and boats with food, and the practice has likely led to an increase in shark depredation, when a shark eats a hooked fish before an angler can successfully land it, in the South Atlantic and Gulf as well. ASA supports a shark-feeding ban as part of its approach to address shark depredation.
We look forward to working with members of the U.S. Senate to see this bill cross the finish line.
Click the link below to learn more about ASA’s position on shark depredation.
AL.com: How abundant is this popular Gulf game fish? Scientists have a new amberjack estimate.
The Fishing Wire: Six additional All-Depth Pacific Halibut Days Open For The Columbia River Subarea
Gulf Council: June 2026 Council Meeting Summary
Outdoor Hub: Oregon’s PEACE Act Is About Far More Than Hunting and Fishing
