Our government affairs team is hard at work supporting sound fisheries policies throughout the country. To keep you better informed on our efforts, we are moving Policy Watch to a weekly publication. Happy reading!
Economic Contributions of Recreational Fishing Study Released
ASA unveiled the 2023 Economic Contributions of Recreational Fishing: U.S. Congressional Districts report, identifying angler participation and economic impacts across all 50 states and 435 congressional districts. Per the study, America’s 52.4 million anglers contribute $148 billion in economic output while supporting 945,500 jobs across the country. Learn more
Senate Reintroduces America’s Outdoor Recreation Act
Last week, leadership of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources reintroduced the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act, which died in the Senate last Congress after unanimous committee approval. The legislative package contains dozens of provisions, ranging from improving visitation data to expanding broadband service at park sites to addressing the spread of AIS, dedicated to improving outdoor recreation access on public lands. Learn more
ASA’s Martha Guyas Testifies Before Congress
ASA Southeast Fisheries Policy Director Martha Guyas testified on the importance of sound fisheries policy before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. Guyas highlighted the role sportfishing has on the country and US economy and highlighted four issues affecting sportfishing in the southeast. Learn more
ASA Comments on National Seafood Strategy
NOAA Fisheries released a Draft National Seafood Strategy detailing how to increase domestic seafood consumption and grow the seafood industry. ASA responded to the letter, reaffirming that the sportfishing community is a key seafood stakeholder and provided comments on the need for fair allocation, not expanding unsustainable commercial gear types and the potential of aquaculture to take pressure off of wild stocks. Read our letter and learn more
Pat Neu Appointed to Wisconsin Sanctuary Advisory Council
ASA Member and Executive Director of the National Professional Anglers Association Pat Neu was appointed to the advisory council for the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Pat will ensure that the sanctuary’s management accounts for the sportfishing community. Congrats, Pat! Learn more
About
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries as well as the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry and anglers a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 55 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate nearly $50 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for 800,000 people.
