MAPWaters Act Heads to President’s Desk to Become Law
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Modernizing Access to our Public (MAP) Waters Act, a priority bill for the sportfishing industry. The MAPWaters Act will improve recreation on federal waterways by investing in modern technology to provide anglers, boaters, and other water users the information they need to safely and legally access and utilize public waters administered by federal agencies. The House passed the bill in January of this year.
”Among America’s 57.9 million anglers, navigation tools, mapping apps, and chartplotters are as popular and widespread as ever,” said Glenn Hughes, president and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. “The Senate’s passage of the MAPWaters Act will enhance access to key information through these mapping tools and devices, allowing the public to confidently fish, boat, and enjoy time on the water.”
ASA appreciates the leadership of Senators Barrasso (R-WY) and King (I-ME) and Representatives Moore (R-UT), Panetta (D-CA), Fulcher (R-ID) and Dingell (D-MI) for their leadership on this critical legislation and we are eager to see President Trump sign this bill into law.
Click below to read our coalition release celebrating this milestone.
Mid-Atlantic Council Approves 20% Harvest Increase for Black Sea Bass
During their joint meeting last week, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) finalized specifications for black sea bass for the 2026-2027 fishing seasons. The Council and Commission approved a 20% increase in the black sea bass harvest limit – the first time since 2012 that a liberalization has been approved for black sea bass in the mid-Atlantic.
Black sea bass biomass is currently at its highest point since 1990 while continuing to trend upwards. Increasing access to recreational anglers was the correct decision, and ASA is pleased to see the Council and Commission moving in the right direction.
Click below to view the ASMFC and MAFMC meeting briefing materials.
U.S. Secures 17% Increase in Bluefin Tuna Quota at 2025 ICCAT Annual Meeting
The United States delegation to the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in Seville, Spain, secured the largest single-year increase in U.S. bluefin tuna quota in the history of the fishery – a 17% increase in baseline quota and allowances for U.S. fishermen. This increase in total allowable catch begins in 2026.
Click below to read the full recap from NOAA Fisheries.
About The American Sportfishing Association
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.
Discover more from Fishing Tackle Retailer - The Business Magazine of the Sportfishing Industry
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
