ASA Speaks at First Florida Water Quality Summit
Martha Guyas, ASA’s Southeast Fisheries Policy Director, joined recreational fishing and conservation community members at the first annual Florida Water Quality Summit hosted by Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL19). Guyas spoke to recreational fishing industry priorities in a panel discussion around innovative solutions to combat water quality challenges. Click the link below to learn more about ASA’s work to keep Florida fishing.
ASA Leads Letter Supporting Fishing Industry Priorities in WRDA Conference
ASA spearheaded a letter with partners in the recreational boating industry to ask Members of the House and Senate to ensure fishing and boating priorities were included in the 2024 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Our priorities for this year’s authorization include allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to retain user fees, such as launch permits, to reinvest in recreational facilities, requiring the digitization of mapping and recreational information at Corps sites, and extending current Aquatic Invasive Species programs. You can read the full letter below.
Gulf Council Seeks Angler Input on Cobia and King and Spanish Mackerel
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council aims to gather input from a broad variety of stakeholders on cobia, king mackerel, and Spanish mackerel. Specifically, the Council wants to gather feedback on the movement and health of the fish stocks and better understand dynamics of the fish within the ecosystem, as well as how fishermen are responding by changing fishing behavior. Click the link below to learn more and make your voice heard.
ASMFC, NOAA Fisheries Dispute Recreational Harvest Limits for Black Sea Bass in 2025
The recreational harvest limits for black sea bass in 2025 may face a 20% reduction, raising concerns among anglers and industry members. This decision is based on a 2024 assessment predicting a decline in future biomass, despite the population being very healthy, estimated at 219% of its biomass target, and overfishing not occurring. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, following federal law, and relying on uncertain stock projections, recommended the reduction, while the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission opted to maintain current limits, creating potential regulatory conflicts that NOAA Fisheries will attempt to resolve through rulemaking. For more information, click the link below.
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.
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