New Tariffs Impact Sportfishing Industry
On February 10, President Trump signed an Executive Order that will have direct impacts on the sportfishing industry. Executive Order 10895 increases the tariff on aluminum products from 10% to 25%, including fishing reels, reel components, and landing nets. The new duty will apply only to the aluminum components of these products and will take effect March 12, 2025. Additionally, the President has removed all country exemptions, suspensions, and quota limits – the order now covers imports from all countries equally.
President Trump also directed Administration officials to develop reciprocal tariffs on a country-by-country basis to “rebalance” U.S. trade relationships by April 1.
The fact sheet is available here.
Bipartisan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Bill Introduced in Senate
Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators from the Great Lakes region introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025. Led by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Todd Young (R-IN), the bill would reauthorize the GLRI and appropriate $500 million annually between 2027 and 2031 for water quality improvements, fish habitat and passage, and invasive species management.
The current GLRI expires at the end of 2026. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jon Husted (R-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined as cosponsors. The House companion (H.R. 284) was introduced in January.
Click the link below to read more.
Speak Up for Recreational Fishing Access in Florida
Next week, NOAA will hear from stakeholders at two public events in Florida on their proposed bottomfishing closure off the Northeast coast of Florida. The closure, included in Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic would prohibit fishing for 55 species of reef fish in federally managed waters from the Florida / Georgia border to southern Brevard County from December 1 through the end of February each year.
The first meeting will take place on February 24 at the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport from 4-8 PM. The second will occur the following evening, February 25, at the Hilton Cocoa Beach, also from 4-8 pm. If you’re unable to attend the meetings, NOAA is accepting comments online through the federal register until March 17. ASA drafted a short list of talking points to help inform your comments. Click the link below to learn more.
New Hampshire Legislature Stops Bill Banning Live Bait Importation
In an overwhelming 15-0 vote, the NH House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources squashed H.B. 720 which would ban the importation of live bait fish, regardless of species, origin, or location of production or harvest. In 2024 alone, resident and non-resident anglers spent $837 million in the Granite State, creating an economic impact of over $1.1 billion. Limiting access to recreational fishing would have detrimental impacts on the state’s economy and rural communities that rely on angler and tourism spending.
ASA provided testimony in opposition to this bill. Click below to read our comments.
About The ASA
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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