Government Affairs Update
For more information on ASA Government Affairs activities, contact
Gordon Robertson, director, Ocean Resource Policy, x244.
Sale of Public Land Proposal Withdrawn
A provision in a House budget reconciliation bill that would have made possible the sale of public lands to mining and other companies was pulled from the bill. ASA joined forces with 24 other fishery and conservation groups in a united effort to have the provision removed. A joint letter was sent to members of Congress opposing the sale of public lands to mining companies and other developers because it would "open these previously public lands to development, fragmentation, habitat loss and potential pollution."
Landmark Legislation Introduced to Improve America’s Waters
After years of work by ASA and others in the fisheries community, a streamlined version of the Fishable Waters Act will be included in the Clean Water Trust Act of 2005. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) applauds the landmark legislation introduced by Chairman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee to address America’s growing infrastructure funding crisis. The Clean Water Trust Act of 2005 (H.R. 4560) will provide $7.35 billion annually to improve America’s waters.The Clean Water Trust Act will enhance fisheries through controlling sewer overflows, improving wetlands, encouraging research, spurring new technologies, enhancing investment in small and rural utilities and protecting critical regional waters such as the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay and Gulf of Mexico.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Activity Continues
On December 15, the Senate Commerce Committee approved a revised bill reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act. Most of ASA's top prioritiesâ€â€Âguidelines for no-fishing areas, consideration of economic data from all sectors, improving the Scientific and Statistical Committee, setting up an angler registration system, improved data collection, provisions for rationalizing commercial fleets and bycatch provisionsâ€â€Âwere included in revisions to the bill. ASA will continue to work with key members of the Senate and their staff as the bill moves to consideration by the full Senate.
Lawsuit Challenges Off Road Vehicle Use in National Park Service Lands
ASA joined with the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance, United 4 Wheel Drive Association, Dare County (NC) and other groups as an intervener in a lawsuit to defend vehicle access at Cape Hatteras. The Bluewater Network (a division of Friends of the Earth), the National Park Conservation Association and Wildlands CPR have filed a lawsuit asking the court to terminate all off road vehicle use in national seashores, national recreation areas and other Park Service lands that have not adopted regulations. If such an order were entered, many coastal areas would be shut off to angler access during rulemaking processes that could take many years. ASA has agreed to join other affected parties to intervene in the lawsuit to protect off road access.
Alaska Charter IFQs Put on Hold
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted at their early December meeting to establish a working group to revisit the management of the charter halibut fleet. This move effectively removes from consideration the proposed Charter Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program that had been previously submitted to NOAA for review. ASA had filed comments with the Council opposing the imposition of IFQs for charter fishing and requesting that the proposal be withdrawn from NOAA.
Wetlands Protection Challenged
In a move that may resolve unanswered questions left after the Court's decision in a previous case, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases concerning filling of wetlands. ASA has joined with other conservation organizations to file a "Friend of the Court" brief supporting the administration's view that the wetlands in question are subject to regulation. The two consolidated cases have challenged the federal government's right to regulate certain wetlands that are at the headwaters of, or adjacent to, streams. A ruling restricting the government's ability to control filling of these wetlands could seriously endanger many wetlands that serve as nursery grounds for fish, protect against the impacts of floods and keep pollutants from reaching surface waters.
FishNet Looks to 2006
In November, ASA convened a meeting of FishNet to discuss its course of action for 2006. Among the issues discussed were Forest Service Rise to the Future program needs, energy policy, the 2007 Farm Bill, the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization, the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, the Open Rivers Initiative, the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service "Scaling Up" events, the Fish Passage Center, a BLM update, Casting Call 2006 and National Fishing and Boating Week 2006.
