September 2008 American Sportfishing Association Policy Watch

Policy Watch is a monthly update for the sportfishing community about the American Sportfishing Association’s Government Affairs activities.

For more information on ASA Government Affairs activities, contact Gordon Robertson, vice president and Government Affairs lead, 703.519.9691, x237, Patty Doerr, Ocean Resource Policy director, x244, or Mary Beth Charles, Policy Fellow, x230.

President Signs Executive Order Sustaining Recreational Fishing on Federal Lands and Waters
On September 26, President Bush signed an amendment to the 1995 Executive Order on recreational fishing. This amendment ensures that federal agencies must maintain recreational fishing on federal lands and waters, including marine protected areas. The Executive Order revises Executive Order 12962 signed in 1995 by President Bill Clinton.

Over the past two years, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the Center for Coastal Conservation, the Coastal Conservation Association, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Shimano American Corporation worked together to secure recreational fishing and boating access. President Bush’s amendment recognizes the marine and freshwater conservation impact of recreational anglers by allowing responsible recreational fishing and boating in marine protected areas and federal lands. We applaud the President for his action and thank everyone who provided information and support to accomplish this historic amendment.

An August 25, Executive Memo signed by the President set the stage for the new Executive Order. The memo directed the Secretaries of Defense, Interior and Commerce and the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to sustain access to recreational fishing as part of their study of potential marine protected areas (MPA) in the central Pacific Ocean. ASA supported the president’s directive and his decision not to include the Gulf of Mexico and marine areas of the southeast United States as part of that MPA study. 
 
Marine Life Protection Act Update (MLPA)
Southern California is preparing for the MLPA process to begin in that region from Point Conception to the Mexican border. In preparation, PSO members have attended SoCal Regional Stakeholder Meetings. ASA and its fellow members of the PSO submitted 16 nominations for the South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG). In September, the PSO held its quarterly governing group meeting to finalize strategy for the remainder of the North Central Coast phase, and continued its discussions regarding the South Coast phase. California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) proposal 2-XA remains one of four North Central Coast marine protected area (MPA) alternatives in California. The Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) officially submitted the proposals to the Fish and Game Commission (FGC) in early June; including the BRTF’s own preferred alternative that was based on proposal 2XA and is similar to it. The FGC is now planning a series of public meetings starting in October to hear testimony on the four proposals and then vote on the final alternative in the late fall.

Lieberman and Bond Introduce National Fish Habitat Conservation Act
Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO), George Voinovich (R-OH) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) introduced the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act on September 23.  In the House, the same Act was introduced on September 26 by Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD).  The foundation for the Act is the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP). Though the bills will most likely not get to hearing before this Congress adjourns, they will be the foundation for re-introduction in the 111th Congress. ASA sent a letter, which included signatures from various national organizations, to all Senate offices urging co-sponsorship, and will do the same for House members. ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson sits on the NFHAP Board.

Legislation to Restore Cape Hatteras Beach Access
S. 3113 and H.R. 6233, bills aimed at restoring reasonable off-road vehicle (ORV) access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area (CHNSRA), were both acted upon in September. The Senate Energy Committee voted on S. 3113 on September 11, but failed to pass the bill by one vote. In addition, the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on September 11, on H.R. 6233, for which ASA submitted written testimony for the record. The bills would reinstate the Interim Management Strategy finalized by the Park Service in 2007 to govern ORV use on CHNSRA until a long-term ORV management plan is completed in 2010. Please send a letter to your Members of Congress urging their support of S. 3113 and H.R. 6233.