February 6, 2008
American Sportfishing Association Policy Alert

ASA's Position on NOAA's Sanctuaries Program's Islands in the Stream Gulf of Mexico Proposal

For more information, contact Gordon Robertson, vice president and Government Affairs lead, 703.519.9691, x237, or Patty Doerr, Ocean Resource Policy director, x244.

The Situation
During a February 1, 2008, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Florida, an employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Sanctuaries Program indicated that the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is supporting a proposal, known as Islands in the Stream. The proposal would establish a series of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Gulf of Mexico. This is the same proposal that was discussed during ASA's 2007 Sportfishing Summit at both the Government Affairs Committee meeting and during the general session on angler access. A copy of the NOAA and ASA presentations are available on ASA's Web site under the 2007 Sportfishing Summit highlights.

ASA staff had a briefing with NOAA about Islands in the Stream and has had two meetings with the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) concerning the proposal. During these meetings, ASA clearly stated in written and verbal communication that the association does not intend to support any proposal that will diminish recreational fishing opportunity in the Gulf of Mexico - or any other location - and will firmly oppose any proposal that does so.

ASA's position is that the establishment of further MPAs in the Gulf, or expansion of existing areas, should at a minimum maintain current areas of opportunity for recreational fishing and that the future of recreational fishing should be fully protected. In addition, any further designations must be accompanied by a transparent process with robust stakeholder participation. At the Summit, ASA's Board of Directors approved a position statement on MPAs which guides ASA in all discussions relating to MPAs.

How You Can Help
Access to the resource is a critical element in having a successful sportfishing business. Recreational anglers and boaters have always been in the forefront of fisheries conservation in the United States, financing countless conservation and restoration projects through license fees, motorboat fuel taxes and the federal excise tax on fishing gear. Anglers and boaters, who shoulder most of the fisheries conservation efforts in this country, should not be penalized by arbitrary MPA designations. We need your help to promote the message that recreational fishing should be fully protected in the Gulf of Mexico.

The American Sportfishing Association asks that you reach out to local anglers and stakeholders to help educate them about Islands in the Stream and ASA's position on the issue. In addition, reach out to your state and federal public policy representatives to help make them aware of the issue and to voice your support for a Gulf of Mexico proposal that protects recreational fishing in perpetuity.