The B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Fund will fund grassroots fisheries conservation projects

Alexandria, VA - June 21, 2013 - The FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation arm of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is partnering with B.A.S.S. LLC, to form the B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Fund. The B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Fund will fund activities, projects and programs related to fisheries and aquatic resource conservation and research. The fund will be used exclusively by B.A.S.S. Nation state clubs to implement projects that enhance fisheries conservation on the grassroots level.

A donation from Simms Fishing Products provided the seed money for the new Conservation Fund which emphasizes grassroots approaches to restore fisheries resources and habitat in the U.S. and parts of Canada. The Conservation Fund will specifically target projects which benefit black bass species and their habitats.

The B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Fund is seeking proposals for new grant projects from B.A.S.S. Nation clubs beginning July 2013. The deadline to submit grant proposals is October 31, 2013. The awardees will be announced at the February 2014 Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, Ala. The call for proposals will be sent from B.A.S.S. LLC to B.A.S.S. Nation clubs the first week in July 2013.

"The FishAmerica Foundation is pleased to partner with B.A.S.S. and its many B.A.S.S. Federation Nation clubs," said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. "B.A.S.S. has a long tradition of investing in fisheries and aquatic habitat conservation. Working with B.A.S.S. clubs to improve fisheries habitat is a natural extension of FishAmerica's mission."

According to B.A.S.S. National Conservation Director Noreen Clough the partnership with FishAmerica provides B.A.S.S. a unique opportunity to expand their grassroots conservation efforts. "Grants made at a generous one to one match will allow B.A.S.S. clubs to expand their capabilities for fisheries and fish habitat conservation," said Clough. "We thank Simms Fishing Products for providing their contribution to kick off our fundraising efforts. It's important that we all do our part to ensure our fisheries and their habitats are healthy now and in the future."

The FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation and research foundation of the American Sportfishing Association, is dedicated to keeping our fish and waters healthy. FishAmerica unites the sportfishing industry with conservation groups, government agencies, fishing tournament clubs and organizations, corporations and charitable foundations, investing in fisheries conservation and research across the country. FishAmerica's matching grants empower citizen conservationists in their own communities. Since 1983 FishAmerica has invested more than $11 million in 1,000 fisheries conservation and research projects nationwide.

B.A.S.S. is a membership organization with approximately 500,000 members nationwide. Approximately 20,000 of those individual members are organized into clubs that are affiliated with B.A.S.S. Federation Nation chapters in 47 States, Canada, Italy, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Japan. In addition to participation in competitive fishing events, B.A.S.S. members are dedicated to fisheries conservation and youth education activities. Although B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its member, it remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access.