Why It Matters: President Trump issued two executive orders that prioritize America’s hunting and fishing traditions while recognizing these activities are inseparable from successful conservation. By directing federal agencies to expand access, modernize recreational fisheries data, strengthen State-Federal partnerships, improve habitat, and support recruitment and retention, the orders can turn that recognition into practical improvements for sportsmen and women and the resources they sustain.
Highlights
- The saltwater angling order prioritizes better recreational fisheries data, greater use of state data, technology-based marine mammal avoidance, artificial reefs, and solutions to shark and pinniped depredation.
- The hunting heritage order directs agencies to expand access, strengthen habitat and game populations, preserve traditional methods, and support hunter recruitment and retention.
- Together, the orders recognize sportsmen and women as essential partners in conservation and reinforce the economic and cultural importance of America’s outdoor traditions.
Last week, during a dinner at the White House to recognize the importance of America’s outdoor heritage and honor the millions of sportsmen and women who are the backbone of the American System of Conservation Funding, President Donald Trump announced the signing of two important executive orders.
The “Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation” and “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage” Executive Orders each take important steps to enhance access, habitat conservation, fish and wildlife management, and our outdoor traditions. These Presidential directives signal the Administration’s continued commitment to hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other outdoor traditions and the role they play in conservation, economic opportunity, and the American way of life.
Under the Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation Executive Order, federal agencies are directed, consistent with existing law, to:
- Modernize recreational fisheries data collection by evaluating outdated survey methods, expanding electronic and mobile reporting and incorporating real-time catch, effort and observational data into federal fisheries management;
- Strengthen State-Federal partnerships and improve the use of state data, including consideration of more precise state recreational catch-and-effort data in federal management decisions;
- Improve recreational fisheries economic data so the economic value of recreational fishing, for-hire fisheries and shoreside businesses is more fully considered in federal fisheries management decisions;
- Advance technology-based approaches to marine mammal avoidance, including directing NOAA to work with the private sector to integrate new technologies that can improve marine mammal detection and avoidance;
- Fast-track artificial reef and habitat creation, including establishing a federal Reef-in-Place Program for eligible offshore structures and streamlining permitting for qualifying artificial reef projects, and
- Address shark and pinniped depredation and their impacts on recreational fishing by improving research and coordination among federal and state fisheries managers, anglers and the recreational fishing community and advancing management strategies to reduce harmful interactions.
Under the Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage Executive Order, federal agencies are directed, consistent with existing law, to:
- Expand hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting access on federal lands, including improving access to hard-to-reach lands through easements, land exchanges, and cooperative agreements;
- Protect traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle as agencies review federal land-use policies and regulations;
- Streamline the administrative process authorizing migratory bird hunting while maintaining Flyway Councils as full partners;
- Work with state fish and wildlife agencies to strengthen game populations through habitat management, invasive-species control, predator management, prescribed fire, and other tools;
- Support hunter recruitment and retention, including school-based archery and hunter education programs and efforts focused on youth and veterans, and
- Promote Sunday hunting and wild-game donation programs.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) sincerely appreciates the leadership of President Trump on behalf of America’s sportsmen and women and looks forward to working with the Administration, federal agencies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and conservation partners to implement these directives. These executive orders chart a clear path for meaningful, durable results for fish and wildlife, expanded opportunities for sportsmen and women, and will further strengthen America’s outdoor heritage for generations to come.