Senior Director, Fisheries Policy

Chris Horton


Chris Horton joined CSF in 2010 as the Midwestern States Director. In this role he oversaw and interacted with the state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses and members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus throughout the region. As the Senior Director, Fisheries Policy, he serves as CSF’s primary point of contact on federal recreational fishing issues, as well as assists the States Program Team staff with challenges for anglers at both the state and regional levels. Chris currently serves on the board of the Future Angler Foundation, the American Sportfishing Association’s Government Affairs Committee, and the Center for Sportfishing Policy’s Government Relations Committee. He has previously served on the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council,  Marine Protected Area Federal Advisory Committee, and the board of the National Fish Habitat Partnership.

Prior to joining CSF, Chris served as the Conservation Director for the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.). His primary responsibility was to work with and represent the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation and B.A.S.S. members on local, state and national conservation issues that impact sport fishing. During his tenure at B.A.S.S., he was part of a U.S. delegation to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization in the development of a Code of Practice for Recreational Fisheries.

Chris received a master’s degree in fisheries from the University of Arizona. Prior to working with B.A.S.S., Chris served as the reservoir research biologist, as well as the black bass biologist, for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Related News

Feb 27 2023 CSF Supports Funding for Whale Monitoring as a Solution

Why It Matters: The recreational boating and fishing community understands the importance of protecting...

Feb 21 2023 CSF-Supported Coastal Habitat Bills Back on the Table in the 118th

Why It Matters: Healthy coastal habitats are important for many recreationally important species like...

Jan 17 2023 Court Does the Math on Recreational Fisheries Allocations

Why It Matters: Federal marine fisheries management is often a balancing act for those...

Oct 31 2022 CSF Acknowledges Improvements, Supports Further Tweaks to Florida Keys Management Plan

Why It Matters: The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a top angling destination...

Oct 18 2022 Joint Workgroup Wraps Up Efforts to Identify Better Ways to Manage Recreational Fisheries

Why It Matters: Federal fisheries management predominately uses a biomass-based management model that uses...

Sep 26 2022 CSF Welcomes Bill to Create NOAA Youth Fishing Program

Why It Matters: The surge in fishing and hunting participation during the first year...

Sep 20 2022 FWS Finalizes Hunt Fish Rule, Increasing Access but Restricting Use of Traditional Ammo and Tackle

Why It Matters: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the top federal agency...

Aug 18 2021 As the Weather Heats Up, So Goes the Fishing

By: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States/Fisheries PolicyAugust can be a bit brutal here...

Apr 19 2021 Arkansas Caucus Passes School-Based Hunter Education Bill

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries PolicyHighlightsWhy It Matters: Hunter education...

Nov 23 2020 Arkansas Duck Hunters to Benefit from Farm Bill Conservation Program

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries PolicyOn November 12, the Arkansas...

Oct 15 2020 Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

By: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy Federal fisheries management is a...

Aug 10 2020 AGFC Provides Quality Dove Hunting Opportunities

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Federal Fisheries Policy and Midwestern StatesThe first day of...

May 18 2020 Arkansas: CSF Shoots Down Waterfowl Regulation

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States & Fisheries PolicyOn May 15, the Congressional...

Apr 27 2020 Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Eyeing a Comprehensive Slate of Regulatory Changes

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries PolicyOn April 23, in a...

Mar 23 2020 Arkansas’s Answer to Social Distancing – Free Fishing Licenses

Contact: Chris Horton, Fisheries Policy and Midwestern States Senior DirectorWhile some states are closing...

Nov 25 2019 Stepping Up by Sending Them Back Down

By Chris Horton, Senior Director of Midwestern States and Fisheries Program Accountability is a word that...

Mar 25 2019 Arkansas: Raising Trout Permit Will Result in More Rising Rainbows

By Chris Horton, Midwestern States Senior DirectorOn March 25, a final vote is expected...

Feb 19 2019 Arkansas: Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Governor Hutchinson Unveils 2019-2020 Duck Stamp at Sportsmen’s Caucus Lunch

By Chris Horton, Midwestern States Senior DirectorOn February 12, the Arkansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus,...

Apr 27 2018 Angling Community Weighs-in on Corps Supplemental Disaster Construction Funding

By Chris Horton, Senior Fisheries DirectorCongress recently allocated $10.4 billion to the U.S. Army...

Feb 27 2018 Fishing for the Facts about the Modern Fish Act

By Chris Horton, Fisheries Program Director, Congressional Sportsmen’s FoundationMark Twain once said, “Never let...

Jun 01 2017 Louisiana Proposal for Red Snapper Anglers Smells Fishy

Chris Horton, Fisheries Program Director, Congressional Sportsmen’s FoundationIt was Albert Einstein who said that...

Sep 01 2016 Why We Should Support State-Based Fisheries Management

By Chris Horton, CSF Fisheries Program DirectorComing from the freshwater side of fisheries management,...

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