News Category: Fisheries

Why It Matters: Overabundant double-crested cormorant populations are creating growing challenges for fisheries, aquaculture, and habitat health across the country. Providing states with flexible, science-based management tools ensures localized issues can be addressed effectively while maintaining sustainable population levels. This legislation represents a proactive step toward balancing conservation success with on-the-ground realities.  Highlights:  Last week, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus member, Representative Tim Walberg […]

Why It Matters: The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund is a cornerstone of the American System of Conservation Funding, delivering critical, dedicated funding to state fish and wildlife agencies for fisheries management, boating access, and safety programs. Congressional action is required every five years to maintain the Fund’s revenue streams tied to marine and small engine fuel taxes.  Highlights:  Last […]

Why It Matters: The 2026 general legislative session has kicked off in the “Sportsman’s Paradise”, and legislators have wasted no time in introducing dozens of bills impacting wildlife and fisheries. Among those are reining in the commercial menhaden industry, expanding recreational hunting opportunities, protecting sensitive data from public records requests, and much more.  Highlights:  Louisiana is known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise” for […]

March 18, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed four legislative priorities for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF): the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2026, the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025, and the Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act. Thanks to the active work of Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s […]

Why It Matters: The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) opposed a previously proposed rule that would have effectively closed access for offshore anglers fishing on vessels 35 feet or longer along the Atlantic coast for much of the year to protect North Atlantic right whales. That proposed rule was seemingly developed in a vacuum without any input from affected stakeholders and, after considerable pressure from […]

Why It Matters: The Department of Justice’s February 17 court brief defending the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) veto of the proposed Pebble Mine reinforces long-standing protections for one of America’s most important hunting and fishing landscapes – the Bristol Bay watershed. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) applauds the Trump Administration for reaffirming that clean water, healthy fish and wildlife habitat, and…

Why It Matters: Poor recreational catch data has been the Achilles heel for angler access to the highest biomass of South Atlantic red snapper in history. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been encouraging a state-led approach for red snapper management in the South Atlantic since the Gulf Council officially implemented state management in 2020. That time has finally come, […]

A new federal bill could make it easier to turn decommissioned oil rigs into artificial reefs, a move scientists say would boost Gulf fisheries and habitat.

Why It Matters: Access for anglers is critical to sustaining participation in recreational fishing. Impediments to access come in many forms, and last week, Congress advanced two priority bills for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) that will benefit anglers and improve angling access, though in very different ways.    Highlights:  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has jurisdictional authority of our nation’s marine fisheries resources from the limit […]

Why It Matters: Rodman Reservoir, constructed in 1968, is a 9,500-acre reservoir in Northeast Florida and is one of the premier largemouth bass fisheries in the world. For decades, there have been efforts led by environmental groups to destroy Rodman Reservoir in favor of “restoring” the Ocklawaha River with vague goals and objectives, jeopardizing a staple of the recreational fishing community. …

(January 13, 2026) – Washington, D.C. — The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) encourages the advancement of H.R. 5745, the Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act, following a hearing before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, where CSF provided testimony in strong support of the legislation.  On Tuesday, January 13, Chris Horton, Senior Director of Fisheries Policy for CSF, testified before…

Why It Matters: Offshore fishing in the Gulf of America (Gulf) is often around oil and gas platforms and associated infrastructure. These hard structures that dot the Gulf provide valuable habitat for fish, corals, and invertebrates, and important fishing destinations for anglers and commercial fishermen alike. Unfortunately, many have been removed through decommissioning. For years,  the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been working to improve the Rigs-To-Reefs program, and we…