Why It Matters: Offshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama to Texas is often best around offshore oil and gas platforms and associated infrastructure on the outer continental shelf (OCS). These hard structures that dot the Gulf provide valuable habitat for fish, corals, and invertebrates and important fishing destinations for anglers and commercial…
March 7, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) Vessel Strike Risk Reduction Technology Workshop concluded in Arlington, VA. The workshop was the first time that representatives from the angling, recreational boating, and the marine electronics industry have been invited to the table to present…
Why It Matters: There are seven federal agencies under four different cabinet-level secretaries that have some degree of jurisdiction and regulatory authority over what hunters, anglers, and boaters can or cannot do on navigable waters. As a compliment to the MAPWaters Act for the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, the MAPOceans…
February 13, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Senior Director of Fisheries Policy, Chris Horton, was recently chosen to serve on both the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC) and the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) Board further solidifying CSF’s footprint on fisheries policy. For 35 years, CSF has been the nation’s most effective outdoor advocacy…
Why It Matters: With an estimated 3 million anglers fishing the Gulf of Mexico every year from all over the nation and the world, it is vitally important that popular recreational species like red snapper, gag grouper, and many others are effectively managed to ensure anglers have access to healthy fisheries. Collecting and using good…
Why It Matters: Healthy habitats can support an abundance of species and contribute to an ecosystem’s resilience to changing environmental conditions. In some cases, manmade, artificial habitats can enhance species carrying capacities beyond natural habitats. Numerous studies coupled with angler observations and experience, serve as testimonies to the ability of artificial structures, especially aging oil…
Why It Matters: Introduced on January 12, 2024, Vermont Senate Bill 258 (S 258) – An act relating to the management of Fish and Wildlife – proposes to transfer the authority to adopt rules for the taking of fish, wildlife, and fur-bearing animals from the Fish and Wildlife Board to the Department of Fish and…
Why It Matters: The committee passage of the EXPLORE Act, the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act, and the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act marks an important step in the advancement of these priority bills for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). These bills seek to improve outdoor recreational access and to enhance fish and…
Why It Matters: Hunting and fishing are societal pillars in Michigan that have significant economic impacts. This legislative package serves to increase consumer confidence when contracting a hunting or fishing guide to pursue the State’s storied fish and wildlife species, while simultaneously increasing revenue and reporting data for the state’s fish and wildlife agency. Highlights:…
Why It Matters: One of the most important challenges that sportsmen and women face today is passing on the outdoor traditions that we cherish to new generations. Broadening the base of hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers is instrumental to securing the legacy of the American outdoors, and free fishing days aim to do just…
Why It Matters: Early September often marks the return of year-round legislatures to their respective state capitols, and Lansing is no exception. Upon their return, Michigan legislators will be greeted with a handful of sporting bills – some that advance the interests of sportsmen and women, and some that do not. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation…
Why It Matters: If you have ever fished offshore in the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama to Texas, chances are, you found fish near an offshore oil and gas platform. For three-quarters of a century, these steel structures that were constructed to extract petroleum to meet energy demands have created valuable habitat for fish, corals,…