Why It Matters: Descending devices are best known for helping deep-caught reef fish recover from barotrauma or “the bends”, but they can also move released fish quickly past sharks and dolphins waiting near the surface. Reducing depredation and improving the survival of regulatory discards means more fish in the water and potentially better fishing opportunities […]
*This article was written in partnership with the Coastal Conservation Association Chris Horton, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Brad Gentner, Coastal Conservation Association Why It Matters: NOAA Fisheries is no longer including durable goods expenditures, such as boats, trailers, electronics, and fishing tackle, in its state-level estimates of recreational fishing expenditures. As a result, the economic footprint […]
Why It Matters: The Public Trust Doctrine establishes that wildlife resources are owned by the public and are to be managed by government agencies for the benefit of the public. This key principle is a core tenant of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation which is widely renowned as the most successful model of […]
Wake County, NC – A landmark North Carolina court ruling has provided one of the most significant validations to date of the power that constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish protections can provide for America’s sportsmen and women. On August 17, the Wake County Superior Court ruled in favor of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina (CCA NC) and […]
Why It Matters: The South Atlantic’s recreational red snapper fishery has long been hampered by uncertainty surrounding estimates of recreational catch, effort, and discards. Three new Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina offer an opportunity to address that challenge by pairing additional fishing opportunity in the month of October with enhanced, state-based data collection. If […]
Why It Matters: With Congress entering the final months of the 119th Congress, the legislative calendar is rapidly shrinking. While many bills will compete for limited floor time, several bipartisan fisheries priorities supported by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) remain well positioned for action before lawmakers adjourn. Whether improving angler access, addressing shark depredation, or advancing marine habitat conservation, […]