The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) recently joined with key industry and community stakeholders to unveil a roadmap for policies that benefit fisheries conservation and enhanced angler access that will serve as our community’s guide for the next slate of congressional and administrative leaders. THE FUTURE OF SPORTFISHING: Policy Recommendations from the Recreational Fishing Community is a collaborative, consensus-based approach of seventeen recreational fishing organizations that will benefit our nation’s fisheries, more than 57 million anglers, and the industries they support.
“As we look to install a new Congress and Administration in 2025, it is important that the challenges and opportunities for fisheries conservation and our angling heritage are among the priorities of the new leadership,” said the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s Senior Director of Fisheries Policy, Chris Horton. “We look forward to working with our next suite of elected officials to protect and advance our nation’s time-honored tradition of recreational fishing, the industries it supports, and the conservation funding it provides.”
The recommendations are grouped into three key areas: federal funding requests, policy proposals for public waters, and habitat protection initiatives:
National Conservation Funding
- Adequate and dedicated funding for federal land management agencies
- Reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
- Enhanced Funding for state-led collaborative conservation
Marine Fisheries Policy Proposals
- Improve data and access
- Investments in marine technologies
- Effective fisheries management
- Species habitat and recovery
Freshwater Fisheries Policy Proposals
- Legislation to protect habitat and support restoration
- Strengthen interstate partnerships
- Conserve waterways and protect public access
- Invasive species management and removal
“Each year, one out of six Americans go fishing – contributing $148 billion to the U.S. economy,” added Mike Leonard, Vice President of Government Affairs at ASA. “The next Administration and Congress should clearly understand what issues our constituency cares about, and this report gives them a roadmap on how they can best support our community’s needs.”
Anglers also contribute significantly to conservation efforts, generating $1.8 billion annually for aquatic resource conservation through license sales, the federal excise tax on fishing equipment, and direct donations. Recreational fishing is not only an excellent pathway to connecting millions of Americans to the outdoors, but it also supports 90,000 jobs nationwide.
The Future of Sportfishing Policy is the culmination of months of work by ASA, CSF, and other fishing organizations that will define the angling community’s priorities for the next four years. We look forward to working with the next administration and congress to achieve these priorities and enhance recreational fishing for generations to come.
