Contact: Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States & States Program Administrator
On June 8, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted comments on a proposed Recreational Fishing Plan (Plan) for the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). While the Plan included some positive enhancements of recreational angling access within the Refuge, it also included a proposed ban on the use of lead fishing tackle, which CSF staunchly opposes.
As stated in CSF’s comments, “In the absence of any biologically-based evidence that lead fishing tackle is causing any negative, localized effects on Refuge wildlife, and to ensure every visitor to the Refuge who wishes to participate in fishing can do so equally with the weights of their choosing, we urge you to remove the prohibition on the use of lead fishing tackle from the final Plan.”
CSF will provide additional updates on this issue as they become available.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
