Fisheries

Advancing Science-Based Fisheries Policy

CSF advances science-based fisheries policy at both the federal and state levels to protect angler access, conserve marine and inland fish populations, and strengthen the economic and conservation impact of recreational fishing nationwide.

Fishery Policy Priorities

Fishery Latest News

July 20, 2026

Twenty Years of Partnership for Healthier Fish Habitat and Better Fishing Opportunities

Why It Matters: Healthy aquatic habitats are the foundation of abundant, sustainable fisheries and ample fishing opportunities for America’s anglers. For two decades, the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) has united federal and state agencies, fishing conservation organizations, industry, local communities, and private landowners behind a common goal: restoring, protecting, and enhancing the waters that support fish and […]

Fisherman holding up small mouth bass
July 13, 2026

KISS: Keep It Simple, Sportsmen

Why It Matters: The longevity of our time-honored outdoor traditions, and the critical American System of Conservation Funding that these traditions support, depend upon consistent participation by sportsmen and women. Recruitment efforts surrounding popular hunting and angling opportunities are effective but can carry a high cost of entry for beginning sportsmen and women. However, simple outdoor pursuits, such as small game hunting and bream […]

June 22, 2026

The Gulf Showed the Way. The South Atlantic Still Awaits Their Chance. 

Why It Matters: For over a decade, South Atlantic red snapper anglers have been trapped in a management system that routinely relies on federal recreational catch data that consistently misses even the National Marine Fisheries Service’s mark for useable data. This year, a state-led effort to collect more accurate and timely catch information through exempted fishing permits (EFPs) offered a […]

June 22, 2026

Spring and Summer Free Fishing Days Conclude in the Great Lakes 

Why It Matters: Although sportsmen and women are the backbone of conservation funding through their license and sporting gear purchases, states offer brief, limited opportunities to fish without purchasing a license in an effort to grow the base of anglers.  Highlights:  With summer officially upon us, almost all of the statehouses in the Great Lakes region have emptied their chambers of legislators while nearby […]

Anglers in New Hampshire will continue to have live bait as an option for fishing.

A national program to improve aquatic habitat and fishing opportunities has been permanently authorized by Congress.

Anglers in the Gulf now enjoy months, not days, of red snapper seasons.

Enhanced opportunities for improved marine fisheries management through the Modern Fish Act.