Sportfishing industry applauds House Natural Resources Committee for Advancing Key Fisheries Bills

United States Capitol © SEA.AI

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the trade association representing the sportfishing industry, celebrates the recent advancement of three critical pieces of legislation by the House Natural Resources Committee, reinforcing their commitment to the industry, the recreational fishing community and promoting sustainable fisheries management.

These bills—H.R. 8704, H.R. 8811 (America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024) and H.R. 5103 (FISHES Act)—are vital for ensuring the health of our fisheries and protecting our sportfishing heritage.

"Each of these bills will bolster the $148 sportfishing industry and protect access for America's 57.7 million anglers," said Mike Leonard, Vice President of Government Affairs at ASA. "We are grateful to the House Natural Resources Committee and the sponsors of these bills for recognizing the importance of conserving our fisheries resources and enhancing the social, cultural and economic benefits that recreational fishing provides to the nation."

The bipartisan, bicameral America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8811), led by Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA), reauthorizes vital programs that support our industry and improve fishing access and habitat. Of its many provisions, this bill will reauthorize the National Fish Habitat Partnership, continue funding the Chesapeake Bay Program to reduce pollution in our nation's largest estuary, improve invasive species management, and protect the use of traditional tackle on America's public lands and waters.

H.R. 8704, sponsored by Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Mary Peltola (D-AK), addresses the need for a more thoughtful approach to protecting the North Atlantic right whale while ensuring the safety and viability of recreational fishing. ASA recognizes the critical role of minimizing vessel strikes to protect these endangered whales but opposes NOAA's overly restrictive proposed rule, which ignores the potential of technology to minimize the risk of strikes. NOAA's proposed speed restrictions will have dire effects on the sportfishing and boating industry along the East Coast while having no meaningful benefits for right whales.

This bill seeks to establish a grant program to develop and expand safety technology features for real-time identification of right whale locations and provide a more effective means to prevent vessel strikes while keeping boats and anglers on the water.

The "Fishery Improvement to Streamline Untimely Regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation (FISHES) Act," introduced by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), aims to expedite federal disaster relief following fishery disaster declarations. Fishing communities, including the sportfishing industry, face severe repercussions from damages caused by environmental changes and natural disasters. While recent legislation has streamlined NOAA's disaster review process, delays often occur due to the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The FISHES Act establishes a reasonable deadline for this approval, allowing necessary funds to reach struggling fishing businesses promptly.

All three bills now head to the House floor for a full vote. ASA, our members and our partners will continue to advocate for swift passage of these bills and look forward to seeing them become law.