Angler Rights Activism

by National Professional Anglers Association 13 Feb 2024 12:38 PST

Those who would nix your right to fish in an instant are active and organized - recreational anglers need to be equally vigilant.

Nearly half of Australia's fishable waters are now off limits. Some European countries ban catch and release, claiming it hurts the fish. Think it can't happen here. Think again...

The good news is that American angler interests are backed by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the nation's largest trade association for the recreational sportfishing industry. The bad news is that they can't completely protect your rights alone...and that's where you come in.

Recently, ASA VP of Government Affairs Mike Leonard spoke at the annual NPAA conference in Fort Myers, Florida on the topic of advocacy, what ASA is doing on your behalf, and what you can do as an individual to protect your fishing interests.

Leonard's engaging presentation highlighted three key themes:

• DO NOT take fishing for granted.
• DO NOT sit on the sidelines.
• Stop with the infighting.

He went on to talk about knowing the issues in your area, joining fishing organizations that work to protect sportfishing like the NPAA and the ASA, and keeping up with the issues that could affect your ability to access the vast amount of aquatic resources available in this country at asafishing.org.

If you care about the future of recreational fishing, you're not too busy to watch Leonard's presentation...

For more information on joining the NPAA and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit npaa.net.