New Federal Policy Steps Up Efforts to Turn Gulf of Mexico Rigs Into Reefs

Changes should help reverse the unnecessary destruction of important fish habitat

Alexandria, VA – June 27, 2013 – Offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico serve as valuable marine habitat, supporting economically important recreational fishing in the Gulf region. In the face of increasing efforts to remove these structures, this week the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) released its amended “Rigs to Reefs” policy that will make it easier to turn inactive platforms into new artificial reefs. Read more

Michigan Commercial Fishing Harvest Valued Over $4 Million for 2012

The Department of Natural Resources’ Fisheries Division recently released data from its 2012 state-licensed commercial fishing season. An often overlooked component of Michigan’s world-class fisheries resources, state-licensed commercial fisheries in 2012 caught 3,762,000 pounds of fish with a dockside value of $4,087,000 prior to processing, marketing and retail sale. Read more

More Atlantic Salmon in Michigan Waters

Michigan became world-famous when it made a daring effort to revitalize the Great Lakes sport fishery by stocking Pacific salmon in the 1960s. While Chinook and Coho fishing still remain very good overall, Michigan is now looking at residents of the other ocean to beef up the Great Lakes fishery: Atlantic salmon.

Highly prized around the world for their sporting characteristics, Atlantic salmon are currently thriving in the St. Marys River, theAtlantic salmon connecting water that drains Lake Superior and flows into Lake Huron. Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Fisheries Division personnel hope to expand the Atlantic salmon fishery further into Lake Huron. Read more

Procedural Motion Stops Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 in Senate

Fish and wildlife conservation put into jeopardy through partisan politics

Alexandria, VA  – November 27, 2012 – In a surprise upset, the U.S. Senate failed to advance the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (S. 3525). After months of discussion with Senate members by a diverse coalition of angling, hunting and conservation organizations to create a historic bill containing 17 key provisions for anglers, hunters and fish and wildlife conservation, the bill failed to pass over a party line vote on a procedural motion.

“The shocking aspect of this bill’s defeat – one that would have such a positive impact on anglers, hunters and fish and wildlife conservation – is that it occurred over a budget argument giving the Secretary of the Interior the ability to increase the duck stamp price $10, thus pumping more dollars into wetland conservation for both fisheries and wildlife benefits” said Gordon Robertson, vice president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). Read more

A Review of HR 4089 – Sportsman’s Heritage Act of 2012

By Glen Wunderlich

Known as the Sportsman’s Heritage Act of 2012, HR 4089 has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and, if it continues on its path to becoming law, it may be the most important piece of legislation on behalf of sportsmen and women in decades.   H.R. 4089 is actually the compilation of four bills, all designed to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting: Read more

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