(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and Keep Florida Fishing®, an advocacy arm of ASA, were proud to co-sponsor and participate in the “United for Everglades” fly-in and reception in Washington, D.C., along with the Everglades Foundation, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, and the Coastal Conservation Association Florida.

“The American Sportfishing Association and Keep Florida Fishing were thrilled to co-sponsor and have our coalition participate in the United for Everglades fly-in and reception,” said Kellie Ralston, Southeast Fisheries Policy Director of the American Sportfishing Association. “I am proud to work on these efforts with leadership from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District, and event co-sponsors and attendees. This was an amazing opportunity for likeminded people to come together with a common voice to urge federal policy makers to support full funding, progress, and solutions for Everglades restoration, Florida water quality and coral disease response.”

On the evening of Tuesday, October 29, a reception was held for the recreational boating and fishing industry, environmental and conservation organization leadership and policy makers. Teams of Everglades champions visited members of the United States Congress the following day to deliver a united message to secure funding and progress for restoring our Everglades ecosystem and to urge action to address the coral disease outbreak in Florida.

About Keep Florida Fishing®
Keep Florida Fishing® is an advocacy arm of the American Sportfishing Association with the goal of ensuring Florida anglers have clean waters, abundant fisheries and access to both. Florida is considered the ‘Fishing Capital of the World’ and home to more than four million licensed anglers, supporting 106,296 jobs, providing $11.5 billion in economic activity and contributing more than $56.7 million for fisheries conservation. Learn more at www.keepfloridafishing.org. Find Keep Florida Fishing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.