Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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Alexandria, Virginia - More than 130 sportfishing industry leaders representing 81 companies and organizations from the United States and Canada gathered October 28-30, at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California, for the American Sportfishing Association's (ASA) 2009 Sportfishing Summit. During the association's annual business meeting, the Summit focused on the domestic and economic markets, fisheries resource management, advocacy and the political forces impacting the industry.
"The Summit is our premier networking and business management event," said Mike Nussman, ASA president and CEO. "I want to thank all of our Summit attendees and especially thank our board of directors and committee members for their dedication to the industry and their work during the ASA Board of Directors and ASA Committee meetings."
During the October 27 networking lunch, Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator, addressed industry leaders and voiced her commitment to recreational fishing.
"As NOAA's Administrator, I am committed to adopting policies that will ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful activity," Lubchenco said during her remarks. "We are responding to the concerns expressed by your leaders that we don't pay enough attention to recreational fishing. I'm here to tell you that we do think you are important, that we will pay attention and that we will work with you. It is my intention to improve our relationship." Lubchenco further added, "I will be your champion."
On October 28, at An Evening with Colleagues and Friends, ASA presented its two awards, the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award and the Future of Fishing Award, to recognize significant contributions to sportfishing. The Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award, named after the American Sportfishing Association's former vice president for government affairs, is presented to an individual who has shown extraordinary leadership throughout his or her career in promoting the values of sportfishing and advancing cooperative approaches to conservation and recreation.
Dick-PoolDick Pool, president of Pro-Troll Inc., member of the ASA board of directors, was presented the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award, ASA's highest honor, for his lifelong dedication to the sportfishing industry. Pool has served on the ASA board of directors three times previously, is a long time member of the government affairs committee and has worked towards the conservation and restoration of salmon and steelhead in California.
"I am deeply appreciative on being selected to receive the American Sportfishing Association's Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award for conservation and the advancement of sportfishing. In my career I have received a number of awards but nothing is as special as receiving an award from your peers and colleagues," Pool said. "Where we have made progress, I have had lots of help. I thank the hundreds of partners, dedicated groups and individuals I have worked with for many years. I give a special thanks to the ASA staff for their steadfast dedication and support. I also give a very special thanks to the state and federal fishery agencies and the political leaders who have been willing to support and partner with us for progress."
Dr. Bob Ditton, professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University received the Future of Fishing Award, given to an individual that has made a special contribution to advancing fishing participation and recognizes significant contributions to foster new anglers, encourage family fishing and promote community involvement in fishing events. Ditton passed away on Oct. 30 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Dr"Dr. Bob Ditton served with distinction on the faculty of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. Throughout his career, Dr. Ditton had a vital role both in fisheries research and education. He made an indelible intellectual mark on many of today's top fisheries professionals in academia, governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations. This was accomplished not only by way of one-on-one engagement in his on-campus graduate program, but also far beyond the campus via distance education, in which Dr. Ditton was a Texas A&M leader," faculty from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M said in group statement.
After several days of meetings and discussions, ASA's Board of Directors approved a number of motions at the Summit. The board announced that ASA would support Congressional restoration of funding for lamprey control programs in Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes.
The board also approved an ASA position statement on aquaculture in the Exclusive Economic Zone. Subject to staff review and approval, ASA will support California Senate bill SB7X1, a bill to reorganize the governance of water in the state.
The board also approved the study of an advocacy effort through KeepAmericaFishing.com.
ASA would especially like to thank the Summit sponsors: Gold - NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;Silver - Take Me Fishing™ Campaign and the U.S. Geological Survey,; and Bronze - ZEBCO Brands, Southwick Associates, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for helping to make this year's membership meeting a success.
The 2010 Sportfishing Summit is scheduled for October 26 - 28, at the Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
###
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry's trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests of America's 40 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation's economy creating employment for over one million people.
"The Summit is our premier networking and business management event," said Mike Nussman, ASA president and CEO. "I want to thank all of our Summit attendees and especially thank our board of directors and committee members for their dedication to the industry and their work during the ASA Board of Directors and ASA Committee meetings."
During the October 27 networking lunch, Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator, addressed industry leaders and voiced her commitment to recreational fishing.
"As NOAA's Administrator, I am committed to adopting policies that will ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful activity," Lubchenco said during her remarks. "We are responding to the concerns expressed by your leaders that we don't pay enough attention to recreational fishing. I'm here to tell you that we do think you are important, that we will pay attention and that we will work with you. It is my intention to improve our relationship." Lubchenco further added, "I will be your champion."
On October 28, at An Evening with Colleagues and Friends, ASA presented its two awards, the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award and the Future of Fishing Award, to recognize significant contributions to sportfishing. The Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award, named after the American Sportfishing Association's former vice president for government affairs, is presented to an individual who has shown extraordinary leadership throughout his or her career in promoting the values of sportfishing and advancing cooperative approaches to conservation and recreation.
Dick-PoolDick Pool, president of Pro-Troll Inc., member of the ASA board of directors, was presented the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award, ASA's highest honor, for his lifelong dedication to the sportfishing industry. Pool has served on the ASA board of directors three times previously, is a long time member of the government affairs committee and has worked towards the conservation and restoration of salmon and steelhead in California.
"I am deeply appreciative on being selected to receive the American Sportfishing Association's Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award for conservation and the advancement of sportfishing. In my career I have received a number of awards but nothing is as special as receiving an award from your peers and colleagues," Pool said. "Where we have made progress, I have had lots of help. I thank the hundreds of partners, dedicated groups and individuals I have worked with for many years. I give a special thanks to the ASA staff for their steadfast dedication and support. I also give a very special thanks to the state and federal fishery agencies and the political leaders who have been willing to support and partner with us for progress."
Dr. Bob Ditton, professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University received the Future of Fishing Award, given to an individual that has made a special contribution to advancing fishing participation and recognizes significant contributions to foster new anglers, encourage family fishing and promote community involvement in fishing events. Ditton passed away on Oct. 30 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Dr"Dr. Bob Ditton served with distinction on the faculty of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. Throughout his career, Dr. Ditton had a vital role both in fisheries research and education. He made an indelible intellectual mark on many of today's top fisheries professionals in academia, governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations. This was accomplished not only by way of one-on-one engagement in his on-campus graduate program, but also far beyond the campus via distance education, in which Dr. Ditton was a Texas A&M leader," faculty from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M said in group statement.
After several days of meetings and discussions, ASA's Board of Directors approved a number of motions at the Summit. The board announced that ASA would support Congressional restoration of funding for lamprey control programs in Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes.
The board also approved an ASA position statement on aquaculture in the Exclusive Economic Zone. Subject to staff review and approval, ASA will support California Senate bill SB7X1, a bill to reorganize the governance of water in the state.
The board also approved the study of an advocacy effort through KeepAmericaFishing.com.
ASA would especially like to thank the Summit sponsors: Gold - NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;Silver - Take Me Fishing™ Campaign and the U.S. Geological Survey,; and Bronze - ZEBCO Brands, Southwick Associates, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for helping to make this year's membership meeting a success.
The 2010 Sportfishing Summit is scheduled for October 26 - 28, at the Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
###
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry's trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests of America's 40 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation's economy creating employment for over one million people.
Contact:
Mary Jane Williamson, Communications director,
mjwilliamson@asafishing.org, 703-519-9691, x227, www.asafishing.org
Mary Jane Williamson, Communications director,
mjwilliamson@asafishing.org, 703-519-9691, x227, www.asafishing.org
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