Alexandria, VA – June 27, 2017 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) applauded Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) for introducing S. 1436, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act. This bipartisan legislation authorizes the National Fish Habitat Partnership – a national effort aimed at conserving, restoring and enhancing the nation’s aquatic resources and fish habitat for the benefit of recreational fishing.

“On behalf of the recreational fishing industry, we greatly appreciate the leadership of Senators Crapo and Cardin for introducing S. 1436,” said Mike Leonard, ASA’s Conservation director. “This bill will help create high quality fishable waters and more fishing access, ultimately bringing more Americans out on our rivers, lakes and streams to go fishing.”

The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act codifies and supports a purely voluntary, locally-driven program to identify and carry out fish habitat restoration projects throughout the country. The program is comprised of locally and regionally based partnerships representing federal, state and local agencies; conservation and sportsmen’s organizations; private landowners; and the business sector. These partnerships have already led to over 340 successful conservation projects in 46 states benefitting fish habitat and anglers throughout the country.

“The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act brings together a wide range of public and private interests with the common goal of improving fish habitat for the enjoyment of the public,” said Leonard. “Given that similar legislation has historically enjoyed broad, bipartisan support in Congress and among sportsmen’s groups, we believe it would make a strong addition to any future sportsmen’s packages being developed in the Senate.”

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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries as well as the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry and anglers a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 46 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through Keep America Fishing®, our national angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate more than $48 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for more than 828,000 people.