ASGA Press Release on MSA Reauthorization in House of Representatives.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information:

August 2, 2021 Willy Goldsmith – willy@saltwaterguidesassociation.org

Tony Friedrich – tony@saltwaterguidesassociation.org

American Saltwater Guides Association Commends Congressman Huffman for Introducing the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act

Highlights Success of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Importance of Strong Fisheries Management at the Federal Level

More Information on The Magnuson-Stevens Act and ASGA’s Position on the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act Can be Found at www.saltwaterguidesassociation.org

Oceanside, NY – American Saltwater Guides Association (“ASGA”), a coalition of forward-thinking guides, small business owners and like-minded anglers who understand the value of keeping fish in the water, commends Congressman Huffman for introducing the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Acton Monday, July 26.

The bill, co-sponsored by Congressman Ed Case (D-HI-1), updates and reauthorizes the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), which has managed fisheries in federal waters since 1976. The much-needed updates in the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act include:

• Addressing science and management needs arising from the impact of climate change on fisheries;
• Improving fishery data collection from both the commercial and recreational sectors;
• Strengthening stock rebuilding provisions;
• Enhancing habitat protections; and
• Improving conservation and management of critical forage fish.

“The Magnuson-Stevens Act has successfully recovered numerous species over the past several decades, and this bill provides much-needed updates to the law that will help ensure a bright future for our marine fisheries and the businesses that depend on them,” said Dr. Willy Goldsmith, Executive Director of ASGA. “By enhancing protections for habitat and forage fish, tightening requirements for rebuilding stocks, and better integrating climate change considerations into management, this bill builds on improvements to the law made in previous reauthorization efforts. The emphasis on improving recreational catch data, including by integrating data from multiple sources, will help ensure that management decisions on based on the best available information from our sector. We are grateful to Congressman Huffman for his efforts to further strengthen federal fisheries management following his extensive engagement with stakeholders to hear their diverse needs and perspectives.”

For more information on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ASGA’s position on the legislation, please see the links below:

• MSA Reauthorization Priorities Video, Policy Platform, and Two-Pager
• Blog Post Describing the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act

Those wishing to join ASGA can do so free of charge on the website or can contact Willy Goldsmith or Tony Friedrich, ASGA’s Vice President and Policy Director, directly at willy@saltwaterguidesassociation.org or tony@saltwaterguidesassociation.org.

About the American Saltwater Guides Association

Founded in 2019, the American Saltwater Guides Association was created to activate and unite guides, small business owners and like-minded anglers, and to represent them and their voice at the federal, regional and state level.  ASGA is a coalition of forward-thinking guides, small business owners and like-minded anglers who understand the value of keeping fish in the water.  We realize that abundance equals opportunity, and that such opportunity is quite a bit more important to the future of fishing than low size limits and full coolers. More information about ASGA, its mission, board members and current areas of focus can be found at www.saltwaterguidesassociation.org.

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