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(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association March 1994 Newsletter)
AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSN. MEETING:
March 18, 1994
The fishing tackle industry has long been represented by a trade organization which, up until recently, was called the American Fishing Tackle Manufacturer's Assn. (AFTMA). Due to changes in the industry and a desire to make this organization more inclusive to other companies, organizations and associations that are not necessarily fishing tackle manufacturers, but that are heavily involved in sport fishing, AFTMA has been expanded and renamed the American Sportfishing Assn. (ASA).
As part of this expansion, the Sport Fishing Institute (SFI) will come under the auspices of ASA and since JCAA is a member of SFI, it will become a member in good standing of ASA as of May 15, 1994. Sounds like alphabet soup, but this is an important transformation as it will move the seat of power of the body representing sport fishing as an industry from Illinois to Washington, DC, where it can more effectively influence legislation and regulation.
The new president and CEO is Mike Hayden, a former two term governor of Kansas and an avid recreational fisherman. Once the business of reforming the organization is done, it should present a unified front with lobbying capabilities in the land of smoke filled, back room politics. Until the change is complete and the group has a better handle on what directions it will take, their effectiveness will probably not be felt. The three goals of ASA are:
1. Assure a healthy and sustainable fisheries resource.
2. Increase participation in recreational fishing.
3. Increase profits for industry members in a variety of ways.
There will be six regional committees to deal with problems and programs within their area of the country and the meeting we attended was the first meeting of the Northeast Regional Committee. JCAA was the only fisherman's conservation group in attendance, with Tom Fote, John Koegler and myself trying to get more attention shown to marine recreational fishing problems. In addition, the Future Fisherman Foundation will become part of ASA. It is preparing a new program on Aquatic Education for young people with Sharon Rushton the director of this branch.