Policy News
Download a PDF of a new fact sheet of the Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS) produced by the American Fisheries Society, National Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and the Izaak Walton League. Read More
The American Fisheries Society (AFS) urges Congress and the White House to work together in a bipartisan manner to reach an agreement on fiscal year 2019 appropriations to end the partial government shutdown and allow natural resource agencies that support important fisheries research and management to resume operations. The shutdown is negatively affecting many federal... Read More
The Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act, known as the “Modern Fish Act,” or S. 1520, passed the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in late December and was signed by President Trump just before the end of the year. The bill seeks to address frustration with federal management of recreational fishing, stemming from shortened or... Read More
By Leanne Roulson, AFS Second Vice President Originally published as a Guest Editorial from the AFS Western Division’s Tributary newsletter. On December 11th, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released a proposed rule that that regulates Waters of the US (WOTUS) to redefine the scope of Clean Water Act protections... Read More
News for Immediate Release December 11, 2018 Contact: Kristyn Brady, 617-501-6352, [email protected] Replacing Clean Water Rule Would Threaten Fish, Waterfowl, and Outdoor Recreation Economy The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers proceeds with rolling back Clean Water Act protections for headwater streams and wetlands—harming trout, waterfowl, and outdoor recreation businesses. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the... Read More
American Fisheries Society • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography • Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation • Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society • International Association for Great Lakes Research • North American Lake Management Society • Phycological Society of America • Society for Freshwater Science • Society of Wetland Scientists Aquatic Scientists Push Back... Read More
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act entitled, “Examining Funding Needs for Wildlife Conservation, Recovery, and Management” on Thursday, November 15 at 10 a.m. Is your senator on the commiteee? If so, you and/or your Chapter should call to your Senator’s office to express your... Read More
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is gaining momentum in Congress. The House bill, introduced last December, now has over 100 co-sponsors. The corresponding Senate bill, introduced in July, is expected to be the subject of an Environment and Public Works Committee hearing in November. There’s a critical difference in the House and Senate bills in... Read More
On October 11, AFS Policy Director Drue Winters shepherded marine fisheries experts, Drs. Tom Miller and Cynthia Jones, around D.C. for robust discussions with NOAA Fisheries and Congressional staff on policy considerations for re-authorizing and amending the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA). Context: Over the last several years, Congress has made attempts to amend the MSA. In... Read More
On Monday, Sept. 24, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo ruled in favor of environmental, public interest and fishing groups who filed suit against the national Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, two years ago to block efforts to establish aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico. In January... Read More
