The Politics of Fish

On this special edition episode, we’re talking taxes! Specifically, the federal excise tax on fishing equipment, which is paid by manufacturers and importers of fishing tackle and goes into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. These funds are then used on projects to create more and better fishing opportunities, like habitat restoration, maintaining fish hatcheries and building boat...

Josh Phillips, Owner and President of Spawn Fly Fish, joins host Mike Leonard to talk about his background, his experience starting a fly shop in the small town in coastal Washington of Ilwaco, and recently testifying before the Small Business Committee in the US House of Representatives. The hearing focused on the challenges of small business entrepreneurs in rural areas, and Josh provided some i...

Dr. Kesley Banks with the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M Corpus Christi joins host Mike Leonard to talk about sharks, and specifically shark depredation. Kesley shares insights on the overall state of shark populations in the U.S., what’s contributing to increases in shark depredation and what she and other researchers are doing to better understand the issue. Learn more about shark dep...

Podcast host Mike Leonard discusses three bills recently introduced in Congress that impact a wide range of recreational fishing policy issues. First is the Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act, a bill referenced in a recent podcast episode that will help introduce more kids, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to fishing. Next, a bill titled the SHARKED Act that will mitigate the increa...

Mike Lum, Fundraising Coordinator for Captain Rollo’s Kids at Sea program, talks with host Mike Leonard about his work organizing youth fishing trips. The trips are designed to connect youth with no prior fishing experience to the sport. Lum shares stories of the life-changing power of fishing and explains how the program fosters the next generation of anglers. A recently reintroduced bill, the Yo...

Chris Horton, Senior Director, Fisheries Policy at the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF), speaks with host Mike Leonard about how the Farm Bill can benefit fisheries. CSF and ASA have been leading partners in a new initiative called Fisheries in the Farm Bill, which amplifies the value of Farm Bill conservation programs for fisheries. Farm Bill is one of the federal government's l...

David Sikorski, Executive Director of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland and Legislative Proxy for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), spoke with host Mike Leonard about a recent striped bass management action. Sikorski describes what the action means for the long-term regulatory stability and striped bass conservation. To learn more about striped bass management, liste...

In the summer of 2022, several net spills in the Chesapeake Bay created some momentum in the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to do something about the many problems associated with commercial menhaden fishing. The result was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that describes certain areas and times of the year where purse seine fishing for menhaden will be prohibited. Steve Atkinson, Presiden...

Marc Gorelnik wears many hats. He is General Counsel for ASA and involved with various California fishing organizations including Coastal Conservation Association of California, Coastside Fishing Club and Golden State Salmon Association. Water challenges, from drought to agricultural usage, are harming salmon populations. Gorelnik and the organizations he works with fight to conserve salmon facing...

Connor Bevan, ASA's Inland Fisheries Policy Manager, talks with host Mike Leonard about improving aquatic invasive species (AIS) management and policy. AIS alter natural ecosystem, reduce biodiversity and degrade waterways. All of this amounts to impacts on fishing opportunities. ASA and several partners released a report recently with recommendations for improving prevention, eradication, con...

On March 8, 2023, ASA's Southeast Fisheries Policy Director, Martha Guyas, testified on the importance of sound fisheries policy before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. The oversight hearing, titled, “ Benefits and Access: The Necessity for Multiple Use of Water on Resources ,” included discussion on the multiple needs and benefits of wat...

Kellie Ralston, Vice President for Conservation and Public Policy at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), talks with host Mike Leonard about the top conservation issues facing bonefish, tarpon and permit, including Everglades restoration, water quality and habitat.  To learn more about BTT's work, visit: https://www.bonefishtarpontrust.org/ For more ways to get involved in sportfishing policy v...

Chris Edmonston, President of the BoatU.S. Foundation and Vice President of Government Affairs at BoatU.S., talks with host Mike Leonard about BoatU.S. Edmonston details his career background, the three different corporate entities of BoatU.S. and the role of government affairs in ensuring fishing and boating access.  To learn more about BoatU.S. visit https://www.boatus.com/ and https://www....

Charter Captain and Member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Andy Mezirow , led efforts to reform the halibut quota system in the Gulf of Alaska. In conversation with host, Mike Leonard, Mezirow details why the charter sector was willing to buy halibut from the commercial and explains how the Recreational Quota Entity , which facilitates the purchase and transfer of quota, works. &n...

Theresa Labriola , Pacific Fisheries Program Director at Wild Oceans, talks to host Mike Leonard about California's drift gill net fishery and the recent legislative success of the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act . The conversation provides context on the fishery's history and the advocacy efforts that led to the passage of the new law and the phase out of destructive gear. ...

President of the Center for Sportfishing Policy (CSP), Jeff Angers talks with host Mike Leonard about the importance of bringing various stakeholders together to advance federal marine fisheries policy. Angers details the creation of CSP, some of CSP's policy successes, and the major issues facing the marine recreational community.  To learn more about CSP visit https://www.sportfishingpolicy...

Whit Fosburgh is the president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP). In conversation with host Mike Leonard, Fosburgh details TRCP's founding and the importance of bringing the sportsmen community together to work on big picture issues. To learn more about TRCP visit https://www.trcp.org/   For more ways to get involved in sportfishing policy visit https://keepame...

George Cooper, Partner at Forbes-Tate Partners , provides an overview of the midterm elections and how the results impact the recreational fishing community. In conversation with host, Mike Leonard, Cooper also details his professional background and why he likes working with ASA and the recreational fishing industry. For more ways to get involved in sportfishing policy visit https://keepamericafi...

Bill Shedd, Chairman and CEO of American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO) , spoke with host Mike Leonard about his background, the importance of giving back to the resource and the changes he has seen over the years in approaches to marine conservation.  On Thursday, October 27, Shedd was presented with the inaugural Gary J. Zurn Conservation Award at the 2022 ASA Sportfishing Summit. The award...

Gary Jennings, ASA's Keep Florida Fishing Director, talks with Host Mike Leonard about how he ensures recreational fishing thrives in Florida. During their discussion, Jennings describes his background, the formation of Keep Florida Fishing and the development of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary restoration blueprint .  For more ways to get involved in sportfishing policy visit http...

Phil Lillo, CEO/Owner of the Don Coffey Company, is ASA's new Board of Directors Chairman. Lillo assumed the role on October 1, 2022. While visiting Washington D.C., Lillo found the time to meet with host, Mike Leonard to talk about his start in the industry and involvement in ASA.  For more ways to get involved in sportfishing policy visit https://keepamericafishing.org/ and https://asafishi...

Podcast host and ASA Vice President of Government Affairs, Mike Leonard, provides an update on federal legislative activity, highlighting two recently introduced bills: The Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act  and the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act . After the update, Leonard talks with ASA Southeast Fisheries Policy Director, Martha Guyas, about South Atlantic red snapper. Guyas...

John DePersenaire of Viking Yachts spoke with host Mike Leonard about a proposed regulation to limit vessel speeds along a vast swath of the Atlantic coast. The proposed regulation, in NOAA Fisheries ' words, "would expand mandatory speed restrictions to include vessels 35 to 65 feet long and broaden seasonal speed restriction zones." NOAA Fisheries said the proposed changes are part of the federa...

Ed Schriever, Executive Director of Idaho Department of Fish & Game, spoke with host Mike Leonard about the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP), which enhances fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people. Leonard is a member of the NFHP board and Schriever is Chairman. The board plays an in...

Chris Moore, Senior Regional Ecosystem Scientist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), talks with host Mike Leonard about Atlantic Menhaden. As Moore says, "Menhaden is one I always tell people you can write a book on very easily." Leonard and Moore cover a lot of ground in this episode. Moore provides insight into the science, commercial harvest history, and management challenges concerning Atl...