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ATTENTION B.A.S.S. MEMBERS AND NEWS MEDIA
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROPOSES REFUGE
FISHING TOURNAMENT BAN
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a draft policy that will ban tournament fishing on National Wildlife
Refuge waters. This draft policy was published in the Federal Register, January 16, 2001. The tournament ban proposal
was not discussed with B.A.S.S., American Sportfishing Association, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council
(SFBPC) or, to our knowledge, with any other angling group, prior to publishing.
The USFWS draft policy reads as follows:
From the Federal Register January 16, 2001, 3681: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Interior
1018-AG20
"I. Tournament fishing. We prohibit this type of fishing on System lands and waters unless we make a specific
determination that the event builds appreciation for and an understanding of fish and wildlife resources, does
not reasonably interfere with refuge visitors, and if prizes of only nominal value are awarded"
The following statement has been issued by Bruce Shupp, B.A.S.S., Inc., National Conservation Director:
"We are terribly disappointed that the USFWS would issue a draft policy on National Wildlife Refuges that
prohibits fishing tournament events. Rather, tournaments should be handled with permissive language that recognizes
them as a legitimate use of the refuge fishery resources and they should be managed with a permit condition system
to solve any real or perceived problems.
"Another concern is that the expertise of 34 years of conducting B.A.S.S. tournaments and working with state
and Federal agencies to solve resource problems was available to the FWS before this draft policy was issued. We
wish they would have talked to us before the prohibitive language was put into the draft policy.
"Following discussions on February 19, 2001 with Refuge officials, initiated by B.A.S.S., we are confident
that the FWS is receptive to our tournament management ideas and that they will consider B.A.S.S.' and our members
views." After the meeting, Jim Kurth, Deputy Chief USFWS Division of Refuges stated, "We are confident
that B.A.S.S. is deeply committed to the preservation of our natural resources and shares in our concerns. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service came away with a more clear understanding of the issues as they relate to tournament
activities."
"It is critical that B.A.S.S. members, and all bass anglers, make their views known to the FWS regarding the
draft refuge policy", said Helen Sevier, B.A.S.S. CEO.
The draft National Wildlife Refuge Policy can be viewed on the internet at: http://policy.fws.gov/library/01fr3681.html. See page 3697, Section I. For the fishing tournament
language.
THEN SEND YOUR COMMENTS BY APRIL 17, 2001 TO:
Mr. Douglas Staller, Acting Chief
Division of Visitor Services and Communications
National Wildlife Refuge System
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 670
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Telephone: (703)358-2364
Fax: (703)358-2248
E-mail: doug_staller@fws.gov
B.A.S.S.' letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
response to the draft policy is attached below.
February 19, 2001
Mr. Douglas Staller, Acting Chief
Division of Visitor Services and Communications
National Wildlife Refuge System
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 670
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Re: FWS 1018-AG20; Fed. Reg. 3697; 3.13, I. Tournament Fishing
Dear Mr. Staller,
B.A.S.S., Inc. asks the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to strike the subject section in the Federal Register Volume
66, Number 10, published January 16, 2001, which notices new policies on national wildlife refuges that reads:
"prohibit tournament fishing on System Lands and waters unless we make a specific determination that the event
builds appreciation for an understanding of fish and wildlife resources, does not reasonably interfere with other
refuge visitors, and if prizes of only nominal value are awarded."
We are very disappointed that FWS did not ask B.A.S.S. for advice or guidance during the development of this policy.
However, B.A.S.S. does appreciate the opportunity to present our views, in the meeting with service staff February
19, 2001 and to hear about the tournament issues on National Wildlife Refuge that stimulated the FWS to establish
this negative draft policy toward fishing tournaments. We are confident that the tournament issues we discussed
are all manageable through a tournament policy that manages tournaments with permitted conditions, rather than
banning tournaments. B.A.S.S. will work with FWS to strategize such a permit system.
Enclosed are some materials that describe Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) and the programs and traditions
it represents. B.A.S.S. is a for-profit corporation that has been in the bass tournament business for over 30 years.
Our 2,800 affiliate B.A.S.S. Chapters, organized into 46 U.S. state B.A.S.S. Federations, combined with our professional
B.A.S.S. tour, organize and conduct over 30,000 bass "tournament" events annually. No organization has
conducted more tournaments or solved more tournament problems than B.A.S.S.
Fishing tournament events range from those conducted by other for-profit corporations, non-profit fishing groups,
large national and local charitable groups and smaller businesses and organizations that sponsor tournaments. There
are probably 400,000 bass "tournaments" of various sizes held in the U. S. annually. There are also walleye,
crappie, musky and catfish tournaments.
Tournaments range from professional events where anglers must qualify to enter the event and a chance to win over
$100,000, to the opposite extreme - - - small local events where a few anglers show-up at a marina or restaurant,
pay nominal entrance fees and return several hours later to weigh-in their catch and maybe win a few dollars.
Certainly there are many indicators that tournaments "Build appreciation for and an understanding of fish
and wildlife resources" B.A.S.S. has 600,000 members who represent the most avid anglers in the world. The
average B.A.S.S. member fishes over 50 days per year. The 50,000 B.A.S.S. Federation members (those who fish local
and state tournaments) fish an average of 120 days per year. Professional B.A.S.S. anglers generally fish over
200 days per year. Compare these numbers to the average American angler who fishes 18 days a year.
Tournament anglers love and respect both the resource and the sport! They buy lots of tackle, boats and fuel. They
make very significant contributions to the Sportfish Restoration Fund. They are America's sportfishing advocates!
Avid anglers drive the sportfishing market, and no angling group is more avid than B.A.S.S. tournament participants
or B.A.S.S. Federation members. Over 40% of the nations 60 million anglers fish for bass and expenditures by bass
anglers comprise 60 - 70% of all total annual sportfishing expenditures. These same anglers pay for the majority
of America's freshwater fisheries protection and management through their license purchases and the federal excise
taxes on fishing tackle, accessories and marine fuel. The anglers, the industry and the resource have an inescapable
synergistic relationship.
Tournament fishing interest has grown significantly over the last 10 years while overall angling participation
has declined. The 1996 National Survey clearly shows that there are fewer anglers but they are fishing a lot more
and spending a lot more money. A Refuge System tournament ban directly impacts this growing group of America's
most avid anglers.
This draft policy regarding fish tournaments appears to be a decision driven by incomplete understanding of tournament
fishing activity or not comprehending the consequences of a tournament ban. State fish and wildlife agencies, who
generally understand their customer-base, are not banning tournaments. Some states regulate tournaments to avoid
social issues and they also monitor them to ensure the resource is not harmed, but they don't ban them!
It is arbitrary to propose to ban legitimate fishing tournament recreation from National Wildlife Refuges without
defining, examining and trying to resolve problems. If there are legitimate problems, either with resources or
with access, social interaction or safety, these can be resolved on refuges just as they are on non-refuge lands
and waters.
B.A.S.S. requests that Section I. From Federal Register page 3697 be completely stricken from the policy. In addition,
B.A.S.S. is eager to work with FWS on tournament issues and on any other sportfishing problems on refuges, to resolve
any real or perceived problems.
Sincerely, Bruce Shupp
Anna Morgan
Communications Assistant
B.A.S.S., Inc.
5845 Carmichael Road
Montgomery, AL 36117
phone: (334)272-9530 ext.375
fax: (334)270-8549
http://www.bassmaster.com |
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