Dear ASA Member:


Many of you have heard about the challenge of maintaining angling opportunity for the summer flounder fishery along the Atlantic coast. This fishery, one of the most important on the Atlantic, has been threatened with a closure by federal managers in the Exclusive Economic Zone (three miles to 200 miles) in 2009. Clearly such an action would reduce recreational fishing opportunity and have a negative impact on the sportfishing businesses which depend on the summer flounder fishery. The irony of this threat is that summer flounder stocks in the Atlantic are at a 40 year high.


ASA has been discussing its concerns about the summer flounder fishery with its Board of Directors and its Government Affairs Committee for several months. In addition, ASA staff has had numerous discussions with state and federal fishery officials, and the Council and Commission that have responsibility for the management of this species. ASA has also discussed the issue with Congressional staff and a variety of fishery/angler nonprofit organizations.


In the end, like most complicated issues, there is no one answer and there is no quick fix for challenges facing the summer flounder fishery. ASA's Government Affairs Committee recently met and discussed this dilemma. We have been asked specifically to support H.R. 5425, a bill introduced in the House of Representatives that attempts to solve the problem. Attached is a statement outlining ASA's views and intentions, which was reached after extensive deliberation by the Government Affairs Committee. ASA neither supports nor opposes H.R. 5425. This is because the bill does not solve the problems facing summer flounder.


ASA is committed to finding solutions for the summer flounder challenge, and will work hard to bring forth changes to the underlying issues of managing this fishery. It will take collaborative and coordinated efforts among industry members and individual angler organizations to solve the problems relating to summer flounder.


ASA takes challenges facing its members seriously and deliberates and debates them thoroughly before making a decision. This open and honest means of decision making is time tested and has been used to meet challenges to the sportfishing industry from the beginning of this Association. With staff and industry members working together, this reasoned approach has served the industry well. The same approach has been taken with the summer flounder issue.


We encourage ASA members to contact us if you have questions.




Gordon C. Robertson
Vice President
American Sportfishing Association
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 420
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703-519-9691 x 237
Fax 703-519-1872
www.asafishing.org