BASS recently released a list of its conservation-related efforts and accomplishments for 2007, and it's a long one.
Here are a few highlights:
> BASS Conservation joined a coalition of conservation groups at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies headquarters in Washington, D.C., to discuss the 2007 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill contains many conservation programs important to protecting and enhancing fisheries habitat. The purpose of the meeting was to determine which provisions and what funding levels the group would like to see included in the next Farm Bill.
> BASS Conservation worked with state and federal agencies to establish a National Reservoir Partnership. Without a reservoir partnership in place, reservoir fisheries habitat will receive little attention for federal funding and restoration.
> BASS Conservation worked jointly with the California B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, Elite angler Skeet Reese and local bass fishermen to stop a movement banning outboard engines on Clementine Lake, near Sacramento, Calif. If the ban were implemented, it would set a dangerous precedent that might lead to prohibiting recreational boating and fishing from a boat on other medium to large waters in California.
> BASS Conservation helped negotiate a compromise between anglers and marina operators on Corps of Engineers impoundments in Missouri and Arkansas. The agreement, finalized in June, protects angler access to important fishing spots on Corps lakes. BASS has been working with the Corps for more than a year to resolve the dispute over angler access.
> To assist the B.A.S.S. Federation Nations (BFN), state and federal governments and other conservation organizations with volunteer turnout, BASS developed the BASS Angler Conservation Team, or ACT. ACT is a database of willing volunteers who sign up for the free program through the Bassmaster.com Web site. The ACT program reached over 7,000 participants in 2007.
And that's not even half of it. Click here to see the complete list.
