Former B.A.S.S. conservation director (2004-07) Noreen Clough is back with B.A.S.S. in the same capacity. Chris Horton held the position from Clough's retirement until last fall, when he left to join the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation.
Clough previously served 20 years with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and was director of the FWS Southeast Region.
BASS ownership partner Jerry McKinnis noted: "I've known Noreen for many years, and I'm excited about the enthusiasm and dedication to sportfishing she brings back to B.A.S.S. Anglers contribute so much time and money to conservation already. It's great to have her providing leadership for bass fishermen on behalf of our resources."
B.A.S.S stated that Clough will work closely with state conservation directors and other leaders in the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, and will represent sportfishing interests on national conservation and natural-resource boards, in addition to other responsibilities.
She said her first priorities will be to help "re-energize the state conservation-director program and help them establish meaningful, exciting conservation priorities. They've done a remarkable job over the years, and they're respected for the work they've done throughout the sportfishing industry."
She identified the efforts to make large areas of key fisheries off-limits to sportfishing, such as Marine Protected Areas, as a major threat to recreational angling. "The whole idea that giant areas need to be set aside as protected areas — in freshwater as well as saltwater — violates good fishery management," she noted. "I want to ensure that B.A.S.S. stays connected to the larger fisheries and sportfishing community and will remain a player at the table when key decisions are made regarding the future of fishing."
She resides in Clermont, Fla.
