The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), with support from recreational fishing community partners, released a new policy brief detailing efforts by an international animal rights organization to restrict the use and sale of live bait in US waters. To date, significant restrictions on the interstate sale and purchase of live bait have been proposed in Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire and New York. Though these bills and regulations have fortunately been unsuccessful, ASA expects this anti-fishing campaign, led by a group named Upstream Policies*, to continue its efforts to restrict access to live bait.

Since Upstream Policies’ founding in 2023, the animal rights organization has framed its goal to ban all live bait as an effort to prevent invasive species. Although the live bait trade has been identified as a potential vector for the unintentional movement of invasive species, policymakers have established, and continue to review, laws and regulations to mitigate these risks. Many states have regulations on permitted bait species while licensing and permitting bait dealers and suppliers. Numerous states also work with the aquaculture industry to develop standards, testing and certification processes to mitigate potential pathogen risks. Public outreach campaigns additionally engage anglers to encourage safe bait handling and disposal processes.

“The importance of live bait in sportfishing cannot be understated,” said Connor Bevan, ASA’s Inland Fisheries Policy Director. “As roughly two-thirds of anglers fish with live bait each year, proposed restrictions on the interstate sale of live bait would significantly impact anglers across the country. Given existing, proven, science-based safeguards, the stringent restrictions proposed by animal rights activists on the interstate sale and purchase of live bait are both unwarranted and harmful to anglers and businesses nationwide.”

Each year, 67% of anglers fish with live bait, spending $345 million nationwide. For many, live bait serves as a gateway to fishing, helping new anglers of all ages and backgrounds to have successful first trips on the water. Live bait is also particularly important to certain recreational fisheries, including ice fishing, where anglers commonly rely on minnows and shiners to fish effectively on hardwater.

Last week, Mr. Bevan joined representatives from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Aquaculture Association at the National Association of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Summit to discuss this anti-fishing campaign and its proposed restrictions with state legislators. ASA thanks its sportfishing community partners for their support and contributions to the report, and we will continue to work with these partners to oppose restrictions on the interstate sale and purchase of live bait in upcoming state legislative sessions.

For more information and to view the full report, please visit this link.

Sportfishing Community Partners in support:

American Sportfishing Association
Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society (B.A.S.S.)
Center for Sportfishing Policy
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
Guy Harvey Foundation
International Game Fish Association
Major League Fishing
Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
National Professional Anglers Association
Wildlife Forever

*Upstream Policies is directly affiliated with its sister organization, Upstream Aquatic Institute.

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