We Are Facing a Truly Unprecedented Situation

Together, we are facing a truly unprecedented situation.

First and foremost, our concern is for the health and wellbeing of you, our members and your families, as well as our staff and their families. We are committed to helping our industry navigate these uncharted waters during this uncertain and rapidly changing environment.

However, there are positive signs that our nation’s citizens are heeding the advice from the federal and state governments and are taking the proper precautions to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

We know that you are doing your best to stay on top of information and advice that directly impacts your business, your employees and your customers. Please know that the ASA staff is here for you and will continue to work to support your business needs.

We appreciate the industry’s efforts to stay open and produce and distribute product to help anglers continue to enjoy time on the water. Now more than ever.

We also appreciate the state and federal agencies that are doing what they can to keep the waterways and ramps open to anglers and boaters.

We’ve put together resources on our website to help you navigate what is happening at the federal and state level regarding the response to COVID-19 in the respective departments of natural resources and agencies involved with outdoor recreation.

In particular, please note that we have updates on what is happening in Congress with the stimulus and relief packages. There is also information from the Small Business Administration and its relief options.

We will continually update the ASA COVID-19 resources webpage and keep you updated on information that impacts your business and recreational fishing.

Regarding ICAST, we are monitoring the situation every day and working closely with the Orange County Convention Center, Freeman and all our show vendors. ICAST is open for business and will go on as planned July 14-17, 2020, in Orlando. Please read our official statement.

I’d like you to know that our Government Affairs team – despite the current challenges – continues to work with Members of Congress and the administration (via conference calls and video chats) to support the industry’s needs, including:

• Sending a letter to the President from ASA and dozens of our outdoor industry partners asking that access to outdoor recreation be kept open.
• Passing the ACE Act – please voice your support
• Passing the Great American Outdoors Act which provides full funding for federal lands maintenance backlog and other provisions
• Extending the South Atlantic Red Snapper season
• Preventing harmful drought legislation that would negatively impact West coast salmon
• Supporting sound Atlantic striped bass regulations

Over the next two weeks we’ll be reaching out to you to see if we can do anything to help you. Please feel free to contact me or anyone on our staff to support your needs.

Glenn Hughes
President