Meeting Information August 2021

AGENDA

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

12:00 PM EST – 4:00 PM EST or until complete

Thursday, August 5, 2021

12:00 PM EST – 3:00 PM EST or until complete

The Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council will meet via teleconference/web on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, and Thursday, August 5, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The meeting is open to the public, except for on August 4, between 12 p.m. and 12:40 p.m., when members will attend an ethics training session.

Registration is required and the deadline is August 2, 2021. Please refer to the Federal Register Notice for more details and registration information.

VIDEOCONFERENCE MINUTES - AUGUST 4-5, 2021

On August 4-5, 2021, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council) held a two-day meeting by videoconference. These draft minutes will be approved at the next Council meeting.

Council members in attendance

Janine Belleque, State Organization for Boating Access

Douglass Boyd, Coastal Conservation Association; Council Vice Chair

Chris Edmonston, Boat U.S. Foundation; Council Chair

Dan Ferris, Midwest Outdoors Ltd. (August 5)

Barb Gigar, Aquatic Resources Education Association (AREA)

Christopher Horton, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Glenn Hughes, American Sportfishing Association

Scott Kovarovics, Izaak Walton League of America

John Sprague, Marine Industries Association of Florida

Other meeting participants:

Gwen Bausmith, Council Staff Support and Communications and Outreach Specialist, Fish and Aquatic Conservation (FAC) Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Bob Curry, Deputy Assistant Director, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program, USFWS

Russell Dunn, National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Kate Harrigan, National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), USFWS

David Hoskins, Assistant Director, FAC, USFWS

Jack Ko, Associate Ethics Counselor, Departmental Ethics Office, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

Sarah Latshaw, Marine Debris Program, NOAA

Thomas McCann, Designated Federal Officer (DFO) and Branch Chief for Communications and Partnerships, FAC, USFWS

David Miko, Deputy Assistant Director, FAC, USFWS

Frank Peterson, President, Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)

Linda Walker, Chief, Division of Visitor Services and Communications, NWRS, USFWS

Mike Wichrowski, States Organization for Boating Access, Alternate Council member for Janine Belleque

Martha Williams, Principal Deputy Director, USFWS

August 4, 2021 – Day 1

Welcome and Introductions – Chris Edmonston welcomed participants, established a quorum, and called for members to introduce themselves (list of attendees above).

Federal Advisory Committee Act Policies and Procedures –Administrative Session

Jack Ko of the Department of the Interior Departmental Ethics Office provided a presentation on Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) requirements and expectations. Council membership consists of both public and private sector representatives who have been invited to serve in their capacity because the USFWS respects and needs their expertise and diverse views. Council members must adhere to any specific ethics obligations and restrictions contained in the committee charter; as well as refrain from participation in any deliberations, decision makings, or votes that relate to a specific party matter before the Department or its bureaus and offices where the member or entity that the member represents has a direct financial interest. Mr. Ko discussed situations in which members may need to recuse themselves in order to avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of one. If a member believes they may be conflicted, they should notify the DFO and contact the Ethics Office to discuss a path forward.

USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program Update

David Hoskins, Assistant Director of Fish and Aquatic Conservation at USFWS, gave a 30-minute presentation to update the Council on the Fish and Aquatic Conservation (FAC) program. USFWS has solicited nominations for vacant positions on the Council and will be reviewing those in time for the next Council meeting. He provided a brief overview of the FAC program, touching on core programs, facilities, and the FAC Strategic Plan for FY 16-20. The plan has seven goals: conserve aquatic species; conserve, restore, and enhance aquatic habitats; manage aquatic invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species (AIS); fulfill Tribal trust and subsistence responsibilities; enhance recreational fishing and other public uses of aquatic resources; increase staffing levels, technical capacities, and natural and physical assets; and educate and engage the public and partners to advance FAC’s conservation mission. Each of the goals includes related objectives with their own strategies and an annual work planning process is tied to the implementation of the strategic plan to measure progress. The President’s Budget for FY 22 was sent to Congress and the House has completed work on their Appropriations Bill, which proposed $250M for FAC and includes major increases for line items focusing on hatchery operations, as well as deferred and annual maintenance needs.

Mr. Hoskins provided an overview of the National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS), which works to propagate healthy and genetically diverse aquatic species to help sustain and recover populations in the wild. The NFHS has four main elements: 70 hatcheries across the country, six Fish Health Centers, seven Fish Technology Centers, and the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership (AADAP). The NFHS has invested significant time over the last three years in doing in-depth evaluations of high-profile propagation programs to assess whether they are accomplishing their long-term recovery and restoration goals. The last of 20 propagation reports has been completed and they are in the process of seeking comment on them. The NFHS has $3.3B in real property assets and a backlog of deferred maintenance of $293M. In FY 19, a new allocation methodology was implemented to disburse funds for both deferred and annual maintenance to ensure they were assigned to high priority assets.

Mr. Hoskins presented funding and program highlights for the various parts of the FAC, including the 51 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices (FWCOs), the National Fish Passage Program, the National Fish Habitat Partnership, the AIS program, and the ongoing Department of Defense partnerships for the implementation of the Military Lands Conservation program (Sikes Act).

In addition to stopping the importation of injurious wildlife using Title 18 of the Lacey Act, FAC has prioritized early detection and rapid response to high-risk invasive species. One issue that occupied a number of agencies this year was responding to the introduction of products contaminated with zebra mussels.

FAC also works closely with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to promote outdoor recreation. RBFF set a goal of 60 million anglers across the country in 60 months and has made significant progress towards that goal. The NFHS and the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) have continued their partnership to engage the public in recreation and conservation education.

Discussion points raised by the Council following the presentation included:

• Jurisdiction of various agencies overseeing aquaculture developments.
• Eligibility of Great American Outdoors Act Great American Outdoors Act
  This landmark conservation law, enacted in 2020, authorizes the use of up to $1.9 billion a year in energy development revenues for five years for needed maintenance to facilities and infrastructure in our wildlife refuges, national parks, forests, recreation areas and American Indian schools.
  
  Learn more about Great American Outdoors Act funding to address maintenance backlogs.
• The applicability of Title 18 of the Lacey Act to corporations shipping injurious wildlife between states.

USFWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Update

Bob Curry, Deputy Assistant Director of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) at USFWS, gave a 30-minute presentation on the WSFR program’s recent activities. He discussed funding trends, the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program, the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) program, and provided an introduction to the Partner with a Payer Program. Mr. Curry shared USFWS data for U.S. motorboat registrations, Sport Fish Restoration apportionments, and Sport Fish Restoration and Boating (SFRB) Trust Fund receipts. WSFR is working with industry partners to promote success stories of how funding is being used, such as the New Jersey artificial offshore reef habitat improvement project and the South Harbor ramp renovation in Seward, Alaska. The BIG program funded 24 Tier 1 applications for a total of $3.2M and 13 Tier 2 applications for a total of $13.6M; the CVA program fully funded grants to all of its 22 applicants. Mr. Curry discussed some of these projects.

The Partner with a Payer Program is intended to increase manufacturers’ awareness about the successes achieved through excise tax funds. It is also meant to increase states’ understanding of the critical role of manufacturers in providing funding. Mr. Curry shared a video on enduring partnerships that ensure fishing and boating opportunities in America and reviewed some of the current legislative activity of interest.

Discussion points raised by the Council following the presentation included:

• In FY 20, sport fishing manufacturers paid $209M in excise taxes, up from the $125-$135M average over the previous five years. The U.S. Treasury granted a reprieve on third quarter excise taxes due to COVID. The Treasury and the IRS are still trying to catch up so a strong fourth quarter is expected.
• In the past, the Council has been a part of the BIG scoring process and would like to continue to participate.
• Concerns that at some point the CVA program will be entirely focused on maintenance of current sites rather than developing or funding new ones.
• Impacts from rule changes to BIG and CVA since their last authorizations.
• Update on the CVA rule rewrite.

USFWS Urban Program Updates

Linda Walker, Chief of the Division of Visitor Services and Communications for the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) at USFWS, gave a 25-minute presentation on the USFWS Urban Wildlife Conservation Program (UWCP), a concerted effort to better serve groups historically underrepresented in conservation activities. There is at least one refuge within an hour’s drive of most major American cities and opportunities for outdoor recreation drew 61.4 million visits to National Wildlife Refuges in FY 20. The NWRS is designated a high-impact service provider, which requires them to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction and community engagement. The UWCP is one of NWRS’ focal points for prioritizing equity in recreation and an important avenue for delivering high quality visitor experiences for all audiences. The program includes 101 Urban National Wildlife Refuges, 7 flagship Urban National Wildlife Refuges, 32 Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships, and 30 Urban Bird Treaty Cities. A stronger conservation movement will be achieved through inclusion, specifically of culturally and ethnically diverse communities that have not previously had a voice in conservation decisions or have not benefitted directly from conservation efforts. Achieving this inclusive vision involves: dismantling barriers to addressing climate concerns of systematically excluded communities and reducing social injustices; supporting direct community involvement and economic benefits through local job creation, living wage internships, and by engaging communities in conservation design from the beginning of the effort; and creating long-term partnerships that demonstrate a commitment to uplifting underrepresented communities by partnering with more than 50 youth-serving organizations. The program’s eight measurable indicators of success are: know and relate to the community; connect urban people with nature via stepping stones of engagement; build partnerships; be a community asset; ensure adequate long-term resources; provide equitable access; ensure visitors feel safe and welcome; and model sustainability. Ms. Walker discussed examples of the program’s activities at its flagship locations.

Discussion points raised by the Council following the presentation included:

• The criteria for becoming a flagship site.
• Engagement opportunities for the private and nonprofit sectors.
• The lack of fine distinctions between some categories of activities which may lead to double counting.

COVID-19 Roundtable

Mr. Edmonston led a roundtable discussion on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sport fishing and boating community.  Topics discussed included:

• The dramatic increase in fishing and boating participation during the pandemic. The increase in activity, however, led to congestion and an increase in accidents and fatalities on the water.
• Access to some waterways and facilities in counties across the country were restricted.
• The explosive growth in the marine manufacturing industry and continuing supply chain issues for parts and gear.
• More boaters are turning to electronic devices and there is more automation generally in the system.
• The process for building or expanding marinas needs to be addressed, as there is a severe shortage of slips looming with more boats and larger boats being sold. Water access is a crucial issue for recreational fishing and also has affordable housing implications.
• Lack of access and closures led to boaters, paddlers, etc., operating in unfamiliar areas, leading to conflicts with other users.
• The issue of staffing shortages for state and federal agencies.
• According to RBFF, online traffic to their Take Me Fishing assets went from 18 million visits in FY 19 to 54 million visits in FY 20 and they are experiencing roughly another 24% increase to date in FY 21. The Service is still seeing demand even as other activities are returning. They are engaging a different audience that is younger, more diverse, and more urban. The increases have put stress on the system, but USFWS needs to find a way to retain the new users.
• Smaller and independent fishing tackle retailers across the country are important to the fishing community but are experiencing difficulties getting product orders filled.
• Consolidation of fishing supply companies presents a concern that has been going on for decades and is likely to continue.
• There are many positive developments that can be built upon. The Sport Fish Restoration Fund has more money in it than ever and state agencies saw increased revenue from additional license sales. 69% of Americans have a better appreciation for outdoor activities than they did pre-pandemic and 65% said that the outdoors kept them safe and sane.
• Companies and agencies invested a lot of money in new technology and ways of doing business during the pandemic. Council members were asked to think about recommendations to USFWS and DOI on how to improve how they interact with the public.

Public Comment and Adjourn

Jefferson Angers commented that the new participants in outdoor activities came from other hobbies that will be trying to lure them back. The Council should consider where they can assist in retention efforts.

There being no further business, Mr. Edmonston adjourned the meeting at 3:59 p.m.

August 5, 2021 – Day 2

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Updates

Russell Dunn, National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries at NOAA, gave a 20-minute presentation on NOAA’s recreational fisheries activities. NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation partners with NFHP and state marine fisheries commissions to fund habitat restoration projects engaging the recreational angling community and industry. They have recently expanded the partnerships to include workshops around the country. Aquaculture has been a growing priority within the agency and NOAA strives to ensure that recreational interests stay informed of the latest developments and that their concerns and priorities are understood by the Office of Aquaculture. Mr. Dunn has kicked off a series of roundtables around the country to get a better understanding of the recreational community’s issues and solicit ideas for the 2022 RecFish Summit. Wind power, climate, and the 30x30 campaign have emerged as key topics. The Council was also asked for thoughts on matters that might be appropriate for a national summit discussion.

Discussion points raised by the Council following the presentation included:

• NOAA Fisheries new Assistant Administrator, Janet Coit, was in attendance at the most recent ICAST conference and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership events. These provided important opportunities to be introduced to a variety of stakeholders.
• What can NOAA do to help with water access issues.
• Alternative management policies as a topic for discussion at the RecFish Summit.
• The possibility of a recreational roundtable with a national scope.
• Staffing difficulties at NOAA and concern that biological opinions will take even longer in the near future.

Sarah Latshaw of the Marine Debris Program at NOAA gave a 20-minute presentation on abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs). Thousands of ADVs litter ports, waterways, and estuaries across the nation, obstructing navigational channels, damaging sensitive habitats, diminishing commercial and recreational activities, and more. The causes are complex, with the main barriers for boat owners being unexpected costs associated with displaced/damaged vessels following a storm, a lack of disposal options, and a lack of knowledge of how to prepare before a storm. At the federal, state, and local levels the lack of funding is the main barrier, along with confusion over jurisdiction and authority, concerns about liability, and a lack of data and coordination on addressing ADVs. Ms. Latshaw discussed the roles and responsibilities of various federal agencies in addressing ADVs. NOAA’s Marine Debris Program offers removal funding supporting locally driven, community-based marine debris removal projects that benefit coastal habitats, waterways, and wildlife; however, the scale of the problem often exceeds available federal funding. The program often receives supplemental funding from Congress for clean-up following disasters. Other resources NOAA offers for communities with ADV issues include ADV InfoHub, Marine Debris Emergency Response Guides, and the Salvaging Solutions webinar series. Needs that have been identified by stakeholders include a national platform for reporting ADVs in a standardized format, research and recommendations on the complexity of vessel abandonment, an assessment of ADV programs, and an improved understanding of the economic costs of vessel removal versus habitat recovery.

Discussion points raised by the Council following the presentation included:

• Boat registration fees are not able to be used for ADV efforts without a legislative change.
• Most abandoned boats would not have qualified for insurance.
• The possibility of promoting more mooring fields.
• Total available grant funding for the country has been about $1 million in previous years. It’s not limited to coastal states, but applicants must make the connection to how the debris is marine-related.
• NOAA’s coordination with the Coast Guard on amplifying enforcement.

Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) Updates

Frank Peterson, President of the RBFF, gave a 15-minute presentation on the increases in fishing and boating activities during the pandemic. In 2020, RBFF’s TakeMeFishing.org site had 54 million visits, up from 18 million in 2019. Over the last three years, the number of anglers has risen from 49 million to 55 million. Youth, female, and Hispanic participation is at the highest rate ever recorded. African American participation is up 1 million over the last ten years. 4.4 million people went fishing for the first time in 2020 and 9 million anglers returned to the sport after having lapsed out. There were 85 million boating participants and new boat sales reached a 13-year high. Mr. Peterson discussed the numbers for boat registrations and the traffic RBFF has driven to partners for fishing licenses and other services. Another of RBFF’s missions is to increase awareness that fishing and boating participation generate funding for conservation efforts. 4.6 million people viewed their conservation messaging and 250,000 viewed their boating safety message.  Mr. Peterson will be retiring this year and a search committee has been formed to find a replacement to be hired this fall. Upcoming projects for RBFF include a major study of new boaters, working with state agency partners on retaining new and reactivated anglers, and working with the 25 states participating in the First Catch Centers.  

Discussion points raised by the Council following the presentation included:

• RBFF’s work with the 14 states that run their own programs.
• New innovative programs that have emerged to help retain new boaters and anglers.
• How states communicate with new registrants. RBFF has provided best practices for states’ engagement and funded cases studies on successful practices. States have gotten better but must accelerate the speed at which they improve.

Remarks from USFWS Director’s Office

Martha Williams, Principal Deputy Director at USFWS, introduced herself to the Council and discussed the administration’s priorities. During the pandemic, the relevance of the work of the Council and USFWS has been made apparent but the corresponding impacts and challenges it has brought should not be overlooked. Ms. Williams expressed appreciation for the Council members’ and RBFF’s efforts in building a larger and more diverse base of anglers and boaters while expanding a conservation ethic to protect aquatic ecosystems. They have been leaders in this effort and there is much more work to do. The Biden administration has set four clear priorities for the Executive Branch: the pandemic response, economic recovery, climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change , and social justice/racial equity. The work that USFWS has been doing fits well within these priorities and so will not require a major shift, just an amplification of how they can feed into those priorities. As part of addressing the broader climate crisis, the president has directed USFWS to focus on conserving at least 30% of its lands and waters by 2030. This effort is not simply preservation, but also recognizing working landscapes, the role of a restoration economy, and all that USFWS can do to help communities build and rebuild. An example of this is the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program. The private sector has been engaged in these efforts for a long time and USFWS needs to think about how they can partner with industry to leverage each other’s work and learn from one another. It is critically important to engage the next generation of conservationists and to meet them where they are. Fishing and boating are two of the best ways to reach out to youth.

Discussion points raised by the Council following the presentation included:

• Baselines and definitions for the 30x30 campaign.
• The upcoming meeting with the Treasury Department to discuss the problem of excise tax slippage.
• The development of an atlas of USFWS assets.
• The looming water access problem in Florida and the issues with the permitting process.

Other Council Business

Kate Harrigan, Senior Policy Advisor for the NWRS, discussed expanded hunting and fishing access at refuges and hatcheries. Since 2017, they have expanded opportunities for sport fishing at 61 field stations around the country and hope to finalize a proposed rule soon that would open an additional 26 field stations. USFWS has a total of 378 different refuge units open to sport fishing and 19 fish hatcheries open to sport fishing. They are in the early planning process for the 2022-2023 annual rule and look forward to keeping the momentum going. Council members asked about the process for states administering grants for improved boating access.

Mr. Hoskins provided an update on the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF). ANSTF’s strategic plan for 2020-2025 includes six core goals around addressing aquatic invasive species: coordination; prevention; control and restoration; early detection and rapid response; research; and outreach/education. Their last meeting included updates from various member organizations but primarily focused on the implementation of the new strategic plan. The role of the ANSTF is to provide overall coordination and direction on the nation’s response to aquatic invasive species. They provide funding to both regional panels and for more than 40 approved state ANS management plans. Funding for these management plans has increased significantly to approximately $90-92 thousand per plan. ANSTF expects to have another meeting toward the end of 2021.

Mr. Edmonston opened the floor for other Council business. The Council is tasked with assessing the RBFF and they are several years behind in that administrative duty. Mr. Kovarovics said the working group for this topic will be discussing what the best approach will be for the assessment after so much time has gone by. The Council may need to determine if a new baseline is necessary before USFWS releases a new Request for Proposals. Mr. Sprague asked if they could tell from current metrics what numbers can be attributed to decisions made by the RBFF and what is simply a result of the pandemic. There are only 18 months left in the RBFF’s current contract so these issues need to be addressed soon. Mr. Hoskins suggested discussing with Mr. Peterson how best to pick up where they left off.

A Federal Register Notice has been posted for nominations for the six vacant seats on the Council and he hopes to get those positions filled in time for the next meeting. The carryover funds set aside for the use of the Council continue to increase and have grown from $529,000 in 2016 to almost $1.2 million. The Council may and should use these funds to collect information and perform research and outreach to inform its advice and recommendations. Members Kovarovics, Gigar, Ferris, and Edmonston volunteered to participate in a work group meeting regarding the RBFF assessment. Mr. Edmonston sought an action item for coming up with ways state agencies and refuges can better coordinate access. Having state agency seats filled on the Council would be helpful in that discussion. Mr. Sprague agreed that the Boating Issues working group would take on how to assess the effectiveness of current ADV programs. Ms. Belleque said that Tribes in her region have said that the term “sport fishing” did not resonate with them and the terminology may be a deterrent for Tribal participation. She also requested additional evaluation on whether CVA is becoming a maintenance program as opposed to an infrastructure program and whether the funding split between BIG and CVA should remain at 50/50. Mr. Edmonston agreed and added that the Council should be involved in the BIG scoring that will take place this fall. Ms. Gigar said educational resources are needed for the new participants in outdoor activities, for both safety and stewardship. This should apply to motorized and nonmotorized vessels.

Next Meeting

The Council’s next meeting is tentatively scheduled for early 2022. It has not yet been determined whether it will be in-person or virtual.

Adjournment

With no further business, Mr. Edmonston adjourned the meeting at 3:13 p.m.