Meeting Information October 2019

AGENDA

October 16-17, 2019

Homewood Suites by Hilton, New Orleans French Quarter

317 N Rampart

New Orleans, LA 70112

MEETING MINUTES - OCTOBER 16 - 17, 2019

On October 16-17, 2019, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council) held a two-day meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Council actions, decisions, and business are listed below, followed by a general summary of the meeting.

Council members in attendance

Jeff Angers, Center for Sportfishing Policy

Janine Belleque, States Organization for Boating Access

Douglass Boyd, Coastal Conservation Association

David Bulthuis, Costa Sunglasses

Christopher Edmonston, BoatUS Foundation

Barb Gigar, Aquatic Resources Education Association

Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S., LLC

Christopher Horton, Congressional Sportsmen Organization

Glenn Hughes, American Sportfishing Association

Betty Huskins, Southeast Tourism Policy Council

Scott Kovarovics, Izaak Walton League of America 

John Sprague, Marine Industries Association of Florida

Nicole Vasilaros, National Marine Manufacturers Association

Other meeting participants:

David Hoskins, Assistant Director of USFWS, Fish and Aquatic Conservation (FAC)

Linda Friar, USFWS Designated Federal Officer (DFO)

Joe Starinchak, Outreach Coordinator, USFWS

Dave Chanda, Vice President of Government and Industry Engagement, RBFF

Ron Reagan, Executive Director, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Jack Montoucet, Secretary of the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

Renee LeBeton, Public Affairs Director, Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

Jeff Krause, Chief, Natural Resources Management, Operations and Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Summary of Meeting

The Council met over a two day period at the Homewood Suites by Hilton in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fourteen Council and One ex-officio members participated for all or part of the meeting. On Day 1 (October 16), Jack Montoucet, Secretary of Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Jeff Angers, President of the Center for Sportfishing Policy welcomed the Council to New Orleans. After showing a video clip of Louisiana's largest hatchery that grows Florida-strain largemouth bass, Secretary Montoucet led the group in a discussion that included Gulf of Mexico red snapper issues and how the region's hurricanes have impacted coastal fisheries.

Chair Chris Edmonston then reviewed the action items from the June meeting and entertained a full Council discussion. The discussion included new potential business and the morning wrapped up with Committee report outs from the Executive, Boating Issues, Fishing Issues, Outreach and Education and the National Outreach and Communications Plan Review Committees.

Just prior to lunch, Jeff Krause, the Chief of Natural Resource Management, Operations and Regulatory Division for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, gave presentation about public access to Corps' lands and waters, the Corps' permitting process and how the Corps collaborates with other agencies when dealing with permitting processes.

After lunch, the Council heard from three other presenters: Dave Chanda, the RBFF VP of Government and Industry Engagement; David Hoskins, the FWS Assistant Director of Fish and Aquatic Conservation (FAC) and Linda Friar, FAC Branch Chief of Communications and Partnerships and Council DFO. Mr. Chanda presented to the Council about R3 planning and coordination and Asst. Director Hoskins gave the Council an update about the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Ms. Friar presented to the Council about the Department of the Interior's efforts to expand hunting and fishing access on refuges and hatcheries.

Following these presentations, Chair Edmonston led a discussion about the status of Council work and provided a daily wrap-up. A call for public comments was issued. No public comments were recorded and the meeting was adjourned.

On the second day, the Council took a field trip to Bayou Sauvage, an urban National Wildlife Refuge that is a 15-minute drive from New Orleans, which has a population of almost 400 thousand people.

Refuge Manager Shelly Stiles and Asst. Refuge Manager Pon Dixon hosted the Council and led a tour on the refuge's boardwalk. During the field trip, Council members learned about different refuge features that enhance its value as an Urban Wildlife Refuge and staff outreach efforts to nearby communities.  After the field trip, the Council returned to New Orleans, had lunch and entered into a Council business session.

During the business session, the Council made and passed some motions...

• Conduct regular assessments of the Sport Fish Restoration programs, along with CVA and BIG,
• The Council will prepare a letter supporting the initiation and finalization of CVA (by next September).
• The Council will prepare a letter requesting outreach to state agencies for the second phase of expanded access on refuge lands.
• After the business session, a call for public comments was issued. No public comments were recorded and the meeting adjourned

Council Decisions and Action Items

Decisions

• On January 10, 2020, the Council plans to hold a call-in meeting.  Nine people are needed to have a quorum.
• On March 19 and 20, 2020, the Council plans to hold an in-person meeting in Washington, DC, in conjunction with subcommittee meetings.
• The Council will request the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to present about the Rigs to Reefs program.
• In the future, the Council requests to have electronic information instead of hard copy meeting binders.
• The Council will request a WSFR TRACS update that provides state-specific information about the number of acres of habitat that has been restored, the number of youth educated, number of structures built and the number of fish stocked.
• The Council will hold a discussion about how the government needs to work with industry members to address the growing threats of 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 .
• The Council will work to designate alternates and fill four regular slots and a Tribal member slot on the Council.

Action Items

• The Council will assess the lack of industry presence on Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and develop recommendations for the Secretary of the Interior.
• The Council will prepare a letter requesting outreach to state fish and wildlife agencies, Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) and Clean Vessel Act (CVA) agencies for the second phase of expanded access to boat, fish and hunt on refuge lands.
• The Council will establish criteria for reviewing Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund programs on a regular basis, including the scope and schedule of assessments, reporting requirements and the need for communicating with DOI.
• The Council will prepare a letter supporting the initiation and finalization of CVA, by next September.
• The Council Outreach Committee will assess charter and bylaws and amend charter to agree with bylaws
• The Council will conduct regular programmatic assessments of the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust fund.
• The National Outreach and Communications Plan Review committee will work with the FWS to revise the RFP.
• The Council will conduct a BIG review and determine invitees to the March meeting.

Council Committee Business

• Chairs of the Council Boating Issues, Fishing Issues, and Outreach Committee provided the Council updates.  No meetings of these committees had occurred since June.
• The Council established a boating sub-committee to address paddle sports,
• The Council will scope out a task force to address user conflicts with the Passenger Vehicle Association,
• The Council chose to revise the RBFF Assessment Request for Proposals (RFP) and work with Service to re-advertise the RFP