Congressman Rob Bishop Named Conservationist of the Year

WASHINGTON, DC (June 2, 2016) — U.S. Representative Rob Bishop (R-Utah) was named the Conservationist of the Year for championing policies promoting healthy fish and wildlife populations and access to America’s public lands and waters. Center for Coastal Conservation President Jeff Angers presented Congressman Bishop with the award at the joint gathering of the American Boating Congress and Center Focus on Washington.

Congressman Bishop has served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources since 2015 and has been a steadfast ally to America’s sportsmen. His leadership was instrumental in the House passage of H.R. 1335, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act. Due in large part to Chairman Bishop’s leadership, H.R. 1335 includes several amendments to the Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA) to better manage recreational fisheries. The measure awaits action in the Senate. In addition, Chairman Bishop helped usher through the House the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, H.R. 2406, which will enhance fishing opportunities on federal lands and waters and protect anglers from unnecessary restrictions.

Hundreds of marine recreational fishing and boating industry representatives and conservation leaders converged at the annual event, which included remarks from political pundits Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Congressmen Garret Graves (R-La.), Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) and Austin Scott (R-Ga.), among others.

“Chairman Bishop has taken the time to recognize the significant social, economic and conservation benefits that recreational fishing provides to the nation, a quality that has made him an invaluable partner on Capitol Hill,” said Angers. “Congressman Bishop fully appreciates that saltwater recreational fishing generates over $61 billion in annual sales and has a major economic impact that expands beyond our nation’s coastal communities. Almost 500,000 jobs across America – particularly in the manufacturing and retail sectors – are tied to our industry. These jobs are in jeopardy unless we fix our nation’s broken federal marine fisheries management system.”

For more information, please visit http://www.CoastalConservation.US/

###

CONTACT:
Jeff Angers, 225-382-3754
jeff@coastalconservation.us