Alexandria, VA – Might 19, 2025 – Right now, Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Sarah Elfreth (D-MD) launched the Aquatic Invasive Species Management and Prevention Act of 2026 (H.R.8876). This bipartisan laws would offer a considerable replace to federal aquatic invasive species (AIS) coverage by enhancing AIS prevention, management and administration efforts and enhancing coordination between federal, state and regional managers.
“The American Sportfishing Affiliation (ASA) thanks Representatives Walberg and Elfreth for his or her management in introducing the Aquatic Invasive Species Management and Prevention Act,” stated Glenn Hughes, President and CEO of ASA. “From quagga mussels to blue catfish to invasive carp, AIS hurt fisheries, restrict entry and diminish sportfishing alternatives throughout the nation. This laws represents essentially the most complete modernization of federal aquatic invasive species coverage in many years, enhancing coordination throughout businesses and states, strengthening prevention and fast response efforts, and offering long-overdue instruments to assist efficient administration. ASA strongly helps this bipartisan laws and appears ahead to working with Congress and our companions to advance these options and defend America’s fisheries for the longer term.”
Aquatic invasive species like silver carp, zebra mussels, blue catfish and sea lamprey hurt fisheries, harm fish habitat and diminish fishing and boating alternatives. Additionally they impose vital financial prices to outside recreation economies, in addition to irrigation, hydropower and different water infrastructure. All 50 states and quite a few federal businesses share accountability for AIS administration and prevention.
Nationwide, leisure fishing generates a $230 billion financial impression, supporting greater than 1.1 million jobs. By enhancing prevention measures, supporting coordinated, state-led administration and fast response to include new AIS outbreaks, the AIS Management and Prevention Act would safeguard the fisheries and waters that welcome 57.9 million anglers yearly.
The invoice is supported by a broad coalition of leisure fishing, boating and conservation organizations. In a current letter, these teams emphasised the necessity to advance this laws to modernize federal coverage and safe a lot wanted assist for this rising risk to our fisheries sources.
For extra info on the Aquatic Invasive Species Management and Prevention Act, try our information sheet.
The American Sportfishing Affiliation (ASA) is the sportfishing business’s commerce affiliation dedicated to representing the pursuits of the sportfishing and boating industries in addition to your entire sportfishing group. We give the business and anglers a unified voice when rising legal guidelines and insurance policies might considerably have an effect on sportfishing enterprise or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to make sure the business will stay robust and affluent, in addition to safeguard and promote the enduring financial, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA additionally provides America’s 57.7 million anglers a voice in coverage selections that have an effect on their skill to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways by Maintain America Fishing, our nationwide angler advocacy marketing campaign. America’s anglers generate greater than $50 billion in retail gross sales with a $230.5 billion impression on the nation’s financial system creating employment for 1.1 million folks.
