IGFA Advocacy Update for August 2025: Key Policy Wins for Recreational Fishing and Conservation

The IGFA is dedicated to championing the interests of the recreational fishing community and safeguarding the health of our marine and freshwater ecosystems. Alongside conservation and recreational fishing industry partners, policymakers, and conservation organizations, the IGFA has made important progress on several crucial conservation topics, ranging from sportfish restoration funding and forage fish conservation to reducing the use of harmful fishing gear types. See below for an update on our recent conservation initiatives.

 

Excise Taxes Fund Sportfish Restoration

In June 2025, the IGFA joined a coalition of recreational fishing, boating, and hunting organizations in a letter of support to U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell and Rob Wittman for introducing the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 (H.R. 3858) to reauthorize the vital Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through 2031. The excise taxes collected on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel fund critical on-the-water investments that have made the United States a world leader in aquatic resource conservation and recreational access.

State Support for the Ocklawaha River

In June 2025, the IGFA sent a letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in support of the 2025 legislative budget providing $15 million for the restoration of the Ocklawaha River. The restoration of the Ocklawaha River is a critical step towards revitalizing the St. Johns River and estuary that will improve conditions for critical fish habitats, including eelgrass, saltmarsh, and oysters in the region. Additionally, transparent planning and stakeholder engagement will ensure the restoration project significantly supports public access to the river, providing new and enhanced recreational opportunities for anglers, boaters, and nature enthusiasts.

 

Reducing Harmful Fishing Gear Benefits California Swordfish

In July 2025, the IGFA sent a letter of support to the Chair of the California Senate Appropriations Committee, Anna Caballero, in support of AB 1056, which seeks to modernize the management of California’s set gillnet fishery. AB 1056 responsibly addresses the long-term trajectory of the set gillnet fishery in California by making existing permits non-transferable beginning in 2027, allowing for one final transfer to a family member after this date. This phased approach preserves fishing activity by allowing a one-time transfer of permits to family members, while establishing a clear framework for the gradual attrition of the fishery and preventing the re-entry or expansion of this gear type in California waters.

 

Protecting Pre-Spawning Bonefish

In August 2025, the IGFA submitted public comments to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Commissioners in support of a seasonal closed area in Biscayne National Park to protect pre-spawning bonefish. The IGFA applauds the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust for conducting the critical research that discovered the reestablishment of the pre-spawning aggregation as well as FWC for acknowledging the emerging science for the conservation of Florida’s iconic bonefish.