The IGFA joins 54 Other Hunt Fish 30x30 Organizations to Submit Formal Recommendations to the Biden Administration Concerning the “America the Beautiful” Initiative

 

The International Game Fish Association joined 54 other members of the Hunt Fish 30x30 Coalition to submit a set of formal recommendations for the Biden Administration’s “America the Beautiful” initiative, also referred to as “Thirty by Thirty.” The recommendations highlight several priorities of the sporting-conservation community as they relate to the development of the Administration’s forthcoming American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas which will serve as a measure of conservation and restoration progress to date.

The recommendations submitted to President Biden’s interagency working group reflect the priorities first outlined in the Hunt Fish 30x30 Coalition’s “Hunting and Fishing Community Statement on the 30x30 Initiative” that was developed in response to “Thirty by Thirty” legislation introduced at the state level in 2020. In the statement, which has currently been signed by sixty-six sporting-conservation organizations, the Coalition highlights the important role that sportsmen and women have played in the conservation of fish, wildlife, and natural ecosystems in the United States. Recognizing this history of conservation successes, the current recommendations present an opportunity to advance pragmatic, successful conservation efforts while recognizing many existing efforts that have, to date, been largely overlooked relative to this initiative.

“Recreational anglers in the United States have a long history of supporting and funding conservation efforts that benefit aquatic resources.” Said Jason Schratwieser, president of the International Game Fish Association.  “We appreciate the Biden Administration’s acknowledgement of the importance of recreational fishing in the 30x30 initiative and we look forward to participating in this process to develop meaningful conservation measures that benefit natural resources and recreational anglers, alike.”

These recommendations were designed to provide an initial framework as the Administration’s interagency working group begins developing the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas.

Key priorities of the recommendations include:

• Clearly defining “conservation” to support the active management and sustainable use of our nation’s public trust fish and wildlife resources.
• Collaborating closely with entities devoted to achieving measurable biodiversity conservation objectives, including:
  • State fish and wildlife management agencies,
  • Regional fish and wildlife management bodies,
  • Members of the sporting-conservation community,
  • The more than 500 federally recognized Native American tribes, and
  • Private landowners through voluntary, incentive-based opportunities.
• Recognizing and including all efforts directly contributing to biodiversity conservation in the forthcoming American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas, including those on lands subject to multiple uses.