**Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council**

**Meeting Minutes**

**March 10, 2005, Department of the Interior**

**Washington, D.C.**

**[Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC) Members in
Attendance:]{.underline}** Bill Anderson, Jim Anderson, Doug Boyd,
Monita Fontaine, Kenneth Haddad, Doug Hansen, Chris Horton (for Dean
Kessel), Ryck Lydecker, Martin MacDonald (for John Morris), Jim Range,
William Taylor, Carl Wilgus

**[Other Attendees:]{.underline}** Jack Arnold, Doug Austen, Hannibal
Bolton, Tom Busiahn, Richard Christian, Noreen Clough, Forbes Darby,
Jamie Geiger, Dave Greene, Doug Hobbs, William Hogarth, Gerry Jackson,
Mitch King, Andy Loftus, Bruce Matthews, Phil Million, Patrick O'Rouke,
Mamie Parker, Jim Preacher, Kelly Miller Reed, Gordon Robertson, John
Rogers, Tom Sadler, Robin Schrock, Eric Schwaab, Lynn Starnes, Susan
Marie-Stedman, Steve Williams

**Thursday, March 10, 2005**

**[Greetings and Introductions -- William Taylor, Chair]{.underline}**

*Remarks of Interior Secretary Gale Norton*

*Remarks of Assistant Secretary Craig Manson*

*Remarks of FWS Director Steve Williams*

**[Fisheries Issues Committee -- Doug Hansen, Chairman]{.underline}**

*Remarks of William Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA*

\- Dr. Hogarth briefed those attending on the recently completed NOAA
Recreational Fisheries Strategic Plan, touching on the process through
which the plan was created, the importance placed on strengthening NOAA
Fisheries relationship with recreational anglers and also on the
economic importance of recreational angling.

*Remarks of Mamie Parker, Assistant Director, Fisheries and Habitat
Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service*

Council members heard a series of presentations related to the National
Fish Habitat Initiative. Summaries of the SFBPC Report of the NHFI
National Stakeholder Meetings and the \"Working Group on Healthy Fish
Habitat\" science workshop were presented. There was also discussion
about next steps related to the development of the National Fish Habitat
Plan. That work would be done by a committee to be assembled by the
IAFWA Fisheries & Water Resources Policy Committee. The Council
officially transmitted its report on the NFHI Stakeholder Meetings to
FWS Director Williams and IAFWA Executive Director John Baughman.

Subsequent to the SFBPC meeting the Executive Committee of the IAFWA
recommended to the FWS funding 5 Multi-state Conservation Grants related
to the NFHI. If funded, the grants would total approximately \$1.9
million dollars. One grant would fund the continued coordination and
development of the NFHI. FWS approval for grant funding is expected in
January 2005.

**[Opening Remarks from Invited Guests]{.underline}**

-   Remarks of Steve Williams, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

-   Remarks of Mamie Parker, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Assistant
    Director for Fisheries and Habitat Conservation

> \- Summary of the FY 2005 Fisheries Program Budget
>
> \- Summary of FY 2006 Budget priorities

-   **SFBPC Evaluation of the FWS Fisheries Program**

The Council was updated on the status of the program evaluation of the
FWS Fisheries Program that it is conducting. The Council learned that
the evaluation framework has been finalized and that a meeting with FWS
Fisheries Program to clarify data needs has occurred. A data call to the
FWS Fisheries Program has been made.

**[SFBPC Communications Committee -- Ryck Lydecker,
Chairman]{.underline}**

The Council discussed wide-ranging communications opportunities. First,
Committee Chairman Ryck Lydecker updated members on the work done to
draft SFBPC comments on the Preliminary Report of the U.S. Commission on
Ocean Policy. The Communications Committee led the Council effort to
craft comments on the preliminary report. Other reports included an
update by Bill Anderson on the recently announced creation of the Marine
Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Panel in California, a summary from
Noreen Clough of the outcomes of the BASS/ESPN Fishing Leadership
Conference at this past summers Bassmaster Classic, and a preview of
ASA\'s Sportfishing Summit by Gordon Robertson. Doug Hobbs offered other
ideas on communications tools including a Council newsletter, a new
website, a possible special report on the \"costs\" associated with
unrecovered mitigation expenses, a Council accomplishments report, and
enhancement of communications with DOI staff.

**[Boating Issues Committee update -- Mike Hough,
Chairman]{.underline}**

-   **Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Tier II Evaluation**

> Ryck Lydecker & Andy Loftus updated the members of the SFBPC on the
> ongoing review of the BIG Tier II Program. Completion of the review is
> expected in early 2005. Andy Loftus presented a summary of feedback
> received from a questionnaire sent to State boating administrators. A
> similar questionnaire has been sent to those that received project
> funding.

**Remarks of Bruce Matthews, President, Recreational Boating and Fishing
Foundation (RBFF)**

> Bruce Matthews updated the Council on RBFF programs.

**SFBPC National Communications & Outreach Plan Implementation
Assessment**

Members of the SFBPC were updated by Council member Doug Boyd and
Council Coordinator Doug Hobbs on the latest regarding the SFBPC effort
to assess the activities of the Recreational Boating and Fishing
Foundation (RBFF) in implementing the National Communications and
Outreach Program. Boyd and Hobbs highlighted a proposal to move forward
with the RBFF assessment. Two specific items were discussed; 1)
empanelling a new \"assessment\" committee and 2) the possible retention
of outside evaluation expertise. The previous SFBPC Accountability
Committee completed its work on creating \"measures\" of success with
its 2002 report. A new Council assessment group needs to be empanelled
to actually conduct an assessment using previous Council work and where
available, new materials.

***\* A motion was made by Doug Boyd to empanel an Assessment Committee
consisting of: Bill Anderson, Doug Boyd, Noreen Clough, Monita Fontaine,
Ken Haddad, and Ryck Lydecker. The motion was seconded by Martin
MacDonald and was agreed to unanimously by Council members. Council
members also discussed the utility of retaining an assessment expert to
guide the Assessment Committee\'s work. Council members agreed that
bringing expertise to bear on the RBFF assessment effort would be useful
and Doug Boyd offered a motion to explore possible contractors that
could provide the needed services. The motion was seconded by Bill
Anderson and was agreed to unanimously by Council members.***

**[Approval of SFBPC Meeting Minutes:]{.underline}**

Minutes of the May 6, 2004, Council meeting were unanimously approved.

**[Adjournment]{.underline}**

***\*Ryck Lydecker made a motion to adjourn and was seconded by the
entire Council. William Taylor, Chair, adjourned the meeting.***