According to Peterson, as the largest caucus on Capitol Hill, the CSC is a powerful advocate on issues of importance to anglers. The CSC has actively worked on legislation benefiting anglers and the nations waterways, such as reforming the administration of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act . Peterson most recently used his leadership role in Congress to highlight the problem caused by the exploding population of fish-eating cormorants, which have devastated commercial and recreational sportfishing. Peterson and the CSC were also successful in getting the FWS to expand its field hearings on cormorants to more rural areas directly affected by the birds, such as Lake of the Woods, Minnesota. In honor of National Fishing Week, the CSC recently welcomed Mike Hayden of the American Sportfishing Association to brief Members of Congress on issues such as the Fishable Waters Act, the recent Presidential Executive Order imposing a total ban on sportfishing in certain coastal areas, and the need for repair of national fish hatcheries.
Anglers quickly develop a common instinct to protect our natural resources.
I encourage everyone to take pleasure in this time-honored tradition, and hopefully, experience the thrill of reeling in a fish or two. National Fishing Week began in 1979 by Congress to focus public attention on the lifestyle benefits of fishing, recreational fishing opportunities and aquatic resource stewardship responsibilities.