Conservation
Belonging to B.A.S.S., the “Worldwide Leader in Bass Fishing,” means
much more than membership in a global club of bass anglers. Since the early 1970s,
B.A.S.S. has taken a proactive response to addressing the nation’s vital aquatic
resource issues. In the early years, it meant taking legal action against industries
making a toxic soup of the nation’s waterways. Today, the agenda has grown
more complex, and B.A.S.S. follows a parallel path in dealing with the issues through
its Conservation Program.
The backbone of the organization is founded on a grass-roots core of members whose
passion extends beyond bass fishing. These men and women, young and old, belong
to B.A.S.S. Federation clubs nationwide. They are environmental stewards always
on the lookout for issues that have local and even national significance.
The B.A.S.S. Conservation Program works a “top down” to “bottom
up” approach in dealing with six key, fundamental issues vital to the future
health of the nation’s aquatic resources. From local bass clubs to the national
level, where B.A.S.S. works cooperatively with government to develop sound management
policy, the protection and enhancement of aquatic resources will remain a top priority.
Habitat
Simply put, habitat is disappearing at an alarming rate. And without habitat the
future of recreational angling and a vital link to the aquatic food chain will be
lost. The issues are complex: erosion, sedimentation and reservoir aging. Yet, there
is hope and B.A.S.S. Conservation has taken a leadership role in the federal government’s
National Fish Habitat Initiative. At the national level, B.A.S.S. is proactively
involved with federal and state government to enact laws to end the losses while
making room for habitat restoration and growth. The habitat agenda is pushed up
from the local level through the grass-roots network of B.A.S.S. Federation clubs.
Aquatic Nuisance Species
An aquarium owner dumps unwanted fish and plants into the local river, no harm intended.
A freighter from overseas pumps ballast water into the Great Lakes, unknowingly
setting free harmful fish and organisms. Both scenarios are very real and threaten
to destroy or imperil the balance of aquatic ecosystems the size of the Great Lakes,
Mississippi River and beyond. As the problem spreads, B.A.S.S. Conservation has
joined a growing coalition of concerned policy makers, government agencies and scientists
to regulate importation of exotics and stop their illegal introduction to the nation's
waters.
Aquatic Vegetation Management
Hydrilla and milfoil are unjustly perceived by many sportsmen as ideal habitat for
fish and waterfowl. In moderate quantities the plants indeed provide habitat, however
when overabundant they become a nuisance to other water users, from boaters to lakeshore
homeowners and even municipal drinking water suppliers. B.A.S.S. Conservation advocates
and facilitates mediation between all user groups while encouraging stakeholders
to establish diverse native plant communities. Ideally, striking the balance will
benefit ecosystems and users alike.
Angler Access
A fishing trip begins with a place to launch the boat or shoreline to cast a line.
Yet access to public waterways has suffered. And finding a boat ramp is the least
of the problems. Demands on water supplies, restrictive fishery management regulations
on fishing seasons, and horsepower limitations merely scratch the surface of why
anglers can’t rightfully gain access to public waters. Through a grass-roots
approach with bass clubs affiliated with the BASS Federation, angler and boater
rights are being heard. The cause is ongoing, with the Federation and B.A.S.S. Conservation
collectively uniting to open more access areas through improvement and construction
programs at public access areas nationwide.
Fish Health
At the first outbreak of the Largemouth Bass Virus, B.A.S.S. Conservation adopted
a leadership role to face the issue. The result is an annual summit attended by
leading researchers, state fishery biologists and anglers to exchange developments
and implement plans of action. B.A.S.S. and its coalition continue making strides
to deal with LMBV while identifying other diseases or health problems, among those
outbreaks of harmful algae and bacteria that can spark significant fish kills. B.A.S.S.
Conservation is an active participant in American Fisheries Society committees and
other professional associations whose interests focus on fishery health.
Tournament Fish Care
Early on, B.A.S.S. recognized that bass are a renewable resource and concurrently,
developed the catch-and-release ethic that is standard with tournaments. B.A.S.S.
Conservation continues raising the bar on the practice by supporting scientific
research studies focusing on care of tournament-caught bass. The latest practices
and improvements are rolled out through the B.A.S.S. Federation while educating
anglers about how to better handle fish they intend to release. B.A.S.S. Conservation
extends its outreach to the general angling public to ensure a positive perception
of bass fishing and tournament angling.
BASS is More
When you join B.A.S.S., you get more than just a magazine and a membership card.
You are supporting over thirty years of natural resource conservation. Devoted to
the challenges that lie ahead, B.A.S.S. continues to work on behalf of our members
and the aquatic resources we all value.