.

Back to the Basics: What are Fishing Organizations?

The greatest dangers to sportfishing are overfishing by commercial fishers and pollution. To help curb these problems, numerous fishing associations and clubs around the world promote the conservation of water resources and fish populations. The most prominent is the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), which maintains and promotes ethical international angling regulations. IGFA also compiles and maintains world game fish records. The association currently has more than 250 international representatives and 1000 affiliated fishing clubs.

Other associations focus on specific fishing policies or the protection of specific species of game fish. The best known of these associations include the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) and Trout Unlimited. These groups have hundreds of thousands of members, with chapters in several different countries. They arrange clinics, seminars, and conferences on topics ranging from fishing gear to the protection and restoration of fishing areas. Other game fish organizations include the Atlantic Salmon Association, the American Fisheries Society, the Federation of Fly Fishers, and the National Coalition for Marine Conservation.

Contributed By:

Jay H. Cassell, M.A.

Senior Editor, Sports Afield. Member, Outdoor Writers Association of America. Contributor, Business Week, Camping Journal, and other publications.

"Fishing," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.