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TRCP Hosts Fisheries Conservation Summit at ICAST 2025
Popular panels on top conservation issues now a fixture at the annual sportfishing trade show
Each year, TRCP provides a Fisheries Conservation Summit at ICAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, hosted by the American Sportfishing Association. At this year’s summit, top minds in fisheries policy and legislation came together to talk priorities—from fish population recovery through stock enhancements to angler data collection and fisheries legislation. One of the most challenging aspects of hosting the summit this year was trying to cram the myriad of hot-button issues in fisheries policy, science, and management into a three-hour window.
“I’m not sure anyone working on fisheries policy can remember a time when there’s been this much going on,” said Chris Macaluso, TRCP director of the Center for Fisheries and Mississippi River Program.
Fisheries Priorities for the Trump Administration and Congress
Fisheries policy experts from TRCP, ASA, Center for Sportfishing Policy, and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation highlighted and discussed nearly a dozen management and conservation policies and legislative matters that organizations are together working to advance over the course of the next year and beyond. The recent federal budget reconciliation process in Congress delayed other fisheries legislation this year, with panelists optimistically noting that Congress should be able to address other issues now that the reconciliation bill has passed. The panel also discussed the makeup of the new Trump administration’s fisheries-oriented agency leads; potential reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (the primary law controlling marine fisheries management in U.S. waters); transferring management of the South Atlantic red snapper fishery to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina; and the impact new tariffs have had on recreational fishing, tackle, and boating.
“There has been significant positive action taken by the Trump administration, including withdrawing both the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule and the bottom fishing closure proposed off northeast Florida,” said Mike Leonard, vice president of government affairs for the American Sportfishing Association. “On the flip side of that, there’s the negative aspect of tariffs. It’s created an incredible amount of uncertainty in our industry.”
Video Premier: “Steel to Sanctuary: The Rigs to Reef Story”
Produced by Arena Energy in cooperation with CSF, this 30-minute documentary was shared publicly last week for the first time at the summit. The film showcases the remarkable habitat provided by energy-producing platforms off the Gulf Coast states and the need to protect this habitat in that region and elsewhere from being removed from coastal waters. This is critical because in the next decade, nearly half of the approximately 1,500 remaining rigs could be removed.
“What aspects of Rigs to Reefs could we fix from the bureaucratic perspective?” asked Chris Horton, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s senior director, fisheries policy. He offered that one way to achieve greater efficiency in retired rig protection is ensuring continuity of support at all levels – federal, state, nonprofit, and corporate.
Helping Fish Stocks Recover Through Stock Enhancement
A panel of fish hatchery experts and supporters including Bill Shedd, CEO of AFTCO, and staff from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Coastal Conservation Association Alabama highlighted the successes and discussed the limitations of efforts to help improve fish stocks in the Gulf states, California, and beyond through introduction of hatchery-born fish. One goal was to help states that aren’t currently active in stock enhancements learn from successful programs that currently supplement natural fish stocks with hundreds of thousands of hatchery-raised white sea bass, southern flounder, Florida pompano, and spotted seatrout each year. Topics that rose to the top were the importance of hatcheries for aquaculture, of obtaining breeding-size fish from recreational anglers making live donations in tournaments, and recognizing how sensitive fish can be to environmental changes that can have an outsized impact on hatchery success.
Maxwell Westendorf, hatchery manager with the Alabama Department of Conservation’s Marine Resources Division, emphasized that even minor stressors to southern flounder during early juvenile development – such as changing water temperature a few degrees up or down – can trigger masculinizing the young fish such that nearly the entire stock becomes male.
“Which begs the question, our oceans are warming up and will fish populations be able to keep up with these changes?” Westendorf said.
Fixing Data Collection to Improve Fishing Access
Moderated by Brett Fitzgerald of the Angler Action Foundation, a panel of experts from CCA Maryland, The Nature Conservancy, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discussed technological advances and the use of “citizen science” to help narrow the gaps in state and federal data collection regarding recreational fishing. They also talked about tracking and tackling the problem of aquatic invasive species using data provided by recreational anglers. For example, CCA Maryland Executive Director David Sikorski said that through partnerships with groups including Yamaha Rightwaters, tournaments like the Great Chesapeake Invasives Count help track the spread and prevalence of Bay invasives like snakeheads, flathead catfish, and blue catfish.
Panelists acknowledged that a problem with fisheries data collection and release has been that managers lack sufficient data, largely because some anglers don’t trust agencies or organizations that supply the information that leads to reasonable regulations. “We have this issue here where anglers don’t trust the data, so they won’t give data to fisheries managers,” said David Moss, fisheries project manager for The Nature Conservancy. This leads to insufficient data to guide regulations, which creates a vicious cycle. But he also reminded the room how sound fisheries management benefits individual angling interests as well as future generations, referring to what can be gained for himself and his daughter.
“I tell everyone I do this because I want a fishery for her,” Moss said. “But I also want a fishery for me.”
Thank You, Sponsors and Presenters!
We want to extend our sincere appreciation to the panelists and attendees of the 2025 summit. We also want to thank this year’s sponsors, ASA and CSF, who made the summit possible.
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land and waters access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
In the Arena: Sergio Diaz
TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.
Sergio Diaz
Hometown: Sayville, New York
Occupation: IT professional by trade, and part-time professional photographer and filmmaker focused on storytelling tied to nature, conservation, and outdoors subject matter
Conservation credentials: Diaz harnesses his adventurous fishing spirit, a gift for outdoor photography, and a prominent platform on social media to advocate for marine conservation, inspiring and helping educate saltwater anglers.
Besides sharing his captivating shots of recreational fishing feats with conservation groups like TRCP and Safeguard the Seas, Diaz has donated his breathtaking underwater shots of striped bass to the Bayshore Saltwater Flyrodders of New Jersey and has been invited to speak at several fly fishing clubs in New York and New Jersey, where he focuses on the importance of safer catch and release practices. Diaz volunteers for the Manhattan Cup, a fishing tournament in New York City that benefits veterans, to shoot photos and video. Currently, he’s working with TRCP partner Bonefish & Tarpon Trust to plan a trip to document the planting of mangroves and habitat restoration in the Bahamas or Caribbean.
Here is his story.
Some of my earliest memories are from when I lived in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. My father was a military officer in the army, and during those years, the local fisheries were incredibly abundant. We had easy access to rivers and a coastline full of tarpon, snook, tropical gar, and jacks. It wasn’t unusual to see all of those species in a single morning.
Those early experiences with my father, learning how to cast and being immersed in such a diverse ecosystem (so yes, full of biting insects), left a lasting impression on me. They taught me to value wild places and understand the importance of protecting them, especially because, back then, conservation wasn’t practiced the way we know it today.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to experience incredible moments on the water. Recently, while wading the flats of Inagua, Bahamas, looking for bonefish, I spotted something large floating almost motionless along a channel. As I got closer, I realized it was a big barracuda, perfectly still and clearly waiting to ambush prey.
Hoping for a shot at this trophy fish, I quickly clipped my leader, tied on wire, and rigged a large white deceiver fly to try and trigger a strike. Luckily, the barracuda was still holding in place by the time I was ready. On my second cast, she hit so fast I barely saw it happen.
I fought her in the shallow flat, where I could truly appreciate her size and watch her leap into the air several times. An amazing fish—and a moment I won’t forget.
There are so many remote angling destinations still on my list. But if I could fish anywhere, I’d have to say I’d go back to Hawaii to wade for big bonefish. The first time I visited was on my honeymoon, and while fishing wasn’t exactly on the itinerary, I couldn’t help but notice bonefish cruising the flats and hear talk of people targeting them. At the time, I had to let it go, but ever since, the idea of returning has stuck with me, especially after seeing videos of those massive fish. Hawaii is home to some of the biggest bonefish in the world, and the thought of sight fishing for them in such a stunning, remote setting is just too good to resist.
“Being involved in conservation means protecting the waters, habitats, and species we rely on, so the fish are still there tomorrow.“
Conservation is at the heart of my fishing life because the health of the resource is everything. I love everything about fishing – not just catching fish, but the whole experience of being involved in nature, reading the water, and connecting with wild places. Without healthy ecosystems and abundant fish populations, that experience simply wouldn’t exist.
Overfishing and water quality are the biggest conservation challenges where I live in coastal New York. Pressure from recreational and commercial fishing has led to reduced populations of key species like striped bass. A critical part of addressing this is the need to conserve menhaden, commonly known where I live as “bunker,” as an essential forage fish that striped bass and other gamefish species depend on for food. At the same time, water quality degradation from nitrogen pollution, mainly due to septic systems and runoff, continues to destroy habitats and create aquatic dead zones.
Conservation ensures that the waters I fish today will still be there tomorrow, full of life and possibility. It’s about respecting the resource, practicing catch and release when appropriate, and supporting efforts that protect habitats and biodiversity. For me, being a responsible angler goes hand in hand with being a good steward of the places I love.
I feel compelled to do my part in conservation because I want the next generation to experience the same connection to fishing that I’ve been lucky to have. Fishing isn’t just a pastime. It teaches respect for the environment and shows the value of healthy ecosystems. Being involved in conservation means protecting the waters, habitats, and species we rely on, so the fish are still there tomorrow, not just today. It’s about giving back to a resource that’s given me so much.
If we don’t take care of the land and water now, there won’t be anything left to hunt or fish later. Conservation helps to keep the traditions alive – the early mornings on the water, the stories, the connection to nature. If we want to continue to enjoy the outdoors, we have to protect them.
Banner image credit Sergio Diaz
Against the Odds
TRCP’s Chief Conservation Officer drew a coveted Nevada elk tag in 2024, and the hunt, along with some conservation issues of the state, was documented by Randy Newberg and the Fresh Tracks Team. Watch the full episode HERE.
After nearly two decades of applying, Joel Webster, TRCP’s Chief Conservation Officer, was fortunate enough to draw a highly sought-after elk tag in Nevada. The type of elk tag that offers less than 1% draw odds for nonresidents.
Planning began as soon as the tag results were announced, and Webster scouted the area over the summer and fall to familiarize himself with the unit and how to hunt it.
Being a conservation professional, Webster understands that while there are incredible hunting opportunities within Nevada’s Great Basin region, there are also conservation challenges that must be addressed to maintain and enhance hunting opportunities.
Randy Newberg, host of Fresh Tracks and the Hunt Talk Radio podcast, joined Webster in November to help him find a mature bull and to also highlight the conservation issues of the region.
The challenges discussed in the episode include drought, invasive grasses, and feral horses, all of which put a strain on the high desert and island range ecosystems that are crucial to the future of beloved animals such as elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and sage grouse.
After cold mornings and evenings glassing and maneuvering around other hunters, Joel was able to punch his tag on a gorgeous 6×6 bull on a juniper-studded slope. A generous gift from public lands to someone committed to helping secure quality places to hunt and fish for all Americans.
“I really care about the future of hunting and fishing in America, and I want to make sure these traditions are sustained and that our rights and opportunities are maintained,” said Webster. “When I get up in the morning, that’s what I focus on all day long and that’s a big part of my life.”
Watch the full episode HERE.
Photo credits: Fresh Tracks
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
In the Arena: Dr. Carolyn Mahan
TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.
Dr. Carolyn Mahan
Hometown: State College, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, Penn State Altoona
Conservation credentials: Dr. Carolyn Mahan has spent her professional career researching topics to improve conservation across America and the world. Currently, Dr. Mahan’s research interests include wildlife use of human-modified landscapes, management of public lands, and squirrel ecology. Her research has been widely published and cited in top science journals, and she currently serves on Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro’s Advisory Council for Conservation.
Dr. Mahan has researched wildlife around the globe but loves the diverse world of the Appalachian Mountains she calls home. Her education and research combined with passions for hunting and fishing make her a fantastic educator in the Penn State University system, as well as an invaluable expert when working with the oil and gas industry on conservation. Dr. Mahan lives a life that takes active steps toward a future where humans and wildlife can coexist.
Here is her story.
TRCP: How were you introduced to hunting, fishing, and the outdoors? Who introduced you?
Dr. Mahan: I always loved nature, hiking, bird watching, and wildlife. However, my husband, Kurt Engstrom, introduced me to fishing and hunting while we were dating and both students at the University of Connecticut in the late 1980s. At first, I would just accompany him in the forest and watch wildlife. Gradually, I learned how to fish for bass and trout. Finally, once we moved to Pennsylvania, I began to hunt whitetail deer.
TRCP: Tell us about one of your most memorable outdoor adventures.
Dr. Mahan: I have had so many memorable experiences in nature locally, nationally, and internationally. However, a seemingly small natural event occurs every year on my back porch, and I treasure seeing it. In late March, a pair of Carolina wrens inevitably chooses my laundry apron, the pocket of my hunting coat, or my window box as a place to build their beautiful moss-covered, domed nest. This event is one of the first signs of spring for me and my family, and we watch the wren pair as they lay their four eggs, incubate them, and eventually fledge their babies. This annual event is an on-going sign that, perhaps, humans and wildlife can travel together into the future.
TRCP: If you could hunt or fish anywhere, where would it be and why?
Dr. Mahan: I would like to go on a pack trip on horses into the western backcountry to hunt for elk. I grew up riding horses, so this would combine things that I love. Fishing for Atlantic salmon in the UK or brook trout in Labrador would be amazing as well.
TRCP: How does conservation help enhance your outdoor life?
Dr. Mahan: My entire life is conservation. I am a professor who teaches courses in conservation to undergraduate students at Penn State, and I conduct research on conservation of all types of wildlife (native pollinators, breeding birds, carnivores, small mammals, and rare species) in human-modified landscapes such as oil and gas pipelines. So, every time that I am in the outdoors for work or play, I am thinking about conservation and how to create and restore landscapes where humans and wildlife can coexist.
TRCP: What are the major conservation challenges where you live?
Dr. Mahan: I used to think that habitat loss was the biggest threat to wildlife. Habitat loss is still a critical factor impacting wildlife, but we are learning to manage landscapes so that both humans and wildlife can occupy the landscape. In terms of drastic wildlife losses, the spread of infectious diseases caused, in part, by globalization, climate change, and human activities (e.g, game farming), is the biggest challenge. Infectious diseases and pathogens like Chronic Wasting Disease, White-nosed Syndrome, West Nile Virus, and Avian Malaria has caused sudden and drastic health threats to whitetail Deer, North American bats, ruffed grouse, and songbirds respectively. In addition, non-native species including Japanese knotweed, stilt grass, spotted lanternfly, hemlock woolly adelgid, and emerald ash borer have changed the species composition of Pennsylvania forests over the past few decades.
TRCP: Why is it important to you to be involved in conservation?
Dr. Mahan: Aldo Leopold wrote that “one of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.” I feel that quote everyday as I see the changes in wildlife populations and forest composition that I previously mentioned, and sadly, many of these negative changes are unnoticed by the general public. People can make a difference, however, through their actions. Actions may include removing non-native species, planting a native tree, growing native forbs, teaching others to cherish nature, being conscientious about what you purchase, and assisting in wildlife management.
TRCP: Why should conservation matter to the next generation of hunters and anglers?
Dr. Mahan: In the United States, conservation is funded at the governmental level primarily by taxes on hunting and fishing equipment and hunting/fishing license sales. If you are a hunter or an angler, your money is used for conservation. Newcomers to these past times should learn about ways that their funds are used and assist state officials in explaining the importance of hunters and anglers in their role as conservationists. I also hope that hunters and anglers will focus on more than just the species that they harvest. Conservationists should care about all species of native wildlife because healthy, functioning ecosystems are critical for sustainable hunting and fishing.
Photo credits: Dr. Carolyn Mahan
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
TRCP has partnered with Afuera Coffee Co. to further our commitment to conservation. $4 from each bag is donated to the TRCP, to help continue our efforts of safeguarding critical habitats, productive hunting grounds, and favorite fishing holes for future generations.
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