Spring into Fishing and Boating & Conserve Nation's Waterways

Take Me Fishing™ highlights how boating and fishing participation supports local conservation efforts in the United States

News provided by

Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation

Mar 09, 2015, 09:00 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Spring is just around the corner, and as anglers and boaters across the country are preparing to hit the water, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation's (RBFF) Take Me Fishing™ campaign is encouraging all outdoor enthusiasts to help conserve our nation's waterways.

Take Me Fishing(TM) highlights how boating and fishing participation supports local conservation efforts in the United States

"Boaters and anglers are a significant source of funding for aquatic conservation in the United States," said RBFF President & CEO Frank Peterson. "Their investments in licenses and equipment help preserve our nation's natural resources, protecting and preserving our waterways for future generations."

Some of the most simple and even enjoyable activities can make a difference in local conservation efforts. For example, when an angler buys fishing and boating equipment, a portion of the proceeds goes to a fund, which is annually distributed to states by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service through the Sport Fish Restoration Program. In 2014, more than $600 million was distributed to the states and federal agencies for efforts in conservation projects.

Projects supported by the fund include:

Acquiring and improving fish habitats
Stocking nearly one billion fish annually
Providing aquatic resource education opportunities to almost 1 million students annually
Conducting state of the art fisheries research
Maintaining thousands of public access fishing sites and boat ramps
Constructing boat ramps, fishing piers and other facilities to make fishing and boating easier and more convenient

Together, anglers and boaters contribute $1.5 billion annually to fisheries conservation efforts but even more can be done.¹

TakeMeFishing.org is a one-stop resource for fishing license and boat registration information, fishing and boating locations nationwide and 'how-to' information to help plan your fishing and boating adventure. For more information on how fishing and boating is directly connected with conservation efforts, visit www.TakeMeFishing.org/conservation.

Sources

¹American Sportsfishing Association

About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation's aquatic natural resources. RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns to create awareness around boating, fishing and conservation, and educate people about the benefits of participation. Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign websites, TakeMeFishing.org, and VamosAPescar.org, feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.

Follow Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar within the social media space:

TAKE ME FISHING.ORG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakeMeFishing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/take_me_fishing
Instagram: https://instagram.com/TAKEMEFISHING/

VAMOS A PESCAR.ORG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VamosAPescar.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vamos_A_Pescar
Instagram: https://instagram.com/vamosapescar/

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150306/180111-INFO

SOURCE Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation