ESPN

''One issue that comes to mind very quickly is that of assuring enough continued interest and participation in our sport to support future management and protection of fisheries and fish habitats. If a significant number of weekend anglers made it a point to introduce one or more individuals - especially youth - to the sport of angling and taught them enough about the sport and the importance of conservation, our fish habitats and our management efforts would benefit from a more reliable base of advocacy and funding in the future.''

— Phil Durocher
Director of Inland Fisheries
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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''The obvious answer to me is by becoming involved in the political process. While not as much fun as fishing, such involvement is crucial to the perpetuation of fish and fishing. Each year we unnecessarily lose fish habitats due to poor land use practices. In the United States we have more than 28 million freshwater anglers, most of whom are weekend anglers. If even a modest fraction of those anglers wrote one letter or voiced an opinion at one public meeting that emphasized concern for protecting aquatic habitats, the benefits to states' fisheries programs would be astounding.''

— Fred Harris
Chief of Division of Inland Fisheries
North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission

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''There are many ways anglers can help their state game and fish conservation agency improve the fishery resources. Good fisheries management is the result of good communication and cooperation between the biologists and anglers. Biologists cannot effectively manage a fishery without the cooperation of anglers. One way anglers can cooperate is to support the purchase of a state fishing license or permit, purchasing tackle and equipment, and introducing new people or mentoring young people into the joys of the sport.''

— Michael Gibson
Chief of Fisheries
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

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''The key to good, sustainable fishing is good water quality and habitat. Anglers should be aware of issues that impact these areas and become involved in maintaining or improving them whenever possible. Anglers should also be conscious of regulations and report violations, be aware of the impacts of the many exotic species that are appearing around the country and make efforts to limit their spread, take a kid fishing whenever they can, support aquatic education programs, practice selective harvest to help maintain angling quality, and ensure their own personal safety and that of those who are fishing with them.''

— Ronald Payer
Director, Division of Fisheries
Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources

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