CSF President Jeff Crane Appointed To Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council

March 3, 2010 (WASHINGTON, DC) - Assistant Secretary of the Interior Tom Strickland announced last night at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) “Welcome” Reception, that Jeff Crane, President of CSF has been appointed by Secretary Ken Salazar to the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC) and Gary Kania, Vice President of Policy for CSF as alternate member.

The Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC) is a federally chartered advisory committee established in 1993. The SFBPC advises the Department of Interior Secretary, through the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on recreational fishing and boating issues.

“This council plays a vital role in exploring ways to increase boating and angling participation, particularly youth participation, while conserving our precious aquatic resources” said Salazar. “The wealth of experience and expertise offered by both returning and new council members is impressive and their efforts will most assuredly enable us to reconnect more people with boating, fishing and the natural world.”

The purpose of the SFBPC is to "conserve, restore, and enhance the quality, function, sustainable productivity, and distribution of aquatic resources that support and increase recreational fishing opportunities nationwide, and to increase public awareness of the importance of aquatic resources and the social and economic benefits of recreational fishing and boating."

“Members of the CSF Board as well as my staff and I have been a regular part of this Council and have always looked out for the interests of sporting anglers and boaters,” said Crane. “We look forward to continuing this important work by ensuring that these communities are properly represented in this and future administrations.”

In addition to the appointments of Crane and Kania, Secretary Salazar also announced the following individuals as board members:
•    James Adams of the States Organization for Boating Access
•    James Anderson of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
•    Lynne Borden of the University of Arizona
•    Douglass Boyd of the Coastal Conservation Association
•    Thomas Dammrich of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and CSF Board Member
•    Ned Dikmen of the Great Lakes Boating Federation
•    Chris Horton of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society
•    Betty Huskins of the Southeastern Tourism Policy Council
•    Scott Kovarivics of the Izaak Walton League of America
•    Ryck Lydecker of BoatUS
•    Michael Nussman of the American Sportfishing Association
•    Geoff Ratte of Water Gremlin Company
•    John Sprague of the Marine Industries Association of Florida
•    Roy Elicker, Director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
•    David Graham, Chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Alternate Council members, who may attend meetings and vote when the primary member is unable to attend, were also announced. Alternates joining Kania are Maria del Valle Hamilton of the American Sportfishing Association; and Steve Miller of the States Organization for Boating Access.

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