FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2004

Contact:
Tom MacKenzie, 404/679-7291

Remember the first time someone showed you how to cast a fishing line or remember all those ‘big fish’ tales you heard? Now you can recreate those memories for yourself or someone else during National Fishing and Boating Week, June 5 to 13, 2004.

“Fishing is fun, relaxing, and can create lasting family bonds and friendships,” said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Fishing and its related activity of boating also contribute billions of dollars a year to the Nation’s economy.”

According to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, sponsored by the Service, there are 8 million anglers in the Southeast who spend more than $9 billion a year on fishing trip-related expenses and $4 billion a year on equipment.

In addition to the many state, federal, and community-sponsored events during National Fishing and Boating Week, many Southeastern states are offering free fishing days when people can fish without a license. On June 5 and 6, South Carolina waives its resident license requirement for both fresh and saltwater fishing. On June 5, 6, 12, and 13, Mississippi does not require a permit to fish on state fishing lakes and state park lakes; however, a state fishing license is required. Louisiana and Kentucky’s free fishing days are June 5 and 6. Georgia waives its license requirements for fresh and saltwater fishing for June 5 and June 12. Also on June 12, Alabama waives resident license requirements for fresh and saltwater fishing. From noon on June 11, until midnight on June 13, Arkansas waives its license requirements for freshwater fishing. For more information on free fishing days and state fishing regulations, please visit the website: http://www.waterworkswonders.org/default.aspx?id=210

Throughout the Southeast, the Service’s National Fish Hatcheries and National Wildlife Refuges will be offering special fishing opportunities during National Fishing and Boating Week. A list of some activities follows:

ARKANSAS:

FLORIDA:

GEORGIA:

KENTUCKY:

LOUISIANA:

MISSISSIPPI:

NORTH CAROLINA:

SOUTH CAROLINA:

TENNESSEE:

For more information about National Fishing and Boating Week events in your area. Please visit the websites http://www.waterworkswonders.org/default.aspx?id=213 or http://www.recreation.gov/

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

2004 News Releases