Photos courtesy of TakeMeFishing.org
Alexandria, Va — The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced today their partnership with Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA). The two organizations will work toward increasing interest and access to fishing sports across the nation.
“This partnership is a good fit for our industry right now because it leverages avid anglers as fishing and boating mentors to attract youth and new audiences, such as Hispanics, to the sport,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “Both are critical to the long-term sustainability of fishing and boating and the conservation activities that rely on them.”
The RBFF administers the national Take Me Fishing advertising campaign and the retooled Anglers’ Legacy initiative, which focuses on reaching and motivating the country’s estimated at 7.5 million anglers to invite former or non-participants to join them for a day on the water.
Through the partnership, RBFF will grant the USA use of the Anglers' Legacy brand in promoting fishing and boating through urban fishing events, clothing, public relations fundraising and newsletters. More than just a brand name, Anglers’ Legacy will be a rallying cry for the USA to get boots on the ground in the effort to bring fishing and boating experiences to new audiences.
“This partnership with RBFF,” USA CEO and Executive Director Scott Vance says, “will enable us to further develop our fishing events and community outreach as we connect America’s Conservation Movement and America’s Labor Movement in unprecedented ways.”
RBFF will also help the USA with promotional materials, including high-quality fishing and boating images and will assist with funding and support for the USA’s urban fishing events. The USA will in turn develop, promote and conduct two pilot urban fishing events next year and, upon their success, work to develop next steps to expand the program beyond these initial pilots.
“This year, the USA expanded its reach into local communities and urban areas to create access and new outdoor opportunities, like fishing, to groups that might not otherwise get to enjoy those experiences,” Vance says.
This new partnership comes on the heels of the 2017 Special Report on Fishing, which states fishing holds the number two slot in adult outdoor activity. (But it’s gaining ground on jogging!) In 2017, 2.5 million participants tried fishing for the very first time, and new participants accounted for 5.3 percent of the total participant base and tended to be young and female.
“Anglers’ Legacy encourages avid anglers to introduce someone new to the sport,” Peterson adds. “Simply put, it’s mentoring, and who better to mentor newcomers than those who already have the have passion and expertise?”
