Comment Log Display

Dear California Air Resources Board and Stakeholders, 

Sportfishing is a longtime hobby of mine and is a family activity
we all enjoy. It's also a pastime in in our wonderful state.
Anglers and hunters alike know the importance of clean air,
waterways, and our public lands; we probably appreciate it more
than most people. But regulating an industry such as sportfishing
to meet certain requirements that are onerous and cumbersome will
have the exact opposite effect that we'd all like to see. 

Before I considered myself a serious hunter and angler, protecting
our waterways and natural resources was not top of mind. In fact,
you could make the argument that I didn't care much at all about
such topics, and you'd be right. But one thing I've noticed is that
as I became more involved in these activities I cared much more
deeply about environmental issues. I've had friends say similar
things as well. It's only when individuals participate in
activities such as sportfishing when they realize the benefits of
such activities as well as the glorious aspects of our natural
resources and wonders. 

By crippling an industry such as sportfishing, I believe you will
reduce the ability to reach people and convince them of the need to
protect our environment. They won't be able to participate in it
anyway so why would they care? By limiting the number of
opportunities to participate in sportfishing, people will not
understand the impacts of climate change, overfishing, and limited
access to public lands. 

California is a beautiful state. As a lifelong resident, I want
people to be outside more often - whether that's camping, hiking,
rock climbing, fishing, hunting, or even just sitting by a stream -
but by reducing the number of opportunities for people to be
outside, we will be removing the free joy that is afforded us in
our state. 

Please reconsider this proposal and do not regulate this industry
out of existence. 

Kind regards, 
Paul Seitz