AFFTA Fisheries Fund Announces First Grant Recipients

The American Fly Fishing Trade Association and the newly established AFFTA Fisheries Fund have announced the inaugural recipients of funds to help groups that work to “preserve and protect our fisheries and grow fly fishing anglers.” These include The Freshwater Trust, The 5 Rivers Program of Trout Unlimited, The Utah Stream Access Coalition, Montana Trout Unlimited, and Alaska Conservation Foundation.

Read more in the press release below.

AFFTA Fisheries Fund Announces First Grant Recipients

The American Fly Fishing Trade Association and the AFFTA Fisheries Fund board are pleased to announce the inaugural gifting recipients. The Fisheries Fund was established with revenue derived from the International Fly Tackle Dealer show to support fisheries conservation and education efforts. The Fisheries Fund will soon receive non-profit status, at which point the general public will be invited and encouraged to donate to the AFFTA Fisheries Fund to further the Fund’s capabilities to support important work which will preserve and protect our fisheries and grow fly fishing anglers.

• The Freshwater Trust was award funds to support their work restoring steelhead and salmon habitat in the Big Sandy River Basin of Oregon.
• National Trout Unlimited 5 Rivers Program was also gifted to support their important work engaging college –aged youth in fly fishing.
• The Utah Stream Access Coalition was supported in their tireless work for public access on their waterways.
• Montana Trout Unlimited’s advocacy work regarding a proposed mine near the iconic Smith River fishery was supported.
• Alaska Conservation Foundation’s continued work to permanently end threats of drilling and mineral extraction in the famed Bristol Bay of Alaska was also chosen.

“AFFTA and the Fisheries Fund are extremely pleased to support the great work being done by all of these organizations to further the sport and industry of fly fishing,” stated AFFTA board chairman Tucker Ladd. AFFTA will be reporting on each project’s progress as the year unfolds, and will be evaluating new Fisheries Fund applications throughout 2015.

For more information or to apply for an AFFTA Fisheries Fund grant, please visit: www.affta.org.