Yamaha Marine Group’s 2015 Kenai Classic Roundtable to address long-term future of national recreational fishing

KENNESAW, Ga. – As a sponsor of the third annual Kenai Classic Roundtable on National Recreational Fishing, which takes place in conjunction with the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s (KRSA) Kenai River Classic, Yamaha Marine announced that this year’s panel will focus on a long-term view of recreational fishing and the strategies necessary to ensure continued growth of the sport.

The unprecedented coalition of sportfishing advocacy groups on the panel will focus on a twenty-year look at the future of recreational fishing, the potential challenges anglers will face and the strategies the industry will use to overcome these challenges.

The Classic Roundtable takes place on Wednesday, August 19 at 2:00 p.m. Alaska Daylight Savings Time at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. Martin Peters, manager, government relations at Yamaha Marine Group, will moderate the roundtable.

In addition to honored guests U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, co-chair of the U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus and Joe Balash, chief of staff for Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, the following panel of experts will discuss specific challenges that face today’s recreational anglers:

• Pat Murray, president, Coastal Conservation Association;
• Bob Hayes, Center for Coastal Conservation Board of Directors and Former CCA general counsel;
• Mike Leonard, ocean resource policy director, American Sportfishing Association;
• Geoff Mullins, chief operating and communication officer, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership;
• Jeff Gabriel, National Marine Manufacturers Association legal counsel and Recreational Fishing Alliance board member; and
• Kara Moriarty, executive director, Alaska Oil and Gas Association and KRSA board member.

At this year’s roundtable, panelists will provide the Senators’ offices with information on the economic impacts of recreational fishing and on pieces of legislation that are critical to the success and sustainability of the sportfishing industry. Additionally, panelists will shed light on the valuable role that anglers play as conservationists and as defenders of valuable marine resources.

While the 2015 Kenai Classic Roundtable takes a new direction with a long-term look into the future of the sport, the content of the panel discussion will continue to focus on the theme of education. Each year, the Kenai Classic Roundtable provides an educational opportunity to access the latest thought leadership regarding the future of recreational fishing.

“Much like the star players at the World Economic Forum in Davos, or any major industry event, this year’s panel is an expert think-tank, comprised of some of the most knowledgeable and influential voices regarding the recreational fishing sector,” stated Peters. “The Kenai Classic Roundtable is the seminal event in the industry for the nation, not just coastal communities – an annual must-attend for anyone who is aligned with recreational fishing and who has economic, social, and conservation issues at stake.”

Entry to the Kenai Classic Roundtable on National Recreational Fishing is available to all interested parties through their participation in the annual Kenai River Classic, the annual three-day invitation fishing event held each summer. Individuals interested in attending the 2015 Roundtable, or future roundtables, should visit KRSA.com for more information.