University of Arkansas offers fisheries scholarship

13.Dec.2011

The Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey – Biological Resources Division (USGS-BRD) is now offering competitive four-year full undergraduate scholarships to qualified high school seniors. Qualified junior college students are eligible for two-year scholarships. Selected students will be part of the UAPB-USGS National Cooperative Fisheries Scholarship (NCFS) program, the goal of which is to train culturally diverse students for careers in fisheries biology and natural resources management and conservation.

Scholarship details

NCFS scholarships are nationally competitive and include tuition, fees, on-campus room and board, and textbooks. Travel to professional meetings is supported as much as possible.Scholarships are available for four consecutive years, or eight consecutive semesters, and are valued at approximately $45,000. Applicants must have a very strong desire to work in the field of fisheries or natural resource management, and be willing to intern during summers with faculty or state/federal agencies. Continue reading

Florida High School Fishing State Championship Set For March 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ponca City, Okla. (Dec. 7, 2011) – The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, announced it will be hosting the 2012 Student Angler Federation Florida High School Fishing State Championship, Saturday, March 3 on Lake Toho launching out of Kissimmee Lake Front Park in Kissimmee, Florida. The state championship is a two person team event for students in grades 9-12. Registration for high school anglers and their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at HighSchoolFishing.org or by calling 580.765.9031. Check-in begins at 6pm on Friday, March 2, at the Clarion Resort Waterpark & Convention Center with a mandatory rules briefing to follow at 7pm.  We highly encourage all teams to preregister online or by phone in advance to avoid late registration fees.

“Osceola County is excited to have the SAF State High School Fishing Championship return to Lake Toho for the second consecutive year,”  Sports Development Director for the Osceola County Department of Tourism, Don Miers, stated.  “We are one of the premier bass fishing locations in the world and are proud to host this wonderful youth event here in Osceola County.”   Continue reading

Anti-Fishing Groups Bypass Ongoing Lawsuit in Attempt to Ban Lead Fishing Tackle

Sportfishing community calls for the dismissal of unwarranted petition for a national ban on lead fishing tackle

Alexandria, VA – December 6, 2011 – On November 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was yet again petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and two other anti-fishing groups, requesting that the agency regulate the manufacture and sale of lead fishing tackle of certain sizes and uses under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If approved, such regulation could result in a de facto ban of lead sinkers, jigs and other popular types of fishing equipment.

This comes on the heels of a similar petition that the EPA dismissed in November 2010. The original petition also sought to ban lead hunting and shooting ammunition, which is exempted from regulation under TSCA. In dismissing the original petition, the EPA indicated that the “petitioners have not demonstrated that the requested rule is necessary to protect against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, as required by the TSCA.” Continue reading