FishAmerica Foundation Receives Contribution from Daiwa Corporation

Funds will be used to enhance family fishing waters

Alexandria, VA - November 6, 2008 — The FishAmerica Foundation was presented with a $10,000 donation from the Daiwa Corporation during the 2008 Sportfishing Summit in Denver, Colorado, held October 28-30. This donation will be used by the foundation to enhance family fishing waters and ensure that future generations of anglers will have access to fishing areas.

Daiwa’s Vice President of Sales Terry Pedersen presented the check to FishAmerica’s Executive Director Johanna Laderman and American Sportfishing Association (ASA) President and CEO Mike Nussman during ASA’s annual business meeting held October 28 – 30, in Denver, Colo. FishAmerica is ASA’s fisheries conservation and research foundation.

“As part of Daiwa's celebration of 50 years in the fishing tackle industry, we wish to make this donation in support of FishAmerica Foundation's invaluable work in habitat and sport fish restoration. As we and others who have been in this industry for so long realize, our hobby and livelihood could not exist without strong stewardship of our sport fishery,” said Pedersen.

“FishAmerica is proud to be the recipient of Daiwa’s generous gift,” said Laderman. “It is gifts from companies such as Daiwa that have contributed to our many successes over the past 25 years and our ability to restore and improve fisheries across the United States.”

This year, FishAmerica is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Since 1983, the foundation has invested more than $10 million in 1,000 projects in the United States and Canada. FishAmerica’s family fishing program was launched to create, enhance and restore fishing opportunities within easy reach of suburban and urban families – “within a short bicycle ride of every child.” Since 2000, the foundation has awarded more than $135,000 to fund community-based family fishing projects across the United States. The grants were matched with more than $376,000 in cash and in-kind donations by the local community – a nearly three to one return on the foundation’s investment.

For more information on the FishAmerica Foundation, and to learn more about the projects that the foundation has supported over the last 25 years, go to www.fishamerica.org.

The FishAmerica Foundation is the conservation and research foundation of the American Sportfishing Association, keeping our fish and waters healthy. FishAmerica unites the sportfishing industry with conservation groups, government agencies, fishing tournaments, corporations and charitable foundations, investing in fisheries conservation and research across the country. Over 25 years, FishAmerica has provided more than $10 million for more than 1,000 fisheries conservation and research projects nationwide.