BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the worldwide authority on bass fishing, has been a leader in conservation since its inception in 1968. Building on that promise, BASS founder Ray Scott, spearheaded the catch-and-release initiative that all tournament organizations employ today.
Conservation remains a cornerstone for the Florida-based organization. Last year, BASS announced the launch of a conservation fund program, which allowed BASS members to directly donate $5 towards conservation initiatives. The program has since raised more than $20,000 from member participation and BASS has matched that figure, raising the total to more than $40,000. In 2007, the state BASS Federation Nation chapters and clubs used funds to improve young fish survival, control erosion on shorelines and stream banks, and enhance habitat complexities in aging reservoirs. These efforts took place in Alabama, Texas, West Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
Donors to the fund also had the opportunity to volunteer for grassroots fish and wildlife habitat projects by joining the BASS Angler Conservation Team (ACT), supported by Ramada Worldwide. Thus far, BASS his signed up more than 10,000 volunteers for ACT and many of them had the opportunity to participate in conservation fund projects in 2007.
For more information or to get involved, please visit the BASS conservation site.
