Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, has been named a 2014 Bass Pro Shops Conservation Partner of the Year. Fosburgh was recognized for the TRCP’s work to guarantee American sportsmen access to quality places to hunt and fish by uniting and amplifying their partners’ voices to strengthen federal policy and funding. In 2014, the TRCP focused special efforts on ensuring that recreational saltwater anglers’ values are represented as Congress revises the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the law that governs the nation’s marine resources.
“Whit Fosburgh and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership are so deserving of recognition, and all of us at Bass Pro Shops are honored to be their partner,” said Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO Johnny Morris. “They are a leader in the conservation world, able to bring together their many partners to identify shared areas of concern so they can work on those conservation priorities.”
Fosburgh received the award from Morris during a special ceremony for associates, which was held at Bass Pro Shops national headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.
“I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. Johnny Morris and his team at Bass Pro Shops have long been leaders in advancing conservation that speaks to the priorities and values of the sportsmen’s community,” Fosburgh said. “We at the TRCP value our partnership with Bass Pro Shops, and we look forward to continued opportunities to work together to conserve fish and wildlife and their habitats – and expand access for all Americans to hunt, fish and enjoy our nation’s lands and waters.”
In 2014, the TRCP took a leadership role in assembling an expert panel of state and federal agency administrators, researchers, industry representatives and economists to promote a proactive vision for saltwater fisheries management. The Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, which was co-chaired by Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, and Scott Deal, president of Maverick Boats, released “A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries.” This landmark report identifies six key policies that would conserve marine fishing resources while producing the full range of saltwater recreational fishing’s economic, social and conservation benefits.
This groundbreaking community effort has seen great success already. The commission’s priorities are supported by members of Congress and are included in draft Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization bills. In addition, NOAA Fisheries committed to achieving the commission’s first recommendation, to develop a national recreational fishing policy, which is expected to be released in early 2015.
Fosburgh, who joined the TRCP in 2010, has played a key role in uniting sportsmen on behalf of improving access to high-quality hunting and fishing areas. Prior to working at the TRCP, Fosburgh spent 15 years at Trout Unlimited, playing a critical role in that organization’s evolution into a conservation powerhouse. Additionally, Fosburgh served as fisheries director for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, was chief environment and energy staff person for Sen. Tom Daschle and was a wildlife specialist for the National Audubon Society.
The other recipient of Bass Pro Shops’ 2014 award is Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
Past winners of the Bass Pro Shops Conservation Partner of the Year Award include Dale Hall of Ducks Unlimited; Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association; Jeff Trandahl of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; Rob Keck of the National Wild Turkey Federation; Richard Childress of Richard Childress Racing; Dave Murphy, executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri; Sarah Parker-Pauley, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Bob Ziehmer, director of the Missouri Department of Conservation; and John Hoskins of the Missouri Department of Conservation.