MINNEAPOLIS – FLW Outdoors remains committed to conservation in 2003 through its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, a relationship that has prospered since it began three years ago. As it has in the past, FLW Outdoors will donate $5,000 for each of its seven Wal-Mart FLW Tour events as well as for a variety of its other sanctioned tournaments.
The donations go toward conservation efforts to benefit tournament host sites. For the season’s second event, held on the Atchafalaya Basin in February, the contribution went to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which will use the money to continue its stocking program that began in 2000 with another FLW Outdoors donation. The department will use the funds to purchase Florida-strain bass to be released in various locations in the lower half of the basin. Florida-strain bass are larger than native species, so they provide bigger fish for anglers to catch.
“What we’re trying to do is get the Florida-bass gene pool started with our native bass. We’re trying to get a crossbreed or hybridization, and we’ve done that,” said Will Courtney, Louisiana conservation director, explaining the significance of such donations.
“The donation three years ago really got the ball rolling, allowing us to restock the basin, making larger fish available for anglers,” said Tim Morrison, project manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. “The whole process has brought the recreational fishing community together, and for that we are very grateful to FLW Outdoors.”
In 2000, FLW Outdoors announced its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation arm of the American Sportfishing Association, and has helped to raise more than $400,000 over the last two years for local conservation projects.
“FLW Outdoors’ intention in partnering with FishAmerica is to have a positive impact on the fisheries and host cities where our tournaments are held,” said Charlie Hoover, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. “FLW Outdoors wants to leave the host lakes of our tournaments in better condition than when we arrive for both the current and next generation of anglers. This effort on the Atchafalaya Basin will allow all anglers to reach their goal and catch bigger fish.”
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“FLW Outdoors commits $5,000 to bring bigger bass to Louisiana”