On February 5, 2004, after working together informally for several years, the Utah Anglers Coalition (UAC) adopted a formal structure and bylaws. The organization was formed in 2001 when representatives of various angling-oriented organizations and businesses came together out of concern that Utah’s 400,000-plus anglers were not being adequately represented in the political arena.

Concerns About the Future

In the 1990s, the founders of the UAC saw escalating problems that made angler involvement more than just a matter of giving back to the sport they loved. It was now a necessity.

• Hunters were well represented politically, but our aquatic resources were being moved farther and farther down the ladder of priorities with little input from the anglers who were supporting programs with their license dollars.
• License buyers supported the resource with little financial help from others in the state who benefited from the resources.
• Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) professionals were doing great things with what they were given to work with, but they were subject to politics and other pressures that affected their public image and what they could accomplish on their own.

UAC founders had grave concerns about the future. Although individuals and angling-oriented groups were doing good things on their own at the time, there was no united effort and little information exchange among the involved stakeholders.

Backgrounds of UAC Members

UAC members have diverse backgrounds, including:

• Cold water and warm water fish species
• Fly fishing and bait fishing
• Tournament anglers and shore anglers
• Angling for pleasure and for business
• Just about everything in between

UAC participants are leaders in their organization or business. They are veterans of legislative sessions, serve on a wide range of councils and committees, and actively fill decision-making roles in aquatics issues and projects at the federal, state and local level. All pursue their UAC involvement on a purely voluntary basis. At present, the UAC charges nominal dues of its member organizations and does not receive any funding from any source.

Organizational Foundations

According to UAC chair, Ed Kent, the organization makes no claim that it represents all Utah anglers. He points out, though, that the diverse viewpoints of UAC members and the organizations and businesses they represent make the group well qualified to represent angler interests in a fair and balanced way. UAC member organizations include the segment of anglers who go well beyond simply having opinions or finding fault. These are anglers who work to make our aquatic resources better, who actively invest their time and money.

An important core value of the UAC is that angling is a vital component of the heritage, tradition and quality of life in Utah, and that it provides a significant economic benefit to all the state’s citizens, not just those who buy licenses. The UAC is guided by three main principles that are written into the bylaws:

• That the UAC be as inclusive as possible of the diverse interests in the angling community yet still be able to function effectively.
• That the UAC be conducted in the best manner possible to encourage the free exchange of ideas to educate and to ensure that its activities and decisions will have a positive impact on Utah’s aquatic resources.
• That, for the UAC to be as fair as possible to all participants, an analytical, long-term, proactive focus on issues is better suited to its objectives. UAC member organizations and businesses are better suited to deal with emergencies and short-term situations by networking through their UAC contacts.

Voting representatives on the UAC are empowered by their organizations to speak for their organizations. Any decision that involves a position or action on an issue that will be attributed to the UAC requires unanimous approval. This policy certainly has its drawbacks, but it is seen as a necessary provision to maximize effectiveness while accommodating the diverse interests of its participants.

The UAC is not connected to the DWR and does not serve any function for it or any other government agency. Although DWR professionals participate in the organization, they are not eligible for membership.

GET INVOLVED!

The UAC has worked the past several years to ensure better representation for anglers and to help find solutions to the difficult problems facing Utah’s aquatic resources. Members regularly solicit information and opinions from qualified sources outside the organization to help understand all sides of an issue. To date, the UAC and its member organizations have played a part in numerous issues including support for the state Community Fisheries program and recent regulation changes at Strawberry Reservoir. The future holds more of the same.

Any fishing-oriented organization or business in Utah can become a voting UAC member, and anyone is invited to participate in meetings. We highly recommend supporting any of the organizations that make up the UAC. Your membership in any of these organizations is an investment in the future of our aquatic resources, which makes it pretty inexpensive! It doesn’t matter if you support these organizations with your time, money or both. Every bit helps.