Aug. 28 (UPI) — The Interior Department has expanded hunting and fishing access at 16 units in 11 states, while opening more than 87,000 acres for hunting and fishing.
The 16 National Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System units are located in Alabama, California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Texas and Washington.
“Hunting and fishing are more than just traditional pastimes,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Wednesday.
“They are also vital to the conservation of our lands and waters, our outdoor recreation economy and our American way of life,” Burgum added.
He said the Trump administration is dedicated to promoting good government by reducing regulatory burdens and working with states to expand access to outdoor activities.
The expanded opportunities include allowing hunting at the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge and the Grasslands Wildlife Management Area in California.
Sport fishing also is allowed at the North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery in Massachusetts.
The regulatory change is in keeping with President Donald Trump’s July 3 executive order that established the Make America Beautiful Again Commission to expand public access to more hunting and fishing areas, according to the National Rifle Association’s Hunters’ Leadership Forum.
The changes include aligning federal regulations with respective state agency regulations to promote greater consistency to make it easier for licensed hunters and anglers to enjoy their pastimes.
The rule changes show the “Trump administration respects the key role hunters and anglers play in bolstering the economy,” the NRA said.
Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed $394 billion in economic activity in 2022, with hunters and anglers accounting for more than $144 billion, according to the NRA.
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